Gift Guide: A First-Car Kit for New Drivers
A new driver's first car is a big deal. A small kit that handles low tires and dead batteries is a gift that actually gets used.
New drivers don't need much, but they do need to handle the two most common surprises themselves: a low tire and a dead battery. Here's a simple kit, plus the free items to put in the glovebox.
1. Tire top-offs without a gas-station air machine
AstroAI L7 Cordless Tire Inflator
A pocket-size, battery-powered air pump with a digital gauge that stops on its own at the pressure you set.
Price: under $30 when we checked. Check Amazon for the current price.
Teach them once: find the door-jamb number, attach the hose, press start. The pump stops by itself. It's great for cold-weather pressure drops. It isn't a substitute for a spare or roadside help on a real flat. (rundown)
2. A jump starter, so they don't need a second car
NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter
A 1,000-amp lithium jump starter rated by NOCO for gasoline engines up to 6.0 L and diesel up to 3.0 L.
Price: around the $100 mark when we checked. Check Amazon for the current price.
NOCO rates the GB40 for gasoline engines up to 6.0 L and diesels up to 3.0 L, which covers most first cars. Practice once in the driveway so the first time isn't on a dark lot. And remind them to recharge it every few months.
3. A bottle that lives in the cup holder
Owala FreeSip 24 oz Insulated Water Bottle
The two-way bottle: sip through the built-in straw or tip it back and swig. Cold for up to 24 hours, per Owala.
Price: under $30 when we checked. Check Amazon for the current price.
It's a small thing, but a locking lid means no spills on the floor mats. It's for cold drinks only. (rundown)
The free essentials
- Registration and insurance card (or digital copies they know how to pull up)
- A printed list of emergency contacts and your roadside-assistance number
- A phone charging cable that stays in the car
- A note that says where the spare and jack are, if the car has them
Planning a family road trip too? See the Thanksgiving road-trip roundup.
