Business travel can get tricky if you find yourself stranded and lacking essential rescue items.
At last, businesses are starting to grumble back to life and for those of us that need to travel to conduct our business, that’s excellent news indeed. But getting back on the road after so many weeks and months spent in lockdown, you might have forgotten how to maximise your comfort.
Whether you’re a taxi driver, a long-haul trucker, a professional courier or a salesman tasked with travelling the country plying your war, here are some of the very best and most practical business car accessories.
Vacuum Cleaner:
Now we’re not suggesting you should have a massive Dyson hanging around in your boot, but a small vacuum cleaner that can be plugged in and powered by your car’s 12-volt socket (cigarette lighter) is a wonderful way to keep on track of those crumbs and dust particles. A clean vehicle will make you seem more professional and it will also make it feel more like home.
Tire monitor:
One of the most inconvenient things that can happen to any driver is for the wheels to suddenly stop working due to a leak, a puncture or a drop in pressure. That’s where a smart tire monitor comes in handy. These neat little car gadgets hook up to your smartphone and are able to use intelligent algorithms to detect problems before they happen and let you know exactly what is wrong and right with your tyres at all times.
Phone holder/charger/handsfree:
Whilst some cars will come with built-in displays that you can use to sync with your phone, many still do not and phones are what we use to stay connected to our work colleagues at all times, so we need to be able to access them whatever the situation. That’s why it’s imperative that you invest in a reliable holder and charger for your phone, as well as a handsfree kit that will allow you to answer the phone without taking your eyes off the road. Probably the most valuable car accessory on this list.
Paper maps
Google Maps is an incredibly powerful tool that has arguably changed the game as far as GPS navigation is concerned. However, what if your phone breaks or runs out of charge? And what if you end up in an area with no signal? It’s always a good idea to have a paper map of the UK in reserve. It won’t take up much room and it could save your bacon in a pinch.
Emergency change of clothes:
You never know when you’re going to need to switch it up and don a suit and tie or go the opposite direction and slum it. Then there’s the possibility that you spill a bit of ketchup on your clean white shirt when you’re catching lunch at the services on the way to a big meeting. That’s why you should always have a full change of clothes on standby in your car.
First aid kit
Finally, always be prepared for the worst to happen, even though it probably won’t. A first aid kit should always be kept in the glove compartment, ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Of course, one final tool you should always have up your sleeve is decent insurance. For many drivers who are typically putting hundreds of miles on the clock every week, gap insurance cover might be the safest bet, as it covers the difference between what your car was worth when you first bought it and your insurance write-off offer.
