Game-Changing Car Interior Accessories for About $100

DIY

Interior

Mark Bach

March 03, 2022

Mark Bach

March 03, 2022

A small investment in the right interior accessory can completely transform your cabin. And by a small investment, we mean around $100. See if any of these suggestions for less than a single Benjamin are right for your ride.

Seat Covers

Maybe you keep your car perfectly pristine. Or perhaps your prefer a lived-in look. Either way, a set of new seat covers can dress up the interior. Use them to cover up grime, rips, or tears—or to prep your car when it comes time to sell.

Seat covers come in a variety of materials. A comfortable polyurethane faux leather imitates the look and feel of the real deal, but at an affordable price.

Regardless, make sure the seat covers are designed for your specific car. That's because many seats these days have airbags built-in, so you don’t want to interfere with any safety devices, including seat belts.

Seat Massagers

Heated seats and massagers used to be for luxury cars only. No longer. Drivers can add these back-soothing DC-powered devices to provide relief, especially during long road trips. Manual beaded seat covers are also worth a look.

Look for a massager that fits both the bottom and back of the seat. Most have elastic straps to hold the device in place. In addition, they usually have a control that varies both the massage pressure—and how much heat radiates. It’s hard to imagine another car interior gift that gets a better reaction from a loved one.

Dashcams

The tiny 1080p Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 provides a 140-degree field of view.

Cameras are standard equipment on cars these days, but mostly for backing up. An interior dashcam is especially helpful in the event of a fender bender. The video might help verify who was at fault. (Not you, of course.)

Dashcams have evolved with these high-tech times. They come with high-definition 4K quality and usually offer sharp night-vision images. They can be set to continuously record when the car is on—or only start/save recordings when built-in sensors respond to a sudden jolt. Some dash cams offer a front view and a shot of the cabin simultaneously.

Speakers

High-quality tunes are essential to the driving experience. Some automakers put a lot of effort into equipping their cars with the best audio. But many vehicles could use a sound-system upgrade.

It takes some effort and expense to swap out the head unit - opens in new window or tab.—the nerve center for your vehicle’s infotainment system. But upgrading your speakers is affordable and easily done.

You can replace the complete set of speakers—or focus on the bass, tweeters, or mid-range. A wide variety of brands available on eBay provide a size and shape that fits your ride. It’s an easy DIY task with tons of YouTube videos to help you through the process. A little bit more thump can spice up the most tedious commute.

Interior Car Care Kits

This is the inexpensive car interior purchase that will have the biggest impact. It’s not technically an accessory, but rather a kit that has all the necessary cleaners, brushes, and wipes. The best of them also includes an air freshener spray, some microfibers, and cleaners for carpeting and leather.

Buy a car care kit once and leave it in your trunk. Then, grab the cleaning tools and supplies whenever you have a few minutes to kill or when you see dirt and scuffs. A few minutes of wiping and tidying up makes every trip so much more pleasant and enjoyable.

About the author

Mark Bach

Mark C. Bach has oil in his veins and remembers feeler gauges and brake springs. He has a love for all things that move, especially old-school muscle cars. Bach writes for a variety of outlets, including Chevy Classics and FuelCurve.com, and maintains Route66pubco.com.

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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.