40 of the Best Car Accessories to Upgrade Your Ride With in 2026

There are a shocking number of automotive accessories out there aimed at improving every conceivable aspect of your vehicle and its driving experience. Whether you’re looking for parts designed to enhance performance on- or off-road, gear to help transform your ride into a camper, products aimed at keeping everything as clean as possible inside and out, or innovative storage, safety, and personalization solutions, you can seemingly scroll forever though lists of auto-themed items vying for your attention.

We dove headfirst into this world to bring you the best of the best when it comes to customizing your car, truck, or SUV. Below is our extensive buyer’s guide with 40 of the coolest car products you get.

Car Performance Accessories

ARTR Exhaust Header Wrap

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One of the keys to automotive performance is heat management, especially under the hood, where high temperatures can impact power production. Wrapping your exhaust with this ARTR heat wrap can significantly lower that heat when you’re asking the most out of your engine, whether you’re towing, making a spirited pass along your favorite two-lane, or at a weekend at autocross or the racetrack. It’s also one of the most affordable modifications you can make to your vehicle and an easy DIY project you can knock out in an afternoon.

Rtunes Racing Universal Cone Air Filter

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A vehicle’s engine is essentially a giant air pump: The more oxygen it can suck inside, the more it can combine with fuel to make power. If you want to maximize air intake by using a less restrictive air filter than the one that came from the factory, a cone filter like this one from Rtunes Racing is a good place to start. Available in a wide range of inlet sizes, this universal, clamp-on filter is also washable, which means you can jump off the regular replacement train that traditional paper filters put you on.

Cerakote Headlight Restoration Kit

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You might not think of your car or truck’s headlights as a traditional performance part, but it’s arguable that after nightfall, they become an automobile’s most crucial component. It’s simple: The more light your headlights can throw down the road, the safer you can travel. But over time, headlight lens covers can become hazed due to heat and environmental pollutants, cutting down on their brightness. This kit from Cerakote gives you everything you need to polish fogged-up headlights and restore them to their original glory, while also protecting them from future cloudiness.

Nilight LED Flood Spot Driving Lights

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Sometimes, even the cleanest headlights aren’t enough to light the way. If you have an older vehicle whose light output was never that impressive, and if you live in an area where streetlights are nonexistent, then a set of driving lights like these LED flood spots from Nilight are a must. Sold as a pair, their small footprint makes it possible to mount them in either a hidden nook up front (such as in the grille or the bumper), or even higher on the roof or the fenders. You can also aim them individually, which is helpful if you’d prefer one to look forward while the other lights up the ditch to help spot deer and other rural surprises before they launch themselves across the road.

Car Camping/Overlanding Accessories

KMZ SUV Air Mattress

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One of the best parts of camping out in your SUV, van, or crossover is saving a ton of cash versus getting a hotel room, all while staying in touch with nature. None of that matters, however, if you can’t get a good night’s sleep because the bumps in your vehicle’s cargo floor are keeping you awake. This air mattress from KMZ is designed to inflate within the confines of most sport utilities, smoothing over the gaps between the cargo area and folded-down seats. It can even be half-inflated if you want to string it across the back row instead, and it comes with its own pump so you can get set up as quickly as possible.

Magnetic Sunroof Mesh Cover

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You might be surprised by how much moisture the average person exhales in an hour. Then again, if you’ve ever been camping and forgotten to crack open the vents in your tent, then you’re probably already familiar with how much uncomfortable condensation can accumulate over the course of a single night. If you’re camping in your car, keeping the windows open is just an invitation for mosquitoes to invade your space and eat you alive, which is where this mesh sunroof cover comes in. It attaches with simple magnets to your vehicle’s roof and blocks out the bugs while allowing for excellent ventilation all night long, at a very affordable price.

