Best Insurance Info on the Web

Whether it’s for the holidays or an upcoming birthday, shopping for a car enthusiast can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re not into cars yourself. However, there’s no need to worry! To help you along your search, we put together this list of some of the best car gift ideas for the car fanatic in your life. So, if you’re ready, let’s ditch the classic coffee mug gift and search for something they’ll really enjoy.

9 Car Gift Ideas for a Car Enthusiast  

1) Chemical Guys 14 Piece Car Wash Kit

If anything is true, it’s that car enthusiasts love to keep their rides clean. Starting our list of car gift ideas is a car wash kit from the Chemical Guys. Sure, the car fanatic in your life likely already has some form of car washing gear that they use regularly. However, what makes the Chemical Guys kit stand out is that it is a one-stop shop with everything you need to make your car feel as if it were professionally detailed.

There are plenty of kit options available, but we recommend going with the 14-piece kit, which retails for around $119. This kit includes a foam blaster (garden hose compatible), a wheel brush, quality cleaning products, and a bucket to store everything in.

2) A Dash Cam

Dashboard cameras have come a long way since their initial release. Today, it’s possible to find a quality dash cam for around $100, making it an excellent gift for any car enthusiast. Not only will a dash cam help capture valuable video evidence after a collision, but many also feature a parking mode that will record additional incidents, such as vandalism or a hit or run. Plus, having video evidence of these types of accidents can help speed up the claims process with an insurer.

Although a dash cam can benefit drivers and insurers, it’s important to know there aren’t any auto insurance discounts for installing one. Still, that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth the purchase. One of our favorites is the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 ($99.99), a compact camera perfect for a first-time owner. The Mini 2 comes with standard features such as HD recording and live view but can also be modified to record parking incidents with an additional kit.

3) Armor All Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum 

Okay, maybe the car lover in your life only trusts a specific cleaning product, so a car wash kit is out the window. But what about a portable vacuum? Armor All’s Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum isn’t as large as the shop vacuums it takes its look after. However, it still packs enough power to suction debris from a car’s interior. Plus, its smaller size makes it easy to store in a garage or even in the trunk. This vacuum retails for $65.95 and comes with various attachments to reach between the seats and other tight spaces.

4) All-Weather Floor Mats

Regarding keeping a car’s interior clean, another great car gift is all-weather floor mats. If the car enthusiast in your life likes to get dirty, these types of floor mats will help their vehicle floor clean.

There are plenty of brands to choose from, but we enjoy the all-weather mats by Motor Trend. Built using durable materials, these floor mats can handle the messiest of shoes in all types of weather. The built-in ridges help keep any liquids from spilling over, and their overall design makes it easy to remove for proper cleaning. Not sure what size you need? No worries, most are trim-to-fit, so all you’ll need is a pair of scissors if they’re a little too big.   

5) Roadside Emergency Car Kit

This gift may not be as fun as others on our list, but it’s still essential. A roadside emergency car kit is a valuable tool to have in the event of a breakdown or accident on a lone road. While the kit may not have all the tools needed to work on an engine, it can contain supplies to keep you safe while you wait for a tow.

You’ll find no shortage of options when searching for a roadside emergency kit. However, we recommend one that has these critical components:

• Jumper cables
• Reflective triangle
• Tow rope
• First aid kit
• Emergency poncho and blanket
• Duct tape and basic tool kit
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Work gloves
• Pen and paper

6) Pop Up Rooftop Tent 

Out of all of our car gift ideas, this one may seem the most extreme, but if it’s for a special person in your life, the joy they’ll receive from it can be well worth it. For many outdoor adventurers, having a rooftop tent is an effective way of combining the need for shelter with ease of portability. Since they attach to a rack on top of a car, these types of tents will help free up space inside of a car during the travel phase.

The type of tent you purchase will ultimately depend on the kind of vehicle it will be mounted to and the amount of space desired. Some tents are best for larger vehicles, while others are specifically made for smaller cars.

7) Book a Day at the Racetrack

If the car enthusiast in your life is a fan of speed, what can be a better gift than a ticket to a racetrack? If you live in the Southern California or Atlanta area, Porsche offers racetrack experiences on their development courses. Designed to be the ultimate playground for sports car enthusiasts, the Porsche Experience Center is a thrill unlike any other. There are various ticket options available, such as a chance to get behind the wheel or feel the rush of being in the passenger seat of a Porsche GT. Regardless of the option you choose, this will surely be an experience they’ll never forget.

8) Flashlight LED Finger Gloves

Next on our list is a gift that makes a great stocking stuffer: LED flashlight gloves. Although they may seem silly, these little gloves come in handy when working in those tough-to-reach places, like underneath a car or hood. With these gloves, you can have both hands free instead of using one to hold a standard flashlight.

9) Car Trash Can

If you’re looking for a quick gift idea for a car enthusiast, how about a gift that will help keep their car tidy? A car trash can may seem odd initially, but you’ll be surprised how useful it can be. With a car trash can, it’s easy to manage old receipts and other small trash instead of shoving them into the cup holders. There aren’t any significant differences between brands, but some do come with attachments that keep them secure in place.

Keeping Your Car Protected 

At AIS, we have over 55 years of experience helping drivers keep themselves and their assets protected against sudden accidents. Whether you’re searching for additional coverage or moving, our team of insurance specialists will assist you through the process of comparing quotes from our network of insurance partners. To learn more about how AIS can help you, give us a call at (888) 772-4247 or start a quote online. 

