5 Cheap Car Accessories That Users Say Instantly Improve Comfort

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Most modern cars have a ton of built-in features that add to the safety of the car and improve the driving experience. It's all about making the ride more comfortable — especially if you drive often or make long road trips. But while newer vehicles have soft and comfortable cushions with plush headrests, older cars may miss out on such luxuries. Don't worry, though — if your car isn't on the newer side, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars something brand new just to enjoy modern niceties on your commute.

We've scoured the internet and curated a list of five cheap car accessories that instantly improve the comfort of your car as soon as you install them. From ventilated seats to UV protection on the windshield, these accessories can add many modern elements from newer cars to just about any vehicle out there. 

Some of these accessories may not seem like they add much value, but they will contribute to improving your driving experience substantially — all without burning a hole in your pocket. Additionally, we've also considered the comfort of all passengers in the car. So, these gadgets can be used not only with the driver's seat but also contribute to keeping the passengers in the rear seat comfortably throughout the journey. Notably, all the gadgets mentioned on this list have raving reviews from users on Amazon.

While it's an essential part of riding in any car, wearing a seatbelt — especially for long durations — can get uncomfortable. It can interfere with free movement, crease your shirt if you're wearing something formal, or even cause irritation and bruising. These issues affect drivers and passengers alike, but that doesn't mean anyone should stop wearing a seatbelt. The simplest solution is extremely inexpensive — the Amooca car seatbelt cover. This $8 accessory wraps over the seatbelt in any car and provides extra cushioning.

The sleeve is available in 18 color options, so you can get one that suits the interior of your car or just your personal preferences. Every package contains two covers, which makes the deal even sweeter. There's a velcro fastner to keep the cover in place when installed on a seatbelt. While the cover is made with cotton, the exterior is coated in a layer of velvet fabric for an extra-smooth feel. Some seatbelts have sharp edges that cause cuts on your skin, so installing this soft layer can prevent such mishaps. With close to 20,000 reviews and an overall rating of 4.4, users seem to love the comfort provided by the Amooca seatbelt cover. As a bonus, the brand also advertises that when not in use in your car, the same cover can also be used to make the straps of a backpack more comfortable. Now that's a win-win!

Some of the most expensive cars offer the most comfortable seats and cushioning, with plush handrests and neck cushions by default. Most standard cars have seats that are certainly comfortable for short trips, but they aren't the best if you often travel long distances in your vehicle. One of the most common issues when driving for long hours is neck pain. This happens mainly because of poorly designed headrests and the gap between one's neck and the seat when driving. Apart from the driver, passengers in the rear seats may also face discomfort since a lot of cars compromise on the headrest included at the back. The Crofy car neck pillow solves this issue by adding a soft, plush pillow to fill the gap between your neck and the car's headrest.

The pillow improves your ergonomics when driving, while also ensuring your passengers have a soft cushion to rest on during the drive. If you've been experiencing neck pain when driving, this simple $30 accessory can fix the issue. You get two in a pack, and they can be installed with a single strap on any car seat. The cushion is made of memory foam, so it takes the shape of your neck to provide better comfort. The exterior is made using a soft material to avoid causing irritation. According to users, installing the Crofy car neck pillow resulted in immediate relief from shoulder and neck pain.

While it's definitely not a luxury car feature anymore, you'll still have to buy a new car that costs a good amount of money if you wish to enjoy seats that are more breathable while also being temperature-controlled. If you have an older car, or if you want to buy a lower trim of a car that skimps on this feature — don't worry. You only have to spend about $80 on the Paffenery ventilated car seat cover to introduce the feature in your car. Since this is a cover that sits on top of the seat and isn't necessarily form-fitted to the seat, it's universally compatible with all vehicles. Just lay it on top of the seat and connect it to your car's 12V socket, and you're good to go.

As per the brand, the Paffenery car seat cover has eight built-in fans to circulate air, which can be extremely helpful if you stay in a region where the temperatures are usually on the higher side. It also has a non-slip surface, along with a controller that can be used to set the fan speed. The biggest difference you'll notice after installing the Paffenery car seat cover is that you won't sweat anymore when driving, especially on your back and thighs. Leather seats are known to be sweaty, and they can also trap heat. You can now tackle that issue at a nominal cost. Moreover, you can install the Paffenery car seat cover on any seat in your car — including the rear seats.

Along with ventilated seats, a key accessory to ensure a comfortable driving experience in hot climates is something like the Rockrose car UV tint film. If your car doesn't have tinted windows by default, you may find it uncomfortable to drive around during the day. Applying the Rockrose tint film reduces UV rays by 99%, according to the brand, which means you should ideally feel less heat. As per users, the film does its job pretty well, which means it not only reduces the heat entering the cabin but also makes it easier to view the road since any glare from the sun is blocked. That said, the tint apparently fades with time, so you may have to replace the film from time to time. Thankfully, a roll measuring 36 feet by 100 feet costs under $100, so replacing it every few years isn't going to be too burdensome.

The brand sells the tinted film in multiple dimensions, so you can pick the one that's best suited for the size of your car's windshield and windows. While some users say it's quite simple to apply with the help of soapy water, those who have no prior experience installing tinted films may want to get the help of a professional or a mechanic for a clean install. After all, an installation with air bubbles can result in poor visual quality that may also ruin the aesthetic of your vehicle.

Most gadgets on this list contribute to improving comfort for all passengers in the car. However, the Hayousui USB car fan is specifically designed for the rear seats. This pair of fans could be effective if your car doesn't have rear AC vents, and you want to circulate cool air coming out of the AC vents in the front of the car. There are three speeds to choose from, and the fans are rotatable, so you can reposition them based on how the passengers in the rear are seated. By default, the fans come with a seat holder installed, which means you can clip them onto the back of the driver's headrest.

Once installed, plug the fans into your car's USB port to use them. If your car doesn't have a rear charging port, you can even use a power bank used to charge a phone to power the fans. Thanks to the rotating mechanism, you can even install the fans in such a way that one of the fans faces the driver while the other is directed at the rear passenger. The Hayousui USB fan can be a good solution for those who don't like using air conditioners inside a car but still want some sort of air circulation to beat the heat. It's also useful if you've parked and are waiting for someone, so you don't want to keep the car's ignition turned on for the AC to work.

The primary motive of these gadgets is to make your drives more comfortable — regardless of whether you're driving or lounging in the passenger's seat. All the accessories on this list have a rating of over four stars on Amazon, with thousands of reviews. Users find them effective, and the best part is that all the accessories are simple to install and don't need any complex wiring or prior knowledge of cars. Additionally, these accessories are universally compatible with most vehicles regardless of their size or make. Some may require additional power, for which you can use your car's built-in USB ports or even a car charger used to charge your iPhone.