UNP SUV Tent

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If you love car camping but want to bring along a larger group of friends than you can comfortably accommodate inside your SUV, then this tent from UNP is a great addition to your gear list. Featuring a sleeve that connects your sport utility’s cargo area to the tent itself, it’s like adding an entire room to your vehicle—and one where most adults can comfortably stand up inside. UNP says that its tent can accommodate up to six people, and it folds down for easy storage on your way to and from your next campsite.

Tooenjoy Universal Fit Car Door Step

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Overlanding often relies on rooftop access, whether you’re installing your mesh sunroof cover, accessing the cargo rack, or popping a tent on top of your vehicle. If you’re shorter in stature, it’s not always easy to make that stretch, which is where this car door step from Tooenjoy comes in. Way smaller and much easier to pack than a traditional stepladder, this rugged metal wedge attaches to your car’s door latch and then braces safely against the door jamb using a rubber bushing. It’s also brightly colored, so you won’t forget it’s installed and accidentally slam the door against it after you’re done using it.

Style/Esthetics

24-Piece Interior LED Kit

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Older vehicles never got the chance to benefit from the incredible advances in LED lighting that have made it possible to achieve much brighter interior illumination at a very low cost. If you’re tired of fumbling around under a dim dome light or digging through a trunk that feels like it’s being lit by a single candle, then this 24-piece interior LED light kit is for you. There are enough different styles of LED lights here to ensure you can replace the traditional bulbs in your vehicle, with some spares left over should you need them in the future. It’s an incredibly cheap upgrade that can improve almost any automobile.

Govee Smart App Controlled Interior Colored Lights

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Want to go above and beyond your vehicle’s traditional bland lighting scheme and spice things up for just a few bucks more? This Govee kit offers two lines of LED lights that can be installed along either side of your vehicle’s cabin and then controlled using an app on your mobile device. You can change color, brightness, or even activate a feature that pulses them along with the beat of your music. Just make sure to mount them where they won’t be distracting while you drive, and you’ll boost your car’s ambiance with this simple do-it-yourself installation.

Chemical Guys Exterior Wash Kit

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There are so many different car wash products out there that it can feel overwhelming just standing in that aisle at your closest big box or auto parts store. Fortunately, the cleaning crew at Chemical Guys have put together this car wash kit that has everything you need to make sure your vehicle’s exterior is spick-and-span. It includes soaps, protectants, and waxes, as well as a wash mitt, drying cloths, a bucket, and even a foam blaster you can attach to your hose to ensure better soap coverage. It’s a great way to get started down the detailing path, but it’s also enough for regular, basic washes if that’s all the time you have.

Chemical Guys Interior Cleaning Kit

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Why not complement your exterior car wash with a cleaning kit from Chemical Guys designed to tackle the grit and grime that accumulates inside your vehicle’s cabin? This package includes a set of brushes (useful for dusting inside air vents, nooks, and crannies), cleaning towels, an interior cleaner that’s safe to use on almost any surface inside your automobile, and detailing gel. The latter is a sticky slime that can ooze into the corners of your cupholders, dashboard, and console, trapping gunk and pulling it out of your car’s pores. It’s not just highly effective as a cleaner, but also strangely satisfying to peel off again and again.

Valleycomfy Microfiber Leather Steering Wheel Cover

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Is your car’s steering wheel starting to look more than a little worn? Instead of replacing the entire thing—an expensive proposition in the age of airbags, steering wheel controls, and complex electronics—why not wrap it? This steering wheel cover from Valleycomfy comes in two sizes and ten colors, and it uses a microfiber leather that’s comfortable for your hands as well as easy to grip while driving. All you have to do is wrap it around the wheel, and it tightens itself in place without straps or Velcro.

Coverado Car Seat Covers

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Car seats take a ton of abuse. On top of the regular wear from sitting and sliding in and out of the vehicle over the years, there are the spills, stains, punctures, and tears that occur as a normal part of driving your car. This set of front seat covers from Coverado offer not just solid protection for seats that are starting to show their mileage but also provide a bit of a dress-up over the stock covers thanks to the dazzling array of colors on offer. The fit for these Nappa leather covers is claimed to be universal, but you can enter your model before ordering to help make sure they’re a good match.

