Level Up Your Ride: 5 Essential Costco Car Gadgets for 2026

Everyone picks a car for different reasons. Maybe yours has crazy comfortable seats with ventilation, a huge sunroof, and separate climate controls for everyone. Or maybe it's packed with cool stuff like wireless charging and those adaptive LED headlights. But even with all that factory gear, there's usually something missing. Road trips, breakdowns, or just getting to work, most people end up grabbing some aftermarket gadgets at some point.

Looking for useful tech for your ride? Costco's actually got a pretty decent selection. Some of it's online only, some you can pick up at the warehouse. Here are five Costco gadgets that'll seriously improve your car situation, everything from dash cams to wireless adapters for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Nextbase Dash Cam

If you're only gonna get one gadget for your car, make it a dash cam. Super useful for recording accidents or just capturing cool moments on road trips. Costco's got a few options, but for front and back coverage, check out the Nextbase 322GW 1080p dash cam for $224.99. Comes with both cameras, 64GB of storage, and a polarized filter so you don't get blinded by glare.

Front camera mounts to your windshield with magnets, either adhesive or suction cup style. Runs off your car's 12V socket and kicks on automatically when you start the car or if it picks up motion while you're parked. Rear camera plugs into the front one and films out the back. Nextbase says the 322GW shoots 1080p at 60fps and can see up to six lanes with its 140-degree view.

Watch footage right on the front camera's 2.5-inch screen, pull it up on your phone via Bluetooth, or transfer it to a computer with a USB cable. There's also this optional emergency SOS thing you can pay for. Links to the MyNextbase Connect app and can automatically call emergency services with your GPS spot if you get in a crash.

Scosche Dual Port USB-C Car Charger

You know that feeling when you wake up late, sprint to your car, and your phone's sitting at 20% with no charger in sight? Yeah, time to fix that. Car chargers are super practical and Costco's got them for only $34.99.

The Scosche PowerVolt PD60 dual port charger comes two in a pack and plugs into your 12V outlet. Little blue LED tells you it's ready. Then just plug whatever into one of the two USB-C ports. Both are 30W fast chargers, and apparently some folks have gone from under 30% to 80% in half an hour.

Works with basically any USB-C device. Phone, camera, handheld game system, whatever you've got. The Scosche also has protection built in so it won't overcharge or overheat your stuff.

Fanttik Portable Air Pump and Tire Inflator with Power Bank

Nobody wants to deal with a flat tire while driving around. That's why having a portable inflator is so clutch. Costco's got the Fanttik S200 APEX for $49.99. According to Fanttik, it'll pump a tire from 28 psi to 33 psi in 35 seconds. Goes up to 150 psi and works on sedans, SUVs, motorcycles, bikes, all that.

Pretty straightforward to use. Hook the air hose to your tire, flip it on, pick your mode, hit start. The modes have preset pressures, like 33 psi if you're in Car mode. There's a Manual mode too where you set whatever you want. Shuts off by itself when it hits the right pressure, and fully charged it can do like 27 tire fills.

It's not just for tires either. Has a power bank built in for charging your phone and an emergency flashlight. The light's got three settings: regular white, flashing white if you need help, and flashing red to warn people if your car's stuck on the side of the road. Only eight inches tall and 2.5 inches wide, so it'll fit in your glove box easy.

Aluratek Wireless Car Adapter for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are pretty much everywhere in newer cars now, which makes sense. Way safer than fumbling with your phone while driving. Only problem is some cars still make you plug in a cable. For those, a wireless adapter is a total lifesaver. Costco's selling the Aluratek combo wireless adapter for $46.99.

Basically makes your phone connection wireless. Plug the adapter into your car's USB port and it goes into pairing mode. Connect your phone and boom, Android Auto or Apple CarPlay shows up on your screen. Remembers everything for next time too, so you don't have to mess with cables every single time you drive.

Works with most modern cars that already have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You can even connect two phones and switch between them with the button on the thing. About the size of a regular USB stick, super convenient.

Michelin Portable Jump Starter and Power Bank

Dead battery when you're miles from anywhere? Absolute worst. Instead of sitting around waiting for roadside assistance, just jump it yourself with this Michelin portable jump starter from Costco. Goes for $84.99. Has a 10,000mAh battery that cranks out 500 amps.

Handles vehicles with up to 6.0-liter gas or 4.0-liter diesel engines and has this LED guide that literally walks you through jumping your car. Turn it on, clip the cables on, follow the lights. Charge it with a regular wall outlet or in your car with the 12V charger it comes with. Takes less than six hours on 12V but only like two hours from the wall.

Little battery indicators on the front show when it needs juice. Also works as a power bank for your phone and other stuff through the USB ports, plus it's got an LED light with different settings. Regular floodlight, strobe, or hazard light mode.