Remember when your car’s cigarette lighter was actually used for lighting cigarettes? Those days feel ancient now. That 12-volt port has turned into the ultimate multitasker of modern cars, powering everything from useful add-ons to downright absurd inventions.
While most of us use it to keep our phones alive on long drives, manufacturers clearly saw bigger possibilities. They’ve gone all out, dreaming up gadgets that plug into that round socket and turn it into a power hub for just about anything you can imagine. However, they are in no way similar to the list of accessories you can plug into your car’s USB port.
A portable fridge/warmer
Cold soda, warm sandwich—choose your fighter
If you like keeping drinks cold on long drives, prefer your food to stay warm during a commute, or travel with medication that needs a consistent temperature, a portable thermoelectric cooler is worth considering. These plug directly into your car’s 12-volt socket and run off the battery while the engine is on.
Thermoelectric coolers have been around for a long time, but newer models, such as the Wagan Personal Thermoelectric Cooler/Warmer, are far more advanced than the clunky units of the past. They work by using electric current to transfer heat from one side to the other, allowing them to cool contents up to 36°F below room temperature or heat them to around 140°F. There’s no ice to melt, no puddles to deal with, and no humming noise you’d get from a compressor. The 14-liter version fits about 12 regular soda cans, or taller bottles if you remove the divider.
- Brand
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Wagan
- Power
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12/24V DC
Keep your drinks chilled or your lunch warm on the go with the Wagan EL6214. This portable thermoelectric cooler doubles as a mini warmer for road trips, camping, or office use.
Heated blanket
It’s much better than getting a fireplace in your car
Electric blankets have officially escaped the bedroom. A 12V heated car blanket, like the one from Stalwart, plugs straight into your cigarette lighter port and makes those icy morning drives far more bearable.
Made from soft polar fleece and available in classic plaid designs, it heats up fast and stays comfortably warm without feeling too hot. The 60-inch cord is long enough to reach the back seat, making it perfect for families, especially those with kids who insist they’re “not cold” but clearly are.
It also uses less power than cranking your car’s heater on full blast and deserves a spot in your emergency kit. If you ever find yourself stranded in cold weather, this thing could be a genuine lifesaver. Many models come with automatic temperature control to avoid overheating, but it’s still best to unplug it once you’re out of the car.
- Power Source
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12V DC
- What’s Included
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Blanket & Storage Case with Handles
- Brand
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Stalwart
Stay cozy on chilly drives with the Stalwart Heated Car Blanket. It plugs into your car’s 12V outlet to keep you warm and comfortable wherever you go.
Electric kettle
Tea time, traffic jam edition
Yes, you read that right. There are actual electric kettles made to plug into your car’s cigarette lighter, capable of boiling water while you’re cruising down the highway. You might be wondering why anyone would bother when there’s a coffee shop on every corner, but where’s the adventure in that when you could be brewing loose-leaf oolong tea at 65 miles per hour?
Take the LINGYOKY Car Electric Kettle, for instance. It can hold up to 400ml of water, features adjustable temperature control from 86°F to 203°F, and includes automatic voltage detection for both 12V and 24V systems. So it works for cars and trucks alike, and depending on your vehicle’s power output, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to boil water.
The kettle’s LED display shows real-time temperature, and you can fine-tune it with the control buttons to hit that sweet spot for green tea or French press coffee while merging onto the freeway. The design is quite thoughtful too, with a side plug that fits neatly into your cupholder and a wide flip lid with a narrow pour spout that keeps spills to a minimum.
Under the hood, it draws around 96 watts to steadily heat water without overloading your car’s electrical system. It also includes built-in safeguards like dry-burn protection and a sealed rubber ring that prevents leaks, even if you accidentally tip it over. Just don’t get clever and try to heat milk or coffee in it, since that can leave residue and cause it to throw an error code.
