A comprehensive guide on automotive exterior accessories
Having a beautiful automobile is not merely a question of keeping it clean. Decorating your car is among the many things you can do to make your car more pleasant. It is therefore essential to get the right auto embellishments. Adorning your vehicle can easily enhance its look while giving you the ultimate driving experience.
What are the accessories of a car?
Tips on selecting the best car exterior accessories
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There is a wide range of external add-ons that can make your vehicle look cool and give you the ultimate driving experience. Be it a different paint job, decal additions, or aftermarket sporty wheels, these accessories can give your car a whole different look. They are a way of showcasing your style and customizing the car.
What is a car accessory?
An auto accessory is an add-on or extra component that can improve the functionality and appearance of a car. They can protect the finishes of the car and transform the car.
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Key factors to have in mind when selecting the best car exterior accessories
- Moderation – It is advised that when accessorizing your car to be as moderate as possible unless you are trying to be over the top. An over-accessorized car can end up looking weird and far from that elegant, stylish car you had in mind. For example, large rims are an excellent addition to any car interior but how large the wheels can be is dependent on the manufacturer’s wheel suggestions. Getting wheels more massive than the recommended size can cause problems like grinding of the wheel liner on every bump.
- Plan – You should establish what features you want to enhance or what aspect of your car’s look you want to change. Next, come you with a budget. It is probably cheaper to do get all the accessories you want at once.
- Budget – The cost of accessorizing will depend on the quality of the products you use, the price of and the variety available. If you are on a budget, it is important to get the most value for your money. The easiest way is to go for OEM products. It is important to note that you may not get much of a return on your car accessories so a cost-benefit analysis should be done when accessorizing. Make sure to look for ways to inexpensively enhance your car’s looks.
- Durability – Using substandard products cannot guarantee quality or durability. If the OEM does not make the add-ons, you can look at their suggestions. A good quality accessory can give you a lifetime of service with the right maintenance.
- Only get what is necessary – Some add-ons are not required for your car model. They can not only be dangerous but can also reduce the fuel efficiency of your car. For instance, masking your headlights can give a fresh look to your, but it is also very risky and against the law. A body kit on a race car can improve its performance by optimizing the drag factor while directing air into the car’s system for more power. When put on an ordinary car it would not only add to the overall weight of the car, making it heavier but it would also interfere with the wheel movement.
- The seller – It is vital to know precisely where you are getting these accessories. Always buy from proven companies and reseller to get genuine articles. If you are sourcing these parts online, read the reviews these companies or resellers have.
- The warranty – As with most products, accessories come with warranties that protect the consumer from faulty ones and to some extent damage caused. Find out if the products you are getting have warranties and for what duration.
- Pay close attention – It refers to when buying the accessories and installing them. Be sure you confirm that what you got is what you ordered and while it is being put in, it does not cause damage to the car exterior.
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Where can you get car accessories?
Car accessories are readily available to everyone thanks to the internet. You can order these parts from any part of the world and have them shipped to you. This has greatly increased the variety available to everyone. You can also visit auto shops and get these accessories.
What are the types of auto accessories available?
Most of these products are aftermarket. This means that they are not made by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). There also those made by OEM as part of the production run of certain car parts.
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List of car exterior accessory categories:
Car Antenna Cables and Masts
These enable the car to receive radio waves and send them to the car receiver which then isolates and amplifies the radio waves you want to listen to. Depending on the type of antenna and system in place, they can transmit signals too. These include antennas, antenna adapters, bezels, cables, and masts.
Car Covers and their Accessories
A car cover is a product usually in sheet form that is approximately in the shape of the car and protects it from the elements. It also protects from dust and dirt. Products in this category include car covers, cover cable locks, car cover storage bags, tire covers an trailer covers. Here are different types of car covers available:
- Inside covers – these are usually put inside the car and do not offer much protection from liquids. They are often made of polyester with a soft lining.
- Outside covers – these are sturdier and waterproof. They can withstand the elements and other contaminants like leaves, or bird droppings.
- General covers – they have a universal fit for most car models. They vary in length depending on the car. They are rectangular and made from inferior materials making them cheap.
- Tailor-made covers – these are covers explicitly made for a specific car. They offer an exact fit and have unique spaces for side mirrors or rear spoilers. Mostly made for unique or expensive cars, they are costly, and it is hard to find a supplier.
- Heavy duty – outside covers are usually heavy duty as they have to protect the car from the elements. They are made from sturdier materials like PVC, which is thicker, heavier and waterproof.
- Light use – these covers are made of lighter more breathable materials like woven polyester.
Not all covers are breathable, so there is always a risk of trapped moisture.
Car Decal and Graphics
These refer to car signage that has an adhesive or sticky backing. They are often made of vinyl for its affordability and versatility. They can be clear, opaque or perforated. They provide the most customization options. Good quality decal and graphics do not crack, peel or shrink. They include car decal and emblems, lettering or numbering, pinstriping, stripe kits, and decorative film.
Car Deflectors
These are also known as visors and help in deflecting oncoming wind and rain, especially at high speeds that improving the drive performance while reducing the wind noise in the car cabin. They include sun reflectors, vent visors, bug deflectors, side window covers, and window deflectors. The benefits of deflectors are that they:
- Reduce wind and noise
- Are tinted to reduce glare
- Are aerodynamically designed to reduce drag
- Have a smooth streamlined design
- Are easy to fit
- Come in pairs
- Are car-wash friendly
- Are made of tough acrylic and are vehicle specific which enables for proper fitting.
