Best Gifts for New Drivers That They Will Actually Keep
8 useful gifts that live in the car and help on the one bad day, plus what every new driver should keep in the trunk.
The best gift for a new driver is one that stays in the car: a car emergency kit, a window breaker with a seatbelt cutter, a rechargeable road flare or a tire inflator. If you buy just one thing, make it the kit, because it puts a way to get out, a way to be seen and a way to stay warm in one box.
A new license is a big moment, for the driver and for the parents watching the car pull out of the driveway.
According to the CDC, teens ages 16 to 19 have a higher crash risk than any other age group, and the risk is highest in the first months after they get their license. A few well-chosen things in the car can help.
Here are 8 gifts new drivers actually keep, and how to pick the right one.
In this guide
- Pick gifts that live in the car, not in a drawer at home.
- The kit is the best single gift: a way to get out, a way to be seen and a way to stay warm.
- Match the rest to their driving: highways, cold winters, late nights or city parking.
- Show them how to use it in the driveway. A tool they have never touched is hard to use under stress.
What is the best gift for a new driver?
The best gift solves a problem they will really run into: a low tire, a check engine light, a breakdown on a dark road.
The rule of thumb: if it fits in the glovebox or the trunk and they would be glad to have it on a bad day, it is a good gift. Here are the 8 we recommend, in three groups.
Gifts that help them get out and get seen
1. A car emergency kit
NHTSA lists the supplies to keep in the car for winter: a flashlight, warning devices like flares, jumper cables, blankets, a phone charger, water and food. Most new drivers have none of it.
Our Family Car Kit puts the core in one box: a 2-pack of window breakers, two rechargeable road flares and two emergency sleeping bags. Get out, get seen, stay warm.
2. A window breaker and seatbelt cutter
After a crash, a door can jam and a belt can lock. AAA advises keeping an escape tool within reach of the driver, and found that spring-loaded tools broke side windows more reliably than hammer-style ones.
The TerraStrike is spring-loaded, has a hidden seatbelt cutter and clips to the keys. Read how to break a car window to get out before you give it, so you can show them.
TerraStrike, 2-pack
Lives on the key ring, so it is in the car every time they are. One press breaks a side window, no arm strength needed.
$39.90 · 120-day money-back guarantee
See how it works3. A rechargeable road flare
A breakdown at night is when a new driver feels most exposed. NHTSA lists warning devices like flares or emergency markers as part of a car kit.
A TerraSignal snaps onto the car with a magnet and runs on its own rechargeable battery, so it keeps flashing even when the car battery is dead.
Gifts that keep the car running
4. A tire inflator with a gauge
NHTSA points out that tire pressure drops as the temperature drops, and asks drivers to check their tires often. Most young drivers never do.
The TerraPulse is cordless: they set the target pressure and it shuts off on its own when it gets there. A slow leak becomes a stop at the shop instead of a call for a tow.
5. A car diagnostic scanner
The check engine light is the most stressful light on a new driver's dashboard. The TerraTell plugs in under the dash, near the left knee, and works with a free phone app on iPhone and Android.
They learn which part to ask about before anyone writes up a bill. It fits US gas cars from 1996 and newer.
6. A solar power bank
A dead phone means no map and no call for help. NHTSA lists a cell phone and a car charger in its car kit.
The TerraCell folds to the size of a phone, charges from the sun and holds up to 5 full phone charges. It also has a built-in flashlight with an SOS mode.
Gifts for cold mornings and late nights
7. A rechargeable hand warmer
Scraping ice off a windshield at 7 a.m. is part of learning to drive in a cold state. The Mag-Split Pocket Furnace is warm in about 3 seconds, splits in two to share, and recharges by USB-C.
8. A personal safety alarm
Parking lots at night and the walk from the car to the dorm are where parents worry most. The TerraAngel clips to the keys and lets out a 130-decibel siren with one pull of the pin, with a flashing light that shows where they are.
How do you choose the right gift?
If you buy one gift, make it the kit. If they already have the basics, match the next gift to where and when they drive:
| If they drive... | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Their first car, any season | The Family Car Kit | Get out, get seen and stay warm, in one box |
| On highways and long trips | Road flare and tire inflator | Breakdowns and slow leaks far from home |
| In a cold state | Hand warmer and emergency sleeping bag | Icy mornings and being stuck in the cold |
| An older used car | Diagnostic scanner | Know what the check engine light means |
| At night or to campus | Safety alarm and power bank | Parking lots, long walks, a dead phone |
You can see them all in one place in our gifts for new drivers collection, or browse the whole car safety range.
What should a new driver keep in the car?
A gift is a good start. This checklist, based on NHTSA's car kit list, is the rest. Print it and go through the car together.
New driver car checklist
Give the gift in the driveway, not at the dinner table. Spend ten minutes showing how each item works and where it lives in the car. A tool they have practiced with is a tool they will use.
For the full family plan, see our emergency preparedness checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good gift for a new driver?
Something that stays in the car and helps on a bad day: a car emergency kit, a window breaker with a seatbelt cutter, a rechargeable road flare or a tire inflator.
What should a new driver keep in their car?
NHTSA recommends a flashlight, jumper cables, warning devices like flares, a first aid kit, blankets, water, food that keeps and a phone charger, plus an ice scraper, a shovel and sand or kitty litter in winter.
Are car emergency kits a good gift for teens?
Yes. According to the CDC, teens ages 16 to 19 have a higher crash risk than any other age group, and most do not have any emergency gear in the car.
What is a cheap but useful gift for a new driver?
A window breaker and seatbelt cutter for the key ring, or a rechargeable road flare. Both are small and stay in the car for years.
Where should a window breaker go in the car?
Within reach of the driver's seat, not in the trunk or the glovebox. On the key ring is easiest, because the keys are always next to the driver.
- Choose gifts that live in the car.
- If you buy one thing, buy the kit: get out, get seen, stay warm.
- Match the next gift to where and when they drive.
- Show them how each item works before they need it.
The Family Car Kit
A 2-pack of window breakers, two rechargeable road flares and two emergency sleeping bags: everything to get out, get seen and stay warm, in one box.
See the kitMore guides for your family
What Is a NOAA Weather Radio, and Do You Need One?
What to Keep in Your Car for Emergencies: A Printable Checklist by Season
Stuck in Your Car in Snow: How to Stay Safe and Warm Until Help Comes
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