Gadgets / Infotainment

BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBD-II Scan Tool for iPhone and Android

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If you’re tired of having to go to the shop every time a check engine light illuminates the dash, this OBD-II Scan Tool is for you. Simply plug the dongle into your vehicle’s OBD-II diagnostic port under the dash, connect to it via Bluetooth, and then use the BlueDriver app to not just read each of these codes but also clear them. On top of that, the app also provides real-time health reports that can let you know when it’s time to head in for repairs before an issue becomes serious.

Redtiger 4K Dashcam

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Today’s roads aren’t just crowded, they can also be a little crazy, and you never know what can happen on your daily commute. Dealing with an insurance company after a fender bender is a lot simpler if you have video footage of the incident in question, which is where a dashcam can help. Capable of recording in up to 4K quality video, the Redtiger dashcam’s camera also offers night vision, a wide viewing angle, and even GPS tracking if your car is ever stolen. There’s an app to access the camera’s settings and a feature that will monitor the area around your parking space, too, in case you get bumped overnight or while you’re at work.

NOCO 1,000-Amp Jump-Start Booster

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Lithium-ion batteries have totally changed the game when it comes to portable booster packs. Instead of having to lug around a large, heavy jump-start device, companies like Noco offer small devices that provide as much or even more boosting power despite being able to easily fit in a glove compartment. This unit, for example, is rated at 1,000 amps, which is enough juice to start a large V-8 engine or even some light-duty diesel truck engines. That means it will work for the vast majority of drivers—and it comes with an integrated flashlight to boot to help you find the right underhood connections should your battery die in darkness.

Wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay Adapter

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Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both very popular interfaces for accessing a smart phone’s features more safely through a vehicle’s infotainment screen. Many older implementations of this technology require the use of a cable to connect, but if you want to make the experience a little more convenient, you can tag in this wireless adapter, which works with both systems. All you need to do is plug it in to your USB port and connect to it over Bluetooth, and you’re in business, making it one of the easiest tech upgrades on our list of cool car accessories.

Bluetooth FM Transmitter

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If your car is too old for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay but you still want to enjoy your tunes and podcasts while driving, then this Bluetooth FM transmitter should do the trick. It plugs into a vehicle’s 12-volt power socket and then connects to a mobile device over Bluetooth, letting you stream audio, which is then converted into a low-power FM radio signal that you can pick up with your car stereo. Not only that, but it also comes with a microphone and a call answer button so you can use your phone hands-free just as easily over your speakers.

Fanttik Slim Car Vacuum

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If you have young ones in your life, then you know how chaotic your vehicle’s interior can get even after the shortest drives. Whether you’re dealing with dirt, spilled snacks, or substances you can’t easily identify, having a small but powerful vacuum on hand can help make short work of clean-up duty. This Fanttik Slim vacuum is compact enough to always keep in the car, and since it charges via USB, you can plug it in when you’re done without having to bring it in the house.

12-Volt to USB Charger

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Not enough USB charge ports on your car? No problem: This versatile device transforms a 12-volt socket into three USB ports. You can plug in two USB-C cables or a USB-A cable in whatever combination you want, with the unit offering up to 67 watts of power at a time. How you access that output depends on which plugs are connected where, with an easy-to-follow diagram to help you maximize your high-draw devices when necessary. This charger is a good way to extend your vehicle’s charging capability, especially if you have a rear seat 12-volt port available.

Superone Retractable Cable Car Charger

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Are you someone who’s always losing their charging cables, or leaving them behind when you head out the door? This car charger makes that a problem of the past by offering integrated cables that retract into the unit when it’s not in use. Manufactured by Superone, it provides both a USB-C and an IOS-compatible cable, each of which is 30 inches in length. That’s more than enough reach for almost any 12-volt power plug installation, which is where this device draws its energy from. It’s not that much more expensive than a traditional USB power adapter, either.

