Yahoo Autos 55 Cool & Unique Gifts for Mechanics and Auto Enthusiasts
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This article was updated with new products and information in November 2024.
Automotive enthusiasts sure love their tools and gear. If you're looking for that perfect gift for your favorite mechanic, we've culled a list of excellent ideas.
We've got affordable products that do the job and pricier choices if you're looking to splurge. And a ton of gift ideas in between. No matter which you choose, you'll make that mechanic smile—and that's what it's all about.
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Personalized Your Name Garage Neon Sign
Every garage needs to have a declaration of the domain, and this one is customizable with a plethora of colors to choose from. And with three different sizes to choose from, this is the ultimate personalized garage sign.
Whynter 1.8 cu. ft. Portable "Tool Box" Refrigerator
Designed to blend seamlessly into your garage or workshop, this toolbox-style Whynter Garage Refrigerator has a powder-coated red stainless steel exterior housing, heavy-duty metal drawers, locking door, durable rolling casters, interior lighting, and an auto-defrost feature. A perfect addition to any work area setting and great frontage to keep your refrigerator and favorite beverages safely unnoticed. We'd love one in our garage.
High-Output Rechargeable Pocket Light
This pocket light is a behemoth, boasting a claimed 500-lumen output for an impressive two hours. It's rechargeable, too, and gets juiced up in four hours. Culminating in a display of respectable durability, the whole thing is water- and impact-resistant. It's a bit higher on the price ladder, but we think it's a worthy investment.
20V Bluetooth Speaker
Mechanics gotta have some tunes in the background when they're wrenching, and this Bluetooth speaker from DeWALT has an industrial aesthetic that's right at home in any garage or shop. It features a 100-foot connectivity range and comes with a USB charging port and auxiliary input. If they don't have a 20V battery, the speaker comes with a power cord.
Short Sleeve Coveralls
Fender Cover with Foam Packing and Tool Pockets
A fender cover is a necessity for anyone working on stuff under the hood. This one from Performance Tool is built with vinyl and a foam backing.
Red Rolling Creeper
I'm Here Because You Broke Something T-Shirt
Ah, yes. Mechanics are truly fix-it magicians. This shirt embodies that superpower in truth. Available in a plethora of sizes and colors, you'll be able to get the perfect fit and look for your favorite garage warrior.
Pumice Hand Cleaner
Original Work Gloves
If you're looking for a gift a mechanic can use daily, check out the Original Work Gloves from Mechanix. As the brand suggests, these are great for wrenching, featuring a tough synthetic material on the palm and a wicking material on the back to keep their paws cool and dry.
LED Garage Light with Security Camera
This is a super-affordable garage security solution without buying into a whole-home security system. If your mechanic's workspace has a ceiling light socket, this bright LED light screws right in, replacing that poor old light bulb with 3000 Lumens of efficient illumination. Better still, it has a motion sensor function so when anyone enters into range, the light comes on, the camera tracks their movement, a siren sounds, and your favorite mechanic will receive an alert on their phone.
Magnetic Wristband
These magnetic wristbands are wildly popular on Amazon, and it's really a helpful idea. Simply wrap the wristband using the adjustable strap, and make use of the 10 embedded magnets in it. It's perfect for holding onto drill bits, fasteners, or anything else magnetic.
168-Piece Mechanics Tools Kit and Socket Set
Dustbuster 16-Volt
Somewhat surprisingly, the Black+Decker Dustbuster is the best car vacuum money can buy. We ranked it as our top choice in our car vacuum test, where we loved its performance and price. Just because mechanics have extra-dirty jobs, doesn't mean they don't like to keep their car clean. This is the perfect tool for that job.
Boost Plus GB40 Portable Jump Starter
Even the most reliable vehicles will one day have battery woes. While less of a tool to help DIYers get it done, it’s still a great preventative measure to have a battery pack on hand to get a vehicle running when needed. This NOCO GB40 was one of our top picks in our Best Portable Jump Starter test.
"Certified YouTube Mechanic" Sticker
Borescope Camera
Portable Ceramic Space Heater
For those looking for a portable space heater for the garage or shop, consider this 1500-watt choice from Isiler. To prevent fires, it comes with overheating protection and an integrated shut-off switch if the heater tips over. It's small and light too, weighing in at just under 2.5 pounds.
"Trust Me, I'm A Mechanic" Socks
Headlamp Flashlight
Telescoping Magnetic Pickup Tool
Mini Electric Screwdriver
For repairing small electronics in vehicles, it's tough to beat a mini electric screwdriver. This one from Fanttik feels great in your hand, plus it comes with 24 bits and two different torque settings. The maximum battery life is rated at two hours—not too shabby at all.
