The perfect Christmas gift for car enthusiasts

Do you have a car lover in your life? Their passion for all things on four wheels might feel pricey (and a brand-new motor might be a stretch), but there are plenty of affordable, thoughtful gifts that’ll rev their engine this Christmas.

If you’re stumped in the run-up to the festive season, or if you’re just looking to show some appreciation for your favourite petrolhead, fret not. In this article, we’ve summarised some of the best, inexpensive (but not cheap!) gifts for car lovers.

A new dashcam

Safety first, right? A dashcam is the perfect gift for speed enthusiasts, road trippers, or anyone who wants peace of mind behind the wheel.

These days, dashcams are everywhere on the market. No longer are there just a few reputable brands holding a monopoly on the retail space. Dashcam budgets can range from anywhere between £80 and £400, depending on the features you choose and the brand you select.

Though, a word of warning: there are many models on the market that tout some hefty claims like “4k quality”, or “WiFi connectivity”. Meanwhile, the reality is that a lot of the cheaper dash cams on the market are essentially the same product, but rebadged and sold at a different price.

To be specific, we recommend looking out for dashcams that promote their use of Sony Stellaris sensors. These sensors allow for a lot of light to be let in, making them great at deciphering number plates and avoiding glare at nighttime.

Paying for a detail

Not all gifts have to be physical, reusable items. If your car-loving friend’s car has seen better days (which is likely if they’re a frequent driver), the best gift you can give might just be the gift of cleanliness.

To be clear, when we say a detail, we don’t just mean a couple of quid for your local automatic car wash. Those things are notorious for leaving scratches, swirl marks, and water spots all over a car’s paint job. The reality is, this doesn’t matter to the average car owner, but the recipient of this gift is anything but the average car owner – their motor is their pride and joy, but keeping it clean can be a challenge when they’re so busy enjoying it.

Do some research around your local area for mobile detailers with high reviews. These car cleaning maestros will come and visit your recipient on a day of their choosing and spend an entire day intricately cleaning every square inch of their car.

Detailing starts at around the £300 mark for an interior and exterior clean, which includes a small amount of paint correction (to remove scratches and swirls). For anything extra, like ceramic coatings to protect the paint, you can expect anywhere from £500 upwards.

Yes, this gift is on the more expensive side of things, but it gives long-lasting benefits.

Tracking devices

Car theft is a real problem, especially if you have a particularly flashy car. The most stolen car in the UK, for example, is the Ford Fiesta – such a shame for such a petrolhead-friendly motor with the ST trim.

Thankfully, since Apple released the AirTag in 2021, the GPS tracking device market has become full of affordable, high-quality options. These discrete devices can be stored in all kinds of hidden locations within the car, giving an immediately accessible, easy way to view where it is at any given moment.

While AirTags are restricted to iPhone users, there are Android options that are just as good, like the Tile, or the Motorola Moto Tag.

Personalised portraits

Every proud car owner loves to show off their pride and joy – and who can blame them?

To really help your car loving friend show off their ride, a personalised, hand-drawn portrait will go down an absolute treat. We’re not just talking a sketch of the car they have, we’re talking a sketch of their car, complete with any intricate differences and personality traits (like a mismatched door panel, or even the number plate).

If you’re not an artist, don’t worry. There are many freelance artists out there on platforms like Instagram, and even Fiverr these days that will happily let you commission a bespoke design. Take some pictures, note down anything specific (like characteristics of the car, or anything that makes it identifiable), and soon enough you’ll receive a bespoke drawing or painting that we’re confident your friend will adore.

OEM (original equipment manufacturer) accessories

Good quality car accessories are hard to find. While in recent years there’s been a large influx of brands selling car mats, sill protectors, and replacement trim pieces that are “just as good” as the OEM quality, nothing quite beats an accessory that’s been made and designed with your specific model of car in mind.

This is a great gift, especially for those whose car is perhaps a few years older by now, and showing signs of its age internally. Whipping a few new floor mats or a well-fitting boot liner can hide a lot of the imperfections that are usually present, helping the car feel a little bit newer in the process.

Motoring finance, from MotoNovo

While we appreciate that buying a new car for your friend might be out of the question, these gifts will surely leave a lasting impression. Stick with our news page for exciting motoring updates and stories.