Install These Cheap Upgrades That Will Make Your Car Feel Like a Luxury Vehicle
They say you are what you drive. But if you drive a cheap car, it doesn’t have to say you’re cheap (let’s call it “brilliantly frugal” instead). There are quite a few ways you can make your car look more expensive than it really is for less than $100 — sometimes for even less than $20. You probably won’t have to pay an installer either, since minimal to no mechanical skills are required, saving even more money.
Add a Steering Wheel Cover
A steering wheel cover increases the interior’s flair. Choose from an array of materials, including leather, cotton, microfiber, silicon, faux fur, or carbon fiber. You can choose colors and themes, too, such as your favorite sports team or your car’s brand. Add a touch of whimsical color to your car’s interior with a tie-dyed steering wheel cover. Or choose a neon, glow-in-the-dark cover for an ’80s throwback style.
A steering wheel cover isn’t just a cosmetic change. It can be more comfortable, cooler to the touch after your car has been baking in the sun or grippy, adding a layer of safety. Plus, it protects your steering wheel from dirt and oils on your hands to keep your steering wheel looking new when you sell your car. We found steering wheel covers on Amazon starting as low as $10. Putting one on is as simple as cleaning the existing surface and putting the cover in place.
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Wax Your Car
A healthy serving of elbow grease can give your car a shiny, new look. A good wax job also will protect the paint from exposure to damaging elements and could save you a new paint job. Wax products range in price from around $7 up to $40, but will last for many applications.
Put On a Car Bra
There are ways to make a cheap car look not cheap, and that includes keeping it in pristine condition, free of body and paint damage. Adding a bra helps to protect the paint so it continues to look like new and remains scratch- and chip-free. The bra also prevents dirt, road salt, dust and bird droppings from making direct contact with the paint, thereby protecting the finish. If you go with a clear version of the protective-film bra, you can apply it anywhere, and it’ll be discreet. Pro installers could charge a few hundred dollars to apply a clear bra over the entire vehicle, but you can get a roll starting at $10 on Amazon and do it yourself.
Get a Trunk Organizer
Even the neatest people might find their trunks becoming an unruly mess as things pile up and shift as you drive. A trunk organizer helps keep this often disorderly part of your car looking nice and neat. You can find trunk organizers for as little as $10, although you can pay as much as $60 for ones with features such as a cooler and multiple pockets and dividers.
Shine Your Tires
Want tires that glisten in the sunlight? Simply use a tire shine spray to get this aesthetically pleasing effect. You can find cans of tire shine coating for less than $20.
Install a Backup Camera
A backup camera is now government-mandated equipment on new cars, but you’re not out of luck if yours is without one. This safety feature will modernize your car, help with blind spots and allow you to see what’s happening behind you. Adding a backup camera can get expensive when it comes to installation and the type of screen your car requires, though. However, you can find kits for about $40 that are plug-and-play, connecting to your car’s reverse lights or power point, making for easy installation. Sometimes, good enough is better than nothing.
Add a Tire Pressure Monitoring System
The federal government required that a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) be standard equipment in new vehicles in 2007, but what if your car is older than that? Keep your older car on the road and add an element of safety with a TPMS kit. A TPMS kit will keep an eye out for low tire pressure. It can be expensive to add if the TPMS is a more complex series of sensors and wiring, but there are wireless Bluetooth-based setups starting at around $40.
Add Seat Covers
Spruce up your car’s interior with comfortable and on-trend seat covers. Seat covers add comfort, protect your seats from wear-and-tear, and can completely change the look of your older car. They are also easy to clean. Choose from basic, camo, sheepskin, cushioned and more. And if you’re really into this idea, aside from the zillions of colors and designs available, you also can get custom covers with a photo you submit. Seat covers are easy to install. Prices vary widely, but we found a full set for front and back seats on Amazon for as little as $32, although you could pay more than $100 for leather seat covers that fit popular truck models.
Repair Your Paint
Quality paint jobs or even touch-ups from a professional can be costly, so here’s a completely affordable way to hide minor, superficial chips and scratches in your car’s paint: a repair pen. Typically available for around $10 to $20, a paint pen masks scratches and chips in just seconds. Bonus: Pens are available to color match to the factory paint color. You might want to check your local car dealer if you are looking for an exact match to your make and model vehicle.
Add Floor Mats
Everything you step on outside becomes a layer of crud on the floor inside your car, whether it’s dirt, rocks, snow or mud. If you have kids, you know anything they eat or drink in the car will eventually make its way to the floor. Floor mats provide an easy-to-clean protective layer — and also hide existing stains in your car’s carpeting.
You can pick up floor mats in a style to match your carpet or reflect your personality. You can even create a theme in your car by matching car seat covers, your steering wheel cover, and your car mats. Car mats are manufactured of rubber or carpet and start as low as $17 per set for basic black carpet floor mats, although you can pay $50 or more for higher quality mats. Installation is as simple as dropping the mat into place. Be sure to check the dimensions or look for vehicle-specific products for a perfect fit.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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