Great Gift Ideas for Car-Loving Dads, Perfect for Any Occasion

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

This article was updated with fresh products and new information in November 2023

As the gift season gears up, we recognize that finding the perfect gift for the automotive aficionados in our lives can be a challenge. Luckily we've got tons of car dads here at Car and Driver, so we have a pretty good idea what they like. We've navigated the gifting landscape with our expertise in our back pocket, bringing you gifts that will rev up the joy for every car-loving dad in your life. From cutting-edge gadgets to timeless classics, we've found something for just about every dad.

Along with these gifts, make sure to include something money can't buy: Spend some quality time with your dad, granddad, or other important men in your life. Go for a drive and share some laughs. In the end, that's what it's all about.

Looking for more great gifts? Check out our Best Gifts for Mechanics, Awesome Car Accessories under $50, and the Best Gifts for Jeep Lovers

Road & Track Premium All-Access Membership

Give Dad a behind-the-scenes look at Road & Track magazine with a Road & Track All Access membership. He’ll receive unlimited digital access to RoadandTrack.com including exclusive content, Road & Track magazine delivered to his doorstep, invitations to virtual editor roundtables hosted by R&T editors, inclusion on Road & Track’s member-only R&T Insider newsletter, and discounts and free shipping on the Road & Track online shop. It’s the perfect gift for the ultimate enthusiast.

Leatherman Wave Plus Multitool

Chances are, your old man already has a Leatherman in his arsenal—heck, it's probably in his pocket right now—but this is the latest upgrade to Leatherman's most popular multi-tool.

Drift Car Air Freshener

The Drift Car Air Freshener provides a refreshing and revitalizing aroma, transforming each drive into a delightful experience. With its stylish design and enduring fragrance, it serves as a considerate and functional present for car enthusiasts who value both sophistication and a pleasantly scented vehicle.

Chemical Guys HOL169 16-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit with Foam Cannon, Bucket and (6) 16 oz Car Care Cleaning Chemicals (Works w/Pressure Washers)

The Chemical Guys Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit, consisting of 16 pieces, offers all the essentials for thorough car cleaning. Featuring a complete array of high-quality cleaning products and accessories, this kit guarantees a showroom-worthy shine, making it an ideal gift for fathers who cherish the appearance of their vehicles.

Road & Track T-Shirt

Make a statement with these ultra-soft tees from Road & Track or Car and Driver. Whether Dad is the type to go for a quippy slogan or something more understated, one thing is for certain—he’s an enthusiast through and through.

LEGO Technic Porsche 911 RSR Race Car Model Kit

The LEGO Technic Porsche 911 RSR Race Car stands as the perfect present for those who are passionate about both engineering and iconic automobiles. This elaborate set enables them to construct a precise replica of the renowned Porsche 911 RSR, merging their love for cars with the delight of hands-on building.

Teching Mechanical Metal V8 Engine Model Kit

For enthusiasts who derive joy from meticulously disassembling and reassembling, this V8 model ensures an engaging experience. Featuring authentic metal components and a functional electric motor, this kit, comprising over 500 pieces, offers both satisfaction and educational value. Additionally, it comes in more compact and budget-friendly variations, including one and four cylinders.

Timex Men's Waterbury Classic Chrono 40mm Stainless Steel Quartz Dress Watch with Leather Strap, Brown, 20 (Model: TW2V30800VQ)

The Timex Men's Waterbury Classic Chrono is an ideal wrist companion for car enthusiasts who appreciate enduring style and precision. Combining a timeless design with chronograph functionality, it seamlessly blends sophistication and practicality, making it a perfect gift for those who prioritize both performance and elegance in their watches.

Oakley Frogskins 55mm

Enhance your father's fashion with Oakley Frogskins Sunglasses, seamlessly combining performance with a stylish design. These renowned shades provide excellent UV protection and a hint of automotive-inspired sophistication, ideal for the dad who appreciates precision both on the road and in his choice of eyewear.

avigator Portable Coffee Maker, 12V Car Coffee Maker, Travel Coffee Machine Fits Car Cigarette Lighter Plug, with Fast Heating, Auto Shut Off, Ground Coffee Maker for Driving Camping&RV（Silver Black）

Ideal for dads with a perpetual hustle, the Avigator portable coffee maker is a flawless choice. It seamlessly connects to your car or truck's 12v outlet, enabling you to brew a cup whenever the craving strikes. Especially convenient for those who operate from their vehicle.