Rice cooker
Yes, you can make rice at a red light
At this point, you might think I’ve wandered off into the world of genuinely useful smart kitchen gadgets—but I haven’t. I’m still very much on topic. If an electric kettle for your car sounded ridiculous, what would you think of the idea of cooking rice in your car while driving down the highway? The OSBA 1L Travel Rice Cooker, for example, can whip up to four cups of rice using nothing more than your car’s 12-volt power.
These pint-sized cookers stand about six inches tall and come with a non-stick pot and an automatic keep-warm feature. They draw enough power to cook two cups of rice in about 30-35 minutes. And it’s not just for rice. You can use it to make soup, noodles, stews, porridge, and even to reheat leftovers. Once it’s done cooking, it switches to a warm mode that keeps your food toasty for a few hours. Just be careful, because the power cord can get scorching hot, and you really don’t want to knock this over while you’re on the move.
A multi-device charging hub
You can finally resolve plug wars
If you’ve ever been on a long drive with your family, you know the chaos that comes with charging devices. Everyone’s fighting for the same port, cables are everywhere, and somehow someone’s tablet always ends up dying first. The fix for this modern car dilemma is delightfully simple—cigarette lighter splitters that turn one lonely socket into a full-on charging hub.
The SUPERONE 180W Cigarette Lighter Splitter is a great example of how far these have come. It packs two 12-volt sockets, two QC3.0 fast-charging USB ports, and a 20W Power Delivery USB-C port into one compact block. There’s even an LED voltmeter built in, so you can keep an eye on your car’s battery health while everything’s plugged in.
With a good splitter, you can power multiple car accessories or devices at once, such as your dash cam, GPS, and everyone’s phones, without fighting over who gets the charger. Just keep an eye on total power usage, since most car sockets are fused at 10–15 amps, meaning high-wattage accessories shouldn’t all run together.
High-quality models also often include individual switches for each port and built-in fuses to protect against overloads.
Air purifier with built-in USB ports
Sits quietly and actually helps with the smell problem
If your car often smells like a mix of takeout, gym sneakers, and whatever mystery scent lives in your trunk, a 12V air purifier might be exactly what you need. You can use it to freshen up your cabin while you drive. One solid pick is the 4WDKING Car Air Purifier Ionizer, which claims to release over 5.6 million negative ions per cubic centimeter to neutralize odors, clear allergens, and fight off cigarette smoke. It even throws in two USB charging ports, so you’re not giving up any charging spots in exchange for cleaner air.
The dual 2.1A USB ports are a nice touch for keeping phones and GPS units (if you still use those) topped up while it works in the background. Now, ionizer tech definitely has its skeptics, and this one may not deliver overnight miracles—it usually takes a few days of constant use before the air starts to feel noticeably fresher. Still, for less than twenty bucks, it’s an easy and low-risk upgrade for anyone tired of stale car smells. Just keep in mind that reliability varies a bit, with some users saying theirs lasted months while others only got a few weeks out of it.
Seat massager
Gridlock shouldn’t hurt this much
Some traffic jams make you question every decision that led you there. That’s when you’ll realize you need something like the SLOTHMORE Back Massager. It plugs into your car’s cigarette port and turns your seat into something like the best massage mats for muscle recovery—minus the spa music and cucumber water. Multiple vibration zones work on your back, thighs, and shoulders while the built-in heat mode rivals the most luxurious electric vehicles in melting away the tension that builds up after too many red lights.
It’s not going to replace your chiropractor, but it’s a huge step up from gripping the steering wheel while your lower back files for mutiny. Just be careful with the settings if you’re the type who drifts off easily. There’s a reason it’s called SLOTHMORE, after all.
- Style
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Vibration Back Massager
- Brand
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SLOTHMORE
Turn any seat into a relaxing massage chair with the SLOTHMORE Back Massager. Its multiple vibration zones ease tension in your back, shoulders, and thighs while you drive.
Normal gadgets are for boring cars
If you ever get the itch to plug something new into your dashboard, do it for the story as much as the utility. Worst case, you’ll get a laugh out of the experiment. Best case, you’ll wonder how you ever drove without it.
