Auto Express winter essentials 2025

The weather might still feel on the mild side, but winter is on its way, and if you’re in need of the ideal present for a car devotee then we’ve got it covered.

We have a fabulous selection of gift ideas to suit all budgets, featuring everything from car cleaning kit to dash cams, along with innovative snow socks for when the winter weather turns particularly icy and snowy.

Take a look below for some inspiration…

AlcoSense Excel personal breathalyser

• Price: £99.99
• Visit: alcosense.co.uk/excel

An Evo Product Test winner, the AlcoSense Excel breathalyser is your trusty pocket saviour, to quickly and accurately tell you when you’re clear of alcohol the morning after the night before.

The Excel uses a smaller version of exactly the same sensor as several UK police breathalysers for extra peace of mind, while functions such as Advanced. Temperature Compensation and Deep Air Sampling help to provide ultimate accuracy. So don’t leave things to chance after a night out - offering great value and an award-winning design, the Alcosense Excel is a device you can truly rely on.

AutoSock snowsocks

• Price: £49.99
• Visit: autosockdirect.co.uk

Snowy conditions can blow in quite quickly, so having a set of AutoSock snowsocks in the boot is a smart precaution. These textile covers slip over your tyres in minutes and transform traction on snow and ice, helping you stay mobile. They’re light, easy to store, and can be fi tted without any specialist tools – handy if you’re caught out mid-journey. Priced from £49.99, they are available directly from autosockdirect.co.uk.

Miofive Mirror1

• Price: £229.99 (with £30 Amazon voucher applied)
• Visit: amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F6L8WC7K

Dash cams have become an essential extra set of eyes on the road, and Miofive’s Mirror1 is packed with the latest tech. It replaces the standard rear-view mirror with an 11.26-inch touchscreen, giving crisp front and rear views thanks to dual Sony sensors (4K front, 2K rear). UK-specific speed camera alerts and GPS logging add useful peace of mind,

while AI driver assistance helps spot lane departures or sudden stops. Installation is flexible with adhesive mounts or clips, and it even arrives with a 128GB card pre-fitted. Find it through Amazon, priced at £229.99 (with a £30 Amazon voucher applied).

CTek CT5 Time To Go Charger

• Price: £89
• Visit: ctek.com

Keeping a car battery healthy can be one of those chores that’s easy to forget until it’s too late, but CTEK’s CT5 Time To Go charger makes life a lot simpler. Its standout feature is the countdown function, which tells you exactly how many hours remain until your battery is fully charged – a first in automotive charging technology. There’s even a “Try” indicator, which lets you know when it’s safe to attempt a start, before the battery is fully topped up.

The CT5 Time To Go isn’t just smart, it’s versatile. It offers three automatic programs: Normal for standard 12V lead acid batteries, AGM for AGM variants, and Recond for reconditioning deeply discharged batteries. Fully automatic and safe to leave connected indefinitely, it protects against overcharging, reverse polarity, short circuits, and sparks. It also tests and restores battery capacity, making it ideal for long-term maintenance.

Practical, easy to use, and reliable, it’s a solid addition to any garage, especially during colder months when battery performance can dip. Priced at £89, the CT5 Time To Go is available from ctek.com, and comes with a reassuring five-year warranty.

GYEON Q2 CanCoat and GYEON Q2M Bathe+

• Price: from £22
• Visit: cleanyourcar.co.uk/gyeon

Winter is never kind to a car’s bodywork, with salt, grime and endless rain conspiring to dull even the best paint finish. But giving your car a little love can make life easier – and that’s where GYEON’s duo of products comes in.

First up is Q2 CanCoat EVO, a spray-on ceramic coating designed to give lasting protection without the usual faff. It works on paint, trim, wheels, metal, carbon fi bre and even paint protection films, so one bottle covers the lot.

Application is straightforward: spray onto the supplied towel, wipe over the panel, and buff away the residue. No need for a garage either, as the formula is safe to use outdoors in decent weather. With up to eight applications per bottle, it’s also handy for households running more than one car. 

To keep things looking fresh, pair it with Q2M Bathe+, a slick, pH-neutral shampoo that adds a hydrophobic layer as you wash. Dirt and water bead off more easily, so the car stays cleaner between washes — a real bonus in winter. It can be used in a bucket or through a foam gun, ideal if you’d rather skip hand washing in the cold. Prices start from £22 at cleanyourcar.co.uk/gyeon.

Nextbase 622GW

• Price: £219 (with £50 offer applied)
• Visit: nextbase.co.uk

Winter roads can be unpredictable, and the Nextbase 622GW dash cam is designed to give extra peace of mind. It captures ultra-clear 4K footage with image stabilisation, keeping recordings smooth even on bumpy roads, and a three-inch touchscreen makes reviewing clips straightforward. The cam’s robust feature set, from advanced recording modes to easy installation, positions it among the most capable dash cams on the market. Priced at £219 with a £50 saving offer until 27th October, it’s available from nextbase.co.uk, Halfords, Argos, and Currys — a practical upgrade for safer, stress-free driving this winter.

Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax

• Price: £16.95
• Visit: bilthamber.com/product/double-speed-wax

After you’ve finished meticulously cleaning your car, it’s important to make sure your hard work doesn’t go to waste. That’s why a premium wax is a vital part of any home-detailing kit - providing a layer of protection over the paint finish while also giving a glossy shine. Bilt Hamber’s Double Speed-Wax is an award-winner that’s both water-repellent and

detergent-resistant, producing impressive, long-lasting results. It’s better value than the more expensive paste waxes, too, with Double Speed-Wax coming in at £16.95 for a 250ml tin that also includes an applicator pad and a microfibre cloth.

Nilfisk Multi II 30 T Vacuum Cleaner

• Price: £144.49 with code (Normally £169.99)
• Visit: shop.nilfisk.com

Keeping a car clean inside and out often comes down to having the right kit, and this Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner - an Auto Express Recommended product - earns its place in the garage. Its strong suction and generous 4m hose mean you can work your way around a car without dragging the machine around. There’s also a plug-in socket that automatically powers up with your tools, plus a handy filter-cleaning function to cut down on maintenance faff. Readers can knock 15% off with the code AUTOEXPRESS15 until October 31st.

Overland and Overland + jump starters

• Price: from £79.95
• Visit: mobilesolarchargers.co.uk

Winners of four Auto Express Best Buy reviews, the Overland and Overland + are excellent expedition-proven power banks that can also jump start any engine from 0.1 to 5.0 litres. The units can be recharged via either mains or an optional fold-out solar panel, and are supplied with their own 12V lighter-style socket.

SPT624BK SnowShield Plus

• Price: From £69.90
• Visit: sparco-snowsocks.com/en/

The SPT624BK SnowShield Plus offers full protection for tyres and rims, keeping snow, mud, and dirt at bay. Designed for harsh conditions, these textile snow chains provide reliable traction up to 25mph, install quickly, run silently, and make winter driving safer and more comfortable.

SPT625BK SnowShield

• Price: From £49.90
• Visit: sparco-snowsocks.com/en/

The SPT625BK SnowShield textile snowchains make winter driving straightforward with quick, hassle-free installation, even in emergencies, and includes gloves so you stay clean when fitting. They deliver reliable traction on snow, operate quietly, and ensure a safe, comfortable journey in extreme conditions.

Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express? We’ll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too.