RAM X-Grip Phone Mount

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There are plenty of phone mounts designed to keep your mobile device visible while you’re driving. Very few of them are as strong as the RAM X-Mount, which uses four powerful arms to grip your phone and an industrial-strength suction cup to stay attached to the windshield. This kind of mount is perfect for anyone who regularly travels over bumpy roads, who plans to head onto a difficult trail, or who takes their car to the track and doesn’t want to worry about their phone sliding off the glass while logging their lap times.

Safety

Backup Camera

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Backup cameras are standard equipment on new cars and trucks, but older models don’t always come with the same technology. Fortunately, it’s relatively affordable to add one to any vehicle using a kit like this one. Capable of providing high-definition, 1080p video, and featuring a small display screen that can be mounted conveniently on the windshield or dashboard, this setup lets you choose where to place the camera to keep it protected from potential damage and clean when the weather turns nasty. The manufacturer claims a 15-minute setup process, which means you’ll be safer on the road in no time.

Wide-Angle Rearview Mirror

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If you’re looking for a cheaper, lower-tech solution to rear visibility, why not pick up a wide-angle rearview mirror? The advantage offered by this type of mirror versus a backup camera is that it’s useful when you’re out on the road rather than just when you’re reversing. The wider mirror means you can see more than just the lane behind you, effectively reducing or even eliminating blind spots. It also gives you a better view of more of the back seat, which is great for parents when keeping an eye on their kids during a road trip. Best of all? It clips easily over your existing mirror.

Everlit Roadside Emergency Survival Safety Kit

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Life is unpredictable, and when you’re facing a worst-case scenario on the road, it’s always better to be prepared. This roadside emergency kit from Lemley puts nearly everything you could conceivably need into a portable bag that stows easily in your vehicle. It includes must-haves like jumper cables, a first aid kit, an air compressor, a flashlight, and a Mylar blanket, along with other accessories such as a reflective triangle, a tow rope, and a bungee cord. Throw it in your trunk and forget about it—until it pulls your bacon out of the fire.

Amazon Basics Seatbelt Cutter and Window Hammer

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If you’re not looking to pick up an entire emergency kit, then at least consider snagging this seatbelt cutter and window hammer, which is small enough to stuff in your center console. Designed to be used in an accident scenario where you can’t get your belt unbuckled, or your door is jammed and can’t be opened from the inside, having this tool handy can be the difference between a quick escape and a very scary situation. It’s cheap insurance against being trapped in a vehicle, on top of being simple to use under difficult circumstances.

Boulder Tools Tire Repair Kit

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A flat tire can easily ruin your day, but it’s surprisingly simple to do a quick repair if you have the proper tools handy. Boulder Tools offers a tire repair kit that’s small enough to bring with you wherever you go, which is especially useful if you happen to be stuck in the middle of nowhere—whether that’s a highway or an overlanding trail—with a puncture. Paired with a portable tire inflator (like the one found in the emergency kit listed above), this lets you plug a hole in the rubber and get back on your journey, all without having to call for a tow or visit a garage.

MaxxHaul Wheel Chocks

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If you’re going to be doing any type of work on your tires, wheels, or under your car, it’s always a good idea to add an extra element of safety to prevent it from rolling away. Whether you’re jacking on uneven ground or you’re not that confident in the capabilities of your emergency brake, these wheel chocks stow easily in your trunk (or your garage) and offer inexpensive peace of mind for shade-tree mechanics and roadside emergencies alike. You can also repurpose them for use when loading and unloading a utility trailer, making them a versatile car accessory.

Cargo Management

Amooca Car Seat Headrest Hooks

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Why do cars make it so hard to store something as simple and as common as a purse? Anyone who’s felt the frustration of trying to stuff their bag into one poorly conceived storage cubby or another will appreciate the simplicity of these basic hooks that attach to the headrest supports of a vehicle’s front seats and then allow you to dangle whatever your heart desires from them. They’re also useful for transporting dry cleaning and anything else that can’t be folded or scrunched, and as a bonus they don’t block your side