From LED lights to Vanity mirrors: Are Viral TikTok Car Accessories Worth Your Money?

TikTok shop is bursting with weird and wonderful products, including affordable car accessories designed to add a personal touch to your vehicle.

But, while these items may initially seem cheap and convenient, not all of them are worth the investment. Below, the team at Select Car Leasing breaks down which items are worth your hard-earned cash and which ones you’re better off leaving behind:

// Worth it

1. Magnetic phone holder

Car phone holders can be a tricky accessory to purchase online, as it’s difficult to determine whether they’re good quality or suitable for your phone or car. 

However, TikTok Shop offers a magnetic phone holder, which is a much more durable option and can be placed on any surface. The magnetic design keeps any phone in place, even on bumpy roads, and allows for hands-free navigation. The sleek design also reduces the need for bulky clips or holders that can restrict your view.

2. 360-degree blind spot mirrors

These small, adjustable mirrors easily stick onto a car’s wing mirror to eliminate the driver’s blind spots and improve visibility. They’re simple and easy to apply and provide an affordable safety upgrade that will benefit all road users.

3. Steering wheel table

A steering wheel table is another convenient and budget-friendly car accessory, particularly if you spend a lot of time on the road. They provide a useful surface for eating or working when fully parked in a safe place. 

Their compact and simple design makes them easy to attach and store away again when not in use. They’re also a great way of keeping your car clean by preventing pesky spillages that are hard to avoid when eating on your lap.

4. Sun visor vanity mirror with LED lights

These vanity mirrors are compact and easy to attach to your existing sun visor. They’re a great addition to any vehicle, from cars to camper vans, and a major upgrade from the basic mirror most cars come equipped with, many of which don’t have lights.

They’re a perfect option for those who want a quick and convenient way to refresh their appearance on the go. The built-in LED light provides a natural illumination, and the dimmable feature makes it easier for touch ups or check details even in low light.

5. Cupholder expander

Water bottles come in all shapes and sizes these days, but most cars still only have small cupholders. This handy accessory fits in any vehicle and securely holds larger bottles while driving, reducing the risk of spills and bulky bottles getting in the way of the controls.

// Tougher to recommend

1. Car cleaning jelly

The viral car cleaning jelly may seem like a convenient way to get into small crevices and rid them of dust and crumbs, but it falls short in practice. 

Although it initially seems like an affordable purchase, it quickly loses its stickiness and becomes dirty, so it has to be replaced regularly, making it a costly and inefficient option compared to more reliable options like a reusable microfibre cloth.

2. Mini rubbish bin

A mini rubbish bin for your car has become a popular accessory thanks to TikTok. However, although the options that are available may look sleek, they fill up fast and don’t tend to hold much. 

A more practical option would be to purchase hooks that attach to the back of the driver or passenger seats, and hang reusable shopping bags or small bin liners that do the job for less and don’t need to be constantly emptied.

3. LED interior strip lights

Although LED lights are a fun way to improve your car’s aesthetic (particularly at nighttime), they have the potential to create distracting reflections that can affect you and other road users.

They also require careful installation to ensure they are securely attached and can lose adhesion over time, particularly in varying temperatures.

4. Seat gap filler

Seat gap fillers may initially seem handy for organising important items like your phone or keys to ensure they don’t fall between the seat, but in reality they aren’t suitable for all car models and may end up blocking seat movement.

As a number of the organisers are made of silicone, they also end up gathering a lot of dust and debris and require regular cleaning.

5. Mini car vacuum cleaner 

Although these may seem practical, some options available on the TikTok shop have low suction power and struggle to effectively clean a car’s interior, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.

You’re better off investing in a slightly larger handheld vacuum cleaner available at a number of retailers, many of which are likely to have Black Friday offers to take advantage of to help you keep costs down.