The 10 best gadgets for your car

garmin dashcam
Garmin/YouTube

Has your car ever left you stranded because of a dead battery? Or have you ever needed to charge your computer on the go? 

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Don't worry, it happens to the best of us. Just make sure you're prepared with the right tools. 

Here are ten gadgets that will help you be prepared for whatever you may encounter on the road. 

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If you can't find a cigarette outlet charger for your device, a power inverter might save the day.

Power Inverter
Bestek

A power inverter like this one can plug directly into a 12V cigarette lighter outlet in your car and push power through to your devices standard three-pronged charger. 

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Garmin's Dash Cam 35 keeps a vigilant eye on the road ahead.

Dash Cam
Garmin

If there's ever a question of fault at the scene of a car accident, a dash cam like Garmin's Dash Cam 35 can help answer those questions. 

The 35 auto-records when it senses harsh g-forces that might have been caused by a car accident. It can also used to capture still shots if necessary.

 

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There's a 3-inch LCD screen on the back of the camera for playback.

DashCam garmin
Garmin
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A Valentine One radar detector is a lead-footed driver's best friend.

V1
Brian Silvestro

You shouldn't speed. But if for whatever reason you just can't help yourself, you're going to want a device like the Valentine One

Radar detectors like the V1 are used to alert drivers of nearby police officers checking speeds. 

It can pick up four different types of signals, including the ones most commonly used by cops in the United States.

 

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Don't be left stranded if your car won't turn over.

jumper
Suaoki/Amazon

Suaoki says that their portable jumper starter kit can jump a car up to about 22 times on one charge, can be used as a flashlight, and can also charge handheld devices like a smartphone or a digital camera. 

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An OBD II Bluetooth will tell you why your car is acting up.

a bluetooth obdii diagnostic tool
ScanTool/Amazon

When your car throws a check engine light on your gauge cluster, don't waste money and time taking it in to a mechanic to find out what's up. 

Just plug your OBDII diagnostics reader in and see what's really going on.

It's even easier if you use one of these bluetooth enabled tools with your smartphone.

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Cobb's AccessPort brings tuning to your fingertips.

Subaru cobb AP
Cobb

If you own one of the cars that Cobb makes AccessPorts for, you can tune and reprogram your car's computer on the go with one of these handheld devices. 

Like the bluetooth OBD II diagnostic tool, an AccessPort can also be used to read any faults being thrown up by your car's ECU and help you diagnose what's wrong with your car wherever you might be. 

Just make sure you choose the one that's right for your car

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A Drop Stop will prevent your phone and cash from falling into that abyss between your seat and the center console.

dropstop
BuyDropStop/YouTube

Its slightly cheesy infomercial might make it look like a gimmick, but there's actual a bit of brilliance to what's going on here. 

I can't tell you how many times I've just wanted to give up and let my phone live in the little crevice between the driver's seat and the center console in my car. Drop Stop's little neopreme wedge can prevent your phone from getting lost forever.

Or at least until you finally get that push to reach your arm into that deep, dark, scary place and pick up all that loose change. 

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A GoPro is a car enthusiast's best friend.

GoPro Hero
GoPro/Amazon

If you do track days or autocross style events and want to be able to share the fun with your friends and the rest of the internet, you'll need an action camera like a GoPro Hero.

The base Hero is the entry-evel model now, but for amateur recording, it's pretty much does all you'll need.

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A Leatherman Sidekick Multi-Tool is often all the help you need when broken down.

multi tool
Leatherman

There are 17 tools on this one device. 

It cuts, it screws, it prys, it saws, it files, it opens. The list goes on.

 

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MagLite's Mag-Tac rechargeable flashlight comes with a car charger and can fit perfectly in a cupholder.

maglite recharge
Mag Instruments

When used under full power, the MagLite Mag-Tac LED light can put out 543 lumens, which is more than a 40-watt incandescent bulb, and can be used for up to two and a half hours straight. 

Then when the battery dies, you can just plug it right into your car's cigarette lighter outlet and let it charge right back up. 

If flashlights that use disposable batteries are too old-fashioned for you, this one should do the trick perfectly.

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