The Bucketeer Bucket Tool Organizer
What’s better than having a standard five-gallon bucket on hand? Having a well-organized five-gallon bucket. This drop-in tool organizer adds dozens of pockets inside and out to help keep your tools easy to access.
Neiko 3/4”-Inch Digital Torque Adapter
Transform any ratchet into a precision torque wrench with this Neiko Digital Torque Adapter. This Neiko unit is simple to use and is available in 3/8”, 1/2”, and 3/4” drive options (the linked version is the 3/4" model).
Bloody Knuckles Hand Repair Balm
This hand repair balm from Duke Cannon might have a name that resonates with mechanics best. Originally designed for fighters in the ring, the balm soothes and heals hands without leaving behind a greasy residue. But with all the inadvertent punching under the hood caused by stuck bolts, they oughta put a picture of a mechanic on the jar. We fight, too.
Armor All Original Garage Floor Mat
If your giftee already spends a lot of time in the garage, why not help make it a more pleasant place to be? Enough of that hard, dusty concrete—this garage floor mat from Armor All is like a durable carpet and one of the best in our garage flooring test.
No-Scratch Mechanic Belt
Belt buckles have been the cause of much agony when it comes to working on cars. When leaning over the hood, they're excellent at scratching up fenders. This belt aims to solve that, featuring a no-scratch face thanks to an ingenious hidden buckle design. This is a must-have for any mechanic that wears pants, which (hopefully) is all of them.
Toolbox Liner
This toolbox liner comes in a huge 16-inch-by-16-foot sheet and is built with a grid design for easy measurements and cuts. It's three millimeters thick and prevents your tools from sliding around inside any-sized toolbox drawers. This is a must-have in every box.
Heavy Duty Nitrile Gloves
Test Light
A test light is a simple but crucial tool to have for any automotive electrical work. Just secure the alligator clip to a ground and probe for power. If the light pops on, there's current—perfect for testing fuses quickly. This one comes with a 135-inch spring-wire cord and a spare conductive spring and bulb.
Magnetic Induction Heater Kit
This interesting tool produces "flameless heat," and no, not like rubbing two sticks together in a cave. We could give you the scientific lowdown, but in lay terms, the tool uses an electromagnetic field to heat up a stuck nut by surrounding it with a high-current coil. By heating that nut, the metal expands and separates from the threads. Voilà, the cherry-red nut will spin right off with a wrench of choice. No flame, no fire, happy mechanic.
3-Piece Red Magnetic Socket Holder Set
Keep sockets organized and easily accessible with this magnetic holder. And unlike other holders, which use tension and can be hard to pull sockets off of, this ARES unit uses strong magnets securely hold sockets in place.
Mechanic's Hand Soap with Brush
For a compact and convenient method of scrubbing a mechanic's mitts, check out this hand-cleaning kit from Grip Clean. The soap also features pumice scrubbing agents to cleanse tough grime, and it includes a very handy fingernail brush.
Rotating LED Work Lights
These compact LED work lights fold down to just 6 inches when closed—perfect for small storage or mobile toolboxes. The magnetic bottoms allow you to stick them to anything metal for worry-free lighting, and the heads rotate 360 degrees.
High-Velocity Fan
You know how hot it gets in the garage on a summer day—a shop fan can be a lifesaver. We like this one from Lasko that features six different fan positions, so you can adjust where mechanics want the breeze. It's compact, too—standing just 11 inches tall and leaving a 9-by-12-inch footprint.
ElitePro Digital Tire Pressure Gauge
Ensure optimal tire pressure with this easy-to-read digital pressure gauge. The integrated release valve and robust design make it a favorite among pro mechanics.
Kneeling Pads
Protect your knees during prolonged tasks with Gorilla Grip's Kneeling Pad. Its lightweight design makes it easy to carry around the workshop or garden, while its soft material helps keep your joints from aching any more than they need to.
Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrench Set
Just when they thought a ratcheting wrench couldn't be improved upon, we were blessed with flex-heads. These beauties will save time and knuckle bandages. This set from Bulltools features 180-degree rotating heads to get on the toughest bolts, and those heads include a 72-tooth gear. Sizes range from 8 to 19 millimeters.
Multimeter
Accurate and user-friendly, this Digital Multimeter is perfect for diagnosing electrical issues in vehicles and home projects. is perfect for diagnosing electrical issues in vehicles and home projects.
Heavy-Duty Power Strip
A power strip is especially handy these days, thanks to the many battery chargers we use. This 10-outlet heavy-duty strip features a strong surge protector, a six-foot power cord, and a wide space between each outlet to accommodate bulky chargers.
