IDEAS FOR DRIVERS ON YOUR GIFT LIST
Practical presents from CAA memberships to snow brushes are always appreciated
Coffee table books and die-cast replicas are fine for some, but how about a more practical list for the car drivers in your life?
Some of these ideas sport specific brand names because they’re the ones I buy and use. Others are generic. From a few dollars up to a few hundred, there are lots of things that any driver would appreciate, as well as some they didn’t even know they wanted.
CAA MEMBERSHIP
My daughter-in-law’s father renews this for her every year, and it is the best present ever. The first time you need a tow, you will be grateful forever. Distant second: I give my son a Sirius radio subscription each year. This one you can haggle over, and get it down pretty cheap the longer you stay on the line.
GAS CARDS
I have yet to see a disappointed face on anyone pulling a gas card out of their stocking. For anyone with budget constraints, this is an awesome gift. I cash in airline or Air Miles points to get them.
WIPER BLADES
Few people replace these as often as they should (annually). They can only take so much chipping with a snow scraper before they develop breaks. All you need is the vehicle info (year, make, model) and you can buy the needed two (or three) blades. They fit in a stocking, and you can put them on in the driveway after breakfast.
WASHER FLUID
No, it’s not romantic, but everybody needs to have an extra jug on hand. Buy a few, and if everybody is home, go outside and pop all the hoods and top everybody up. Keep a spare jug bungee-corded in the trunk.
ARMOR ALL SCREEN WIPES
All your electronic screens need specialized cleaning, or you risk damaging them. A package of these wipes can go in the glove box, and you can instantly get rid of all the dust and fingerprints all over that infotainment screen. I clean all the screens in the house at the same time; one cloth goes a long way.
BOOSTER PACKS
There are several brands and sizes (and prices) on the market, though I like the NOCO Genius ones. You’re giving someone the ability to safely boost their own car if they have to (they really are goof-proof ) but you can also charge phones and tablets with it or haul it along camping. Having your own renewable power source can be a lifeline.
DETAILING
A gift certificate is fine, but it’s even better if you steal their car for a few hours and have it done. There are all levels of service available to fit any budget. The more you can tell the technicians about the origin of stains or odours, the better.
WEATHERTECH MATS
Once the car is immaculate, help keep it that way. These mats keep the snow and slush from getting to the carpet, and from being trapped under it, causing corrosion where you can’t see it. They cost more, but they’re the last mats you’ll ever buy for that car. Note: never stack any type of mats on top of existing ones. Pedals can get stuck, and it’s dangerous.
SNOW BRUSH
Get a really good one. They don’t last forever, and in the off season, they’re often stuffed into grungy garages or lost. One with an extendable arm is a must for short people or those with SUVS (so, everyone, basically) but test it in the store to make sure it locks into place and stays put. Make sure it’s strong enough to push all the snow off the top of a car, because we all dust off the whole car, right?
TIRE GAUGE
Cheap and useful, and everybody who drives should know how to use one. With temperatures jacking up all over the place, you need to pay more attention to your tire pressure to maintain your safety. Keep it in the glove box.
RUSTPROOFING
It should be done annually, so here’s another one you can renew each year for somebody for about $125 or so. I use Krown, but there’s a lot of information available online.
FIRST AID KIT
Every car should have even a basic one on board, whether you buy one already assembled, or make your own.