Dewalt Mechanics Tool Set

The Dewalt Mechanics Ratchet Set makes an excellent inclusion in any toolbox, providing a dependable and sturdy assortment of ratchets for diverse automotive repair needs. Crafted with top-notch quality and meticulous engineering, this set guarantees efficiency and convenience for every do-it-yourself car project.

Road & Track Smoky 600 Experience

Treat Dad to the ultimate automotive experience! Smoky 600 is a four-day adventure through Appalachia curated by the editors of Road & Track. Guests can expect curated group drives led by editors, track time at NCM Motorsports Park, distillery tours and tastings, and stays at boutique hotels—culminating in a spirited grand finale drive down the iconic Tail of The Dragon.

Marshall Kilburn II Bluetooth Portable Speaker

The Marshall Kilburn II Bluetooth Portable Speaker makes an ideal gift for dads who value excellent sound and portable convenience. Featuring a vintage-inspired design, remarkable battery longevity, and robust audio performance, it becomes the perfect partner for road trips, car escapades, or time spent in the garage.

Mrcuff 6 Speed Gear Stick Cufflinks

Enhance the style of your car-loving dad with these Stick Shift Cufflinks, featuring a 6-speed gear design that adds a dash of automotive charm to his attire. Meticulously crafted with precision and keen attention to detail, these cufflinks serve as the ideal accessory for a dad who values the artistry of a finely engineered gear shift.

Riparo Genuine Leather Driving Gloves

Leather driving gloves were originally designed more than a century ago to protect drivers from cold metal steering wheels or their splintery wooden counterparts. Nowadays, they're more of an aesthetic accessory, but who cares? This cognac-colored pair from Riparo is a nice, affordable choice.

Custom Car Art from Etsy

Memorialize your dad's favorite car with a custom watercolor portrait from ImageMagik. Just send in a picture of that car and watch it come back as a great decoration for any wall.

Casio Aviator Stainless Steel Chrono

We've liked Casio wristwear for a long time, and this Aviator chronograph is a great entry-level piece. It's super-affordable, too. The face is a bit busy, but the orange hands help you see the important stuff. Various functions allow you to calculate percentages and convert miles per hour to kilometers per hour, which can be handy for car folk. If Dad loves watches, this is the chronograph to get him.

Porsche Design Aviator Sunglasses

The P´8938 Aviator is inspired by the design of the Porsche engine block. With a milled titanium backing element, each frame is assembled by hand. These Aviators also come in a classic hexagonal shape, the P´8937.

Flannel-lined Waxed Trucker Jacket

Every guy needs a waxed trucker jacket, and Flint and Tinder makes the perfect fall top layer. It's constructed with weather-resistant Martexin 7-ounce sailcloth from New Jersey, which will only get better with age. and wear. It fits like a blanket, and comes lined in your choice of flannel, wool, or quilted. Designed, cut, sewn, and constructed in Los Angeles, it's available in eight autumn-ready colors and in sizes from XS to 3XL.

James Brand 'The Carter' Pocket Knife

With a removable pocket clip for quick access and secure storage, the Carter is there when Dad needs it and hidden when he doesn't. The super-sharp, corrosion-resistant stainless steel construction ensures it’ll be at the ready for decades.

Pro-Lift Z-Creeper & Seat

Designed to be folded for use as a mechanics stool, or unfolded for use as a creeper. The padded bed gives Dad extra comfort where it counts. It features six swivel casters and a heavy-duty frame that supports up to 300 lbs.

I'd Rather Be Watching Racing Socks

These are great for dads who want to spice up their dress sock game and let the world know what they really want to be doing. If he puts his feet up at the in-laws', you know it's time to go.

Retro Tin Signs

You can't go wrong with some vintage auto signs; your dad's man cave needs some classic decoration. This pack comes with five signs to choose from—or hang them all!

Cole Haan Driving Loafers

These Cole Haan leather driving loafers are comfy, stylish, and functional. They're a perfect pairing to your dad's favorite jeans and work great for a trip to Dairy Queen in the garage princess.

