If someone you know absolutely loves cars, it makes sense to buy them a gift relating to their passion should their birthday roll around. Another good time to gift them is when they purchase a new car, as they’ll be riding high on that new set of wheels, and your gift will have the maximum impact here.
But of course, if you’re not too much of a car lover or just use them to get from A to B, odds are you might know all of the tiny little adjustments and implementations that passionate petrolheads do.
Now, that doesn’t mean you need to buy a custom exhaust for their car of course, some gifts can’t be too direct or personal unless you’re very close to them and know exactly what they need. Of course, certain options like a gift card can be a good option for their favorite brand, but it’s a little generic.
Instead, here are some good choices you may wish to make:
Car-Branded Apparel
Of course, car culture is much more than just the cars themselves, so if you’re unsure what to buy them that relates to their specific set of wheels, apparel can be a great option. After all, most car enthusiasts love showing off their favorite makes and models.
As such official merchandise from their preferred manufacturer often hits the sweet spot between thoughtful and practical - they can wear it, it appeals to their passion, and you haven’t forced upon them something they can’t use.
Better yet there’s usually a good deal to choose from, such as racing jackets, polo shirts, and baseball caps from brands like Ferrari, Porsche, or even everyday makers like Ford and Toyota which can go down well. Just make sure you know which brand they're passionate about, as car lovers tend to have strong preferences. If you can, go fo the more premium brands if you can - you don’t have to own a Ferrari to like wearing a cool beanie with their branding.
Private Number Plates
Personalized private plates can look fantastic on a well-maintained car, and if the passionate car person in your life hasn’t purchased one yet, you can almost guarantee they’ve thought about it. You don't need to spend thousands on premium combinations either, as even plates that include their initials or a meaningful number can make a fantastic gift.
The trick is subtly finding out if they already have plans for a specific plate, as some enthusiasts spend years tracking down the perfect combination they can afford. So, instead of necessarily buying one for them outright, you might give them the gift of purchasing one for them or contributing to their own purchase. That way they can get it absolutely right and it won’t be such an indulgent purchase for them, because you’re helping to foot the bill a little.
Interior Comforts
Not to sound insulting towards them, but car lovers tend to spend more time in their vehicles than most people realize. Just like investing in a great bed is a good idea given how we spend a third of our lives there, quality seat covers in premium materials can transform their daily drive and help them feel even prouder of it.
For example, memory foam neck pillows designed specifically for driving may help them if they have long journeys to deal with, as they give genuine comfort. Some aftermarket steering wheel covers use surprisingly luxurious materials these days as well, though make sure to check their car's wheel size first. You can also buy them a collection of different air fresheners with different flavors so the car always smells great - that’s perfect if they tend to drive home directly from the gym. Interior comforts can be different depending on need and preference of course, but many are worth your time.
Cleaning Waxes & Polishes
True car enthusiasts often enjoy the ritual of washing and detailing their pride and joy, and of course, we can’t judge. What home cook hasn’t just found joy in seasoning a brand new cast iron pan, or a computer nerd putting their rig together and changing the thermal paste on their CPU?
That’s why premium cleaning products from respected brands can make for excellent gifts because they're items enthusiasts love using but sometimes hesitate to buy for themselves. A good quality microfiber cleaning kit paired with high-end wax is a good place to start, but it’s worth asking what kind of bodykit or paint they have on the car before you find something suitable. Often, officially branding cleaning kits can’t be a bad idea. Many car lovers actually find the cleaning process quite therapeutic, so you might be gifting them hours of quiet time to reflect. Not a bad place to start!
Dashcams
Dashcams can be great for any driver, but certainly for those who like to stay on the road and work well within it. On top of the usual and basic accident recording, many now include parking protection, GPS tracking, and even built-in WiFi for easy video sharing to, depending on the make.
Some models can create time-lapse videos of road trips, which adds another dimension to their driving experience if they like to post videos online or just share their journeys with family. They’re cheap to operate but some of the good ones can be a little pricey, which is why it’s good to buy them as gifts. Just make sure they can be appropriately mounted on the vehicle with care.
A Track Day
One of the hardships of loving cars is that for the most part, you’re going to adore vehicles way outside of your price range that you’ll never own. This means that outside of watching content or reading about them, perhaps seeing them in a race could be the closest you get.
But a track day can often be a great day out and give someone access to the car of their dreams for a day. They might need to undergo a safety briefing and will usually include a chaperone, but it can be a fantastic experience worth going on.
With this advice, you’ll be sure to send a great gift to a petrolhead who cares about it.