The information in this article is obtained from various sources and is offered for educational purposes. Furthermore, it should not replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Dashboard cameras, commonly called dash cams, provide many benefits, such as maintaining a log of video evidence or monitoring a young driver. You may be considering purchasing a dash cam if you drive for work, commute, or were involved in a recent accident. But does installing a dash cam have other benefits, such as a lower insurance rate? Let’s dive into the topic to see how a dash cam can impact both drivers and their insurance.

Key Takeaways

• Dashboard cameras can provide valuable evidence after an accident, which may help during the claims process to determine fault.
• Although beneficial to drivers and insurers alike, no major company offers a discount for installing or utilizing a dash cam.
• It is possible to find basic dash cameras for around $100. Higher-end models with additional features may cost upwards of $400+.

What is a Dash Cam?

A dashboard camera is a recording device typically mounted on or near a vehicle’s dashboard or windshield that records the road ahead. Most dash cams record onto an SD card on a rolling basis, meaning old footage is replaced with new video. Law enforcement officials have relied on dash cameras for decades to capture evidence during traffic stops. In recent years, however, advancements have made dash cams much more inexpensive and accessible for all types of drivers.

Dash cams come in various shapes and sizes and can have additional features that set them apart from other models. For example, some dash cams may have dual recording features that capture both the exterior road and the car’s interior. Additional features may include audio recording, GPS and speed data collection, and automatic sensors that detect sudden changes in speed.

Do Insurance Companies Offer a Discount for Installing a Dash Cam?

Auto insurance companies provide discounts for many reasons, such as bundling policies or installing anti-theft devices. However, no major insurer currently offers any discounts for installing a dash cam in your vehicle. But that doesn’t mean dash cams aren’t worth purchasing. There are additional ways that a dash cam can indirectly affect your car insurance rate and help you save in the long run.

Having Video Evidence of an Accident

No one plans to get into a car accident, but they still happen. In most cases, accidents occur in the blink of an eye, making it easy for drivers to miss critical details that may have caused the collision. If there is doubt or questions regarding who was at fault for the crash, the claims process can quickly become a messy game of he-said she-said. And if you’re found at fault for an accident, you could face a rate increase at renewal. With video evidence of the accident, however, you can help alleviate any question of fault and help speed up the overall claims process.

In more serious cases, having a dash cam can prevent you from becoming a victim of insurance fraud. One of the most common forms of insurance fraud is a staged collision. This is when a scammer purposefully causes a crash and places the blame on them to receive an insurance payout. Proving your innocence may be difficult if it’s your word against a team of scammers. However, having video evidence of the scam in progress could help you expose it.

Avoid a Faulty Ticket

Despite best intentions, you can receive a ticket for an infraction you did not commit. For example, the Chicago Tribune found that speed cameras were used to issue $2.4 million worth of bad tickets in Chicago during a 2015 investigation. If you’re wrongfully issued a ticket, a dash cam can help prevent consequences in court if the footage clearly shows your innocence. If successful, avoiding a moving ticket can prevent rate increases down the line. Keep in mind that laws may differ depending on your location on how and when such footage can be used in court.

Monitor Driving Habits  

According to the CDC, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Because of their lack of experience and increased likelihood of being involved in an accident, insurance companies typically charge a hefty premium for adding a teenage driver to a policy.

Although installing a dash cam won’t directly affect your teen driver’s insurance rate, it can cause them to be more conscious when on the road by knowing they’re being monitored. As a parent, you can routinely examine footage of their driving to catch and correct risky driving habits before a traffic stop or accident occurs.

Even if you don’t have a teen driver, you can always use a dash cam to hold yourself accountable and improve your own driving. 

An Extra Set of Eyes When Parked 

There are few ways to protect an unattended car. Although audio alarms can scare off potential thieves, they don’t do much to identify the person responsible for vandalism, theft, or a hit-and-run. Some advanced dash cams come with motion-activated sensors that begin recording when they detect excessive motion or vibrations. If you live in an area with a high rate of vandalism or car break-ins, a dash cam could help you catch an offender or even deter them from targeting your car in the first place.

Are Dashboard Cameras Worth Purchasing? 

Although dash cams have multiple benefits, not all drivers may consider the investment worth it. Remember, you won’t receive an insurance discount for installing a dash cam. However, having video evidence can be valuable when dealing with insurance claims, identifying a hit-and-run driver, or improving driving habits. Most cameras will fall between the $100 and $200 price tag, making them fairly inexpensive compared to a rate increase after an at-fault accident.

Before purchasing a dash cam, consider the features that are important to you. If you simply want to record a log of your daily commute, an inexpensive model may make more sense.

Review Your Coverage with an AIS Agent

When it comes to saving on auto insurance, one of the easiest ways is to review your coverage and compare quotes regularly. Insurers use a variety of factors to determine your insurance premium, and some may even weigh certain factors more than others.

If you’re considering switching auto insurance companies or want to understand your current options, AIS can help. Our team of insurance specialists will guide you through the insurance marketplace and compare quotes from our network of trusted insurance partners. To speak with a specialist, give us a call at (888) 772-4247 or start a free quote online today.  

The information in this article is obtained from various sources and offered for educational purposes only. Furthermore, it should not replace the advice of a qualified professional. The definitions, terms, and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.