Sunday Golf Pitch n' Putt Golf Bag

Finally, a golf bag that doesn't take over the whole dang trunk. This lightweight, easy-to-carry bag from Sunday Golf weighs just 1.95 pounds on its own and can fit up to 6-7 clubs comfortably. It's perfect for a quick, impromptu evening round, the driving range, or on the executive course.

Le Mans Drive Coffee

If dad's not into gin, this medium roast whole bean coffee also comes in an awesome retro can and embodies the gritty spirit of the Le Mans-winning GT40s. Perfect for those early Saturday mornings when dads thrive.

GPS Drone with Camera

This entry-level drone is a great way to kickstart any tech-y dad's next hobby. Featuring GPS auto-return and a 4K Ultra Clear 110-degree adjustable camera, the robotic whirly-bird fits neatly into a handy carrying case.

Bluetooth Media Button

This little Bluetooth control button is perfect for dads who like to jam out to Dire Straits without picking up the phone. It comes with a steering wheel mount for easy clip-on access, allowing Dad to keep his hands on the wheel.

Bentley Intense Cologne

This is one of Bentley's top-selling men's fragrances, and it's clear why. The long-lasting scent features hints of African geranium, black pepper, and leather for an appropriately luxurious smell. Get your best suit; this cologne is best served with some class.

Engine Organic Gin

Spirits are always a good idea for dads, and this uniquely-packaged gin is a surefire win. The 100% organic, Italian gin comes in oil can-inspired containers, which add a hint of class on their own. Featuring notes of juniper, lemon, and sage, we get the feeling it won't stay on the shelf very long.

Whiskey Peaks Glasses

This set of four topographically indented whiskey glasses is the perfect gift for dad all year round. It's classy, interesting, fun—and, if your dad is like our dad, will get plenty of use. There's even an International Mountains set with Kilimanjaro and Everest—and you can always buy Whiskey Peaks glasses and decanters a la carte direct from Huckberry.

Yeti Rambler

If your dad doesn't have a Yeti yet, get him this one. The 20oz thermos keeps colds cold and hots hot. The lid utilizes magnets to contain spills, and it's the ideal car accessory gift, because it fits into standard cupholders perfectly.

Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker

Does your old man lose stuff all the time? Snap one of these onto your elusive item of choice and it'll never happen again. Great for keys, luggage, toolboxes, pets—anything that seems to go missing often.

Dustbuster Portable Vacuum

This helpful car vacuum is easily portable—perfect for gathering up all of those Baconator crumbs. A great car gift for dad, especially since we tested it—and found it to be our favorite car vacuum.

3D Track Sculpture

These 3D track sculptures show not just layouts, but elevation changes as well. You can hang them on a wall or lay them flat—they look good either way. We picked Road America as an example here, but there are tons of tracks to choose from.

LED Magnetic Pickup Tool & Flashlight

With both a magnet and light, this handy device may seem superfluous—but when Dad really needs it, it's going to be his lifesaver, It makes seeing and snagging small nuts, bolts, washers, screws, and even keys easier than ever, especially if they fall in hard to reach places. It's useful when working on the engine, repairing, fixing, plumbing, camping, hiking, fishing, boating, HVAC, or working in the house/ garage/ workshop

How To Build A Car

This autobiography is by Adrian Newey, arguably one of the most accomplished Formula 1 engineers in history. He designed cars for the likes of Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, and Sebastian Vettel with one purpose in mind: to go like hell. The book is a great gift for any racing-obsessed dads.

Tail Table Complete

Seamlessly locking onto the trunk or rear cargo area of any car, van, or SUV with a U-latch, this table gives Dad a much-needed surface for dining, working, or playing cards by the campfire. It's perfect for car camping.

Faster

This book is a fascinating odyssey about how a Jewish driver challenged 1930s Germany on the track. Featuring stunning Grand Prix cars, it's a great story culminating in one of the most meaningful races of all time. The perfect gift for car-loving dads.

Oil Udder

Strange name, yes, but it describes exactly what it is. This tool drains fluids from your car without making a mess by covering drain plugs, oil filters, and more. It then funnels the liquid down into a nozzle without getting your hands messy. If you're looking for a garage gift for dad, look no further.

Torque Wrench

No Dad, "tight enough" isn't safe. This torque wrench boasts a range from 50-250 lb-ft of torque to make sure those important bolts and lug nuts are at the right tightness.

You Might Also Like

• You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox

• Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners

• The Man Who Signs Every Car