Car Door handles and door parts
These are used to open and close the car doors. They are found both in the interior and exterior of the car. Some protrude from the car body while others follow the contours of the car’s body. They are often made of steel, but expensive cars have chrome ones. The products include external door handles, door handle covers, and door handle pads.
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Car Exterior Lighting
This refers to the lighting and signal devices mounted or made part of the rear, front, side and sometimes the top or bottom. They help increase the visibility of the car and for the driver. They include strobe lights, LED light pods, LED strips, LED lighting kits, driving lights, light bars, wiring harnesses, headlight replacements, license lights, fog lights, side marker lights, and wiring accessories.
Car Front End Covers, Body Kits, and Hood Products
these are products that protect delicate parts of the car and can alter the overall shape of the car. Body kits can cover the whole car or just part of it. Products available in this category are often custom made, and they include: Full body kits, custom bumpers, custom hoods, bumper lips, rear diffusers, canards, custom fenders and fender flares, side skirts, trunks and hatches, roll pans, doors, door side moldings, roofs, side scoops, window louvers, engine covers, tow hooks, eyelids, spoilers, vertical doors, headlights, wheels, and light covers. Bug deflectors, bug screens, cowl and hood seals, front end covers, hood pins, hood prop rod retainers, hood scoops have a more generalized fit.This can also include grilles. Grilles protect the radiator and the engine. Below are the different types of grilles:
- A radiator grille which is found at the front of the car
- Roof or trunk grilles which are located in rear engine vehicles
- Bumper skirt grilles which can be in the front or back
- Fender grilles which cover brake ventilation and duct covers
- Hood scoop grilles which are mounted on hood scoops to allow air into the intercooler.
Car License Plates and their Accessories
This embellish where the car license plate and where it is. They include the plate bracket and frame, the cover, decorative frames, license plate lamps, light lenses, universal license lights, and license plate mounting hardware.
Car Safety and Security
These enhance both the car’s security and that of the user. They include alarms, dashboard cameras, blindspot mirrors, fire extinguishers, horns, emergency kits and safety tape, signage, and flares.
Car Snow Chains
These are products that help the car tackle snowy weather like snow tire chains or tire snow socks.
Car Tie Down and Cargo Management Products
These are used to add extra storage to the car and secure it in place. They include anchor point and eye bolts, bicycle carriers, bike carrier locks, stretch cord and rope, cargo bags, carriers, cargo nets, pet boxes, ramps and ramp kits, roll bar storage bags, roof pads, roof cargo bars, rooftop luggage carriers, speciality tool boxes, tarp, ties, tie-down anchors and straps, towing straps, trailer hitch cargo carriers and sport cargo carriers.
Car Tire, Wheel Covers, and Repair
They help protect your wheels and keep track of tire pressure and repair any damage while looking stylish. They include decorative valve caps, disc brake wheel spacers, flat tire fixer and sealer, hubcaps, tire gauges, tire screws, wheel arch trim sets, wheel bolts and studs, wheel center caps, dust shields, wheel nuts, and washers.
Trailer hitches, hitch balls, and other towing accessories
Hitches or tow bars are attached to the chassis of a car for hauling car extensions. It can take the form a tow ball, a pin or a hook. There are seven types of hitches which are; rear receiver, front mount, 5th wheel, gooseneck, pintle, bumper, and weight distribution hitches.The products in this category include: ball mount and drawbars, fifth wheel accessories, hitch ball covers, hitch box extensions, hitch trailer balls, towing accessories,multi-hitch bar ball mount, pins and clips, pintle hook, quick link trailer connectors, hitch receiver steps, safety chains, spare tire carriers, tow bars and hooks, trailer hinges, hitches, plugs, trailer receiver and coupler locks.
Trim dress up
These are products that usually go on the car body like a body molding set, body trims, custom grilles, decals and emblems, door edge moldings, dress wiper blades, fender accents, grille inserts, grip track traction plate, letter kits, rocker panels, side vent trims, splash/mudguards, sunroof wind deflectors, washer nozzles, and window trims.
Car Winches
Used for hauling or lifting vehicles. They are comprised of a rope, cable or chain wound around a drum turned by a crank or motor usually at the back of a car. Products in this category include winches, winch covers, winch equipment, mounting systems, remote controls, and replacement cables.
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Cool Ways to Customize Your Car
Things to make your car look cool
Customizing or personalizing your car’s exterior is a fantastic way to spruce up an old car or add awesome accessories to liven it up. Before you customize your car, consider your lifestyle, what you like doing and your needs as a driver.
Cool Ways to Accessorize the Car Exterior
- Get your car cleaned and professionally detailed. This will liven the paint job and make the car look new.
- your car windows, be sure to follow the regulations and restrictions in your area.
- Swap out your car emblem.
- Get decal and graphics on the car or a new paint job.
- Add hood ornaments, new head, and tail lights.
- Put in new car wheels, bumpers or a full body kit.
- Restore old wheels instead of buying a new set of expensive wheels. You can add chrome accents to the wheels, tires, and rims.
We hope by following the simple tips in this post, you now know all about automotive accessories and how to get them.