18-Inch Socket Boss
Sockets can be notoriously hard to find, so a good organizer like this Socket Boss from Ernst is a must-have. It holds 57 sockets and locks them on with a twist function for portability. When you want a socket, simply twist and pull—boom, back to work!
OBD-II Scanner
If you'd rather stick to good ol' plug-and-play, this OBD-II code reader from Autel performs all the basic functions. The interface allows you to read and clear codes, and it displays freeze frame and live data, as well as deciphers the code into the symptomatic meaning.
Scratch Eraser Kit
If your mechanic giftee has a vehicle they like to keep pristine, a good scratch removal kit is a fantastic idea. Get this kit from Meguiar's, which ranks as the best scratch remover in our test. It's easy, fast, and performs excellently. The only catch? You need a drill to use the buffing pad. But if a drill is ready to be used, this is a no-brainer.
Scrubs In-A-Bucket
If you need to clean some light grubbiness quickly, give these hand cleaner towels a try. The dual-textured Scrubs lift dirt and grease from your hands and lock it in the towel to prevent recontamination. We like using these for dirty elbows or knees, where washing with traditional soap and water would be a bit tricky. Car and Driver's technical editor Dave Beard calls them "a must."
Extra-Wide Can Storage Rack
Mechanics use all kinds of sprays, and this extra-wide storage rack keeps them ready to go. It claims to hold 12 full-size aerosol cans and measures 3 1/4 inches deep. There are holes on top for screw-mounting, or you can slap some strong magnets on the back to mount your box.
NT301 OBD2 Scanner
20V Max 1/4-Inch Impact Driver Kit
This is DeWalt's highly praised impact driver, and it's even built here in the USA. The 2.8-pound impact is designed to be lightweight and able to fit into tight spots. With a maximum torque of 1400 inch pounds, it's built to handle small to medium fasteners. The kit features the impact driver, a 20V battery, charger, and carrying bag.
Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work
A philosopher/mechanic's wise (and often hilarious) look at the challenges and pleasures of working with one's hands. Upon its release in 2010, Shop Class as Soulcraft became an instant bestseller, attracting readers with its radical (and timely) reappraisal of the merits of skilled manual labor. Using his own experience as an electrician and mechanic, author Matthew B. Crawford questions the educational wisdom of turning everyone into a “knowledge worker” based on a misguided separation of thinking from doing. A must-read for anyone who enjoys working with their hands.
Mini Needle Nose Pliers
When checking fuses, a small pair of needle-nose pliers can be super handy. Grab, pull, and inspect the fuse in question—that process goes faster with these than trying to get your fingers in there. The pliers can also be helpful for other issues, such as dropped bolts or credit cards.
Brake Cleaner
Brake cleaner is a mechanic's best friend. Its many uses range from decontaminating fresh rotors, cleaning off an oil filter housing, or degreasing a wheel bearing before repacking. We love CRC's product, and its original formula holds up against anything else on the market.
Pick and Hook Set
A pick and hook set is clutch when removing plastic fastener clips or disconnecting connectors, which can become brittle with heat and break if you try to remove them with your hands. Delicacy is essential here.
6-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
This rugged shop vac features a 6-gallon tank and a 4-horsepower motor to easily clean most garage messes. With the 6-ft hose and the 10-ft power cord, you get over 16 feet of reach. The swivel casters make for easy maneuverability.
Universal Joint Impact Socket Set
Oh, these things are genius. Universal joint sockets, commonly known as swivel sockets, allow unmatched flexibility for accessing hidden fasteners. These swivel sockets are built to handle the abuse from impact tools, but lose significant torque when used at an angle. The garage guys at Autoweek recommended this set. For access they're excellent, but for power they lack.
Locking Pliers Set
A good set of vise-grips is a must-have for any mechanic, and it's tough to beat the originals. This set from Irwin does the job simply and continuously, as they're built to last. From locking on sway-bar links to hose clamps, these bad boys are super-helpful.
Toolbox LED Lighting
A mechanic needs all the lights in the world, so why not stick some in your toolbox's hutch? These LED strip lights mount just about anywhere. The lights emit an impressive 1100 lumens to help you see each part of that carburetor you're rebuilding.
Why Trust Us?
Road & Track and its sibling publications at Hearst Autos represent three of the most influential automotive publications in the world. We rely on decades of experience in the automotive and gear spaces to help readers make informed purchasing choices.
With the legacies of Autoweek, Car and Driver, and Road & Track behind us, the Hearst Autos Gear Team is more concerned with the trust our readers have in us than our bottom line. We won't tell you to buy something if we wouldn't buy it ourselves or recommend it to our friends, and we'll never claim to have used or tested something if we haven't.
Our picks and recommendations of products and gear are based on testing and knowledge, not hype.
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