I originally bought a dash cam because everyone kept saying, "You'll wish you had one when something happens."
What surprised me wasn't the accident protection—it was the parking mode. I've caught someone bumping my parked car, a delivery truck scraping the curb inches away, and even figured out who kept leaving shopping carts next to my car.
Honestly, every new car should just come with one.
I know this sounds ridiculously unsexy for a “favorite car accessory” answer… but the best thing I’ve ever bought for my car is a tiny trash can + leakproof trash bag setup.
Not LED lights. Not a phone mount. Not a dash cam. A little garbage bag.
I used to underestimate how fast a car turns into a rolling landfill. Receipts, coffee cups, gum wrappers, parking tickets, tissues, random straw wrappers that apparently reproduce overnight. I’d clean the whole thing, swear I’d keep it pristine, and 4 days later it looked like a raccoon was living in the passenger seat.
Then I bought one of those compact waterproof car trash cans that hangs behind the center console, plus fitted drawstring bags, and it was an absolute game changer.
The reason it works isn’t even the trash can itself — it’s that it removes friction. The second there’s a designated place for garbage, your brain stops doing the “I’ll throw this away later” thing. You just toss it immediately. My car has stayed like 90% cleaner ever since.
It also makes the car feel newer because clutter is what makes interiors feel old and chaotic.
What’s the most “I can’t believe this isn’t standard in every car” accessory you’ve ever bought?
people who are obsessed with making their car feel smarter, cleaner, safer, quieter or secretly luxurious
$250
The more unexpectedly life-improving, the better.
Dash Cam with Parking Mode
I originally bought a dash cam because everyone kept saying, "You'll wish you had one when something happens."
What surprised me wasn't the accident protection—it was the parking mode. I've caught someone bumping my parked car, a delivery truck scraping the curb inches away, and even figured out who kept leaving shopping carts next to my car.
Honestly, every new car should just come with one.
I know this sounds ridiculously unsexy for a “favorite car accessory” answer… but the best thing I’ve ever bought for my car is a tiny trash can + leakproof trash bag setup.
Not LED lights. Not a phone mount. Not a dash cam. A little garbage bag.
I used to underestimate how fast a car turns into a rolling landfill. Receipts, coffee cups, gum wrappers, parking tickets, tissues, random straw wrappers that apparently reproduce overnight. I’d clean the whole thing, swear I’d keep it pristine, and 4 days later it looked like a raccoon was living in the passenger seat.
Then I bought one of those compact waterproof car trash cans that hangs behind the center console, plus fitted drawstring bags, and it was an absolute game changer.
The reason it works isn’t even the trash can itself — it’s that it removes friction. The second there’s a designated place for garbage, your brain stops doing the “I’ll throw this away later” thing. You just toss it immediately. My car has stayed like 90% cleaner ever since.
It also makes the car feel newer because clutter is what makes interiors feel old and chaotic.
$15 accessory. Massive quality-of-life upgrade.