8 Cheap(ish) Things to Keep in Your Car If You’re Always on the Go | Reviews by Wirecutter

Nov 04, 2024

By Gabriella DePinho

Gabriella DePinho is a writer covering trending products. She has written about cheap(ish) things for medicine cabinets, meal prep, and dorm rooms.

For many people, a car is like a second home. And that means it should be outfitted with a few daily essentials and just-in-case emergency items, to help keep life running a bit more smoothly.

From everyday necessities to emergency supplies that will get you out of a jam, here are eight cheap(ish) items we recommend storing in your ride, so you’ll never be caught without the things you need when you’re out and about.

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A car garbage can (aka “carbage can”) can help you manage trash, especially if you frequently eat in your car. We like the Hotor Car Trash Can 138, a 2-gallon, leakproof receptacle that has rubber flaps over the opening, to keep debris and any accompanying odors contained.

It has adjustable straps, so you can install the container in numerous convenient places, including behind your car’s center console or in the footwell of the passenger seat.

If you use this container for perishable food waste, however, you’ll need to remember to empty it often.

Few situations evoke the same anxiety as a car that suddenly won’t start. With a portable jump starter in hand, you can get your car going again without having to call roadside assistance.

We’ve recommended the Weego Jump Starter 44s since 2017 because it’s compact, it has safety features we like, and it works with a wide range of cars, small or large.

Tip: Wirecutter battery expert and senior staff writer Sarah Witman advises not leaving this jump starter’s battery in your car on extremely hot or cold days, to best preserve it.

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Since many stores no longer hand out plastic bags at checkout, it’s a good idea to keep a few reusable bags in your trunk for impromptu errands. You can, of course, use whatever reusable shopping bags you have on hand. But if you want a stash of strong, compact, and easy-to-clean bags, the Standard Baggu can carry up to 50 pounds (we tested this claim with a 44-pound kettlebell) and can easily fold into a pocket or purse. It’s machine-washable, and it comes in a wide range of fun colors and patterns.

This solidly built, easy-to-find umbrella holds up in high winds. It also comes in several colors.

price may vary by color or style

price may vary by color or style

Even if you check the weather before leaving the house, a rainstorm can always catch you by surprise. Stash a reliable umbrella in the car, and you’ll always have one in reach when you need it.

We like the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella for most people because this sturdy model provides ample protection from rain and holds up well in high winds. It’s available in a lot of fun colors from black to rainbow to a starry-sky interior, and it’s compact enough when closed to fit in most glove compartments.

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These were the most comfortable and sturdy of the affordable round sunglasses we tested. Plus, they come with a lifetime warranty and money-back guarantee.

When it feels like the sun is scorching your retinas, you’ll be glad to have a pair of reliable sunglasses in your car. We like Sungait’s Vintage Round Sunglasses because they’re comfortable, affordable, and durable, and they look good on a variety of face shapes.

The lenses provide UV protection and are polarized to reduce glare. The sunglasses also come with a lifetime warranty that covers you even if you break them. You may like them so much that you end up buying multiple pairs for ready access.

This First Aid Only kit has all of the necessary gear for treating minor scrapes, cuts, and burns, including an abundance of adhesive bandages, and it comes with a decent first aid booklet.

No one gets through life without a few scrapes and bruises, so a small first aid kit in your car will inevitably be useful for you or your passengers.

The First Aid Only 298 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Kit (FAO-442) provides bandages, gauze, wipes, ointments, and painkillers for minor injuries, as well as some items (a trauma pad, gauze, and some dressing pads) for handling more-serious injuries.

The case opens easily, like a book, and items are stowed in 10 clear plastic compartments, so you can easily find what you need. We also recommend adding a few more items to your first aid kit. But even if you just keep the basic kit stocked and stashed in your car, that is an excellent first step.

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This blanket is durable, comes in scores of prints, and is the best bargain of those we recommend.

A backseat throw blanket is perfect for road-trip naps (for adults and kids alike), unexpectedly cold days outdoors, or a spontaneous trip to a drive-in movie.

We think the Kohl’s The Big One Oversized Supersoft Plush Throw is a good budget option, and in our guide to throw blankets we crowned it our pick for kids and teens. It’s thin, really soft, durable, and easy to wash.

If you have long hair, having a few extra elastics in your car could save you on a hot or troublesome drive, when you just need all that hair out of your face.

Deputy editor Annemarie Conte likes Goody Ouchless Braided Hair Elastics because they come in cheap, large packs ranging from 32 to 50 elastics. So you can leave a few within arm’s reach of your driver’s seat, some more in your bag, and the rest at home.

This article was edited by Rose Maura Lorre and Alexander Aciman.

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Gabriella DePinho

I cover lifestyle topics such as getting the stink out of workout clothes and packing for travel. I also assist with our deals coverage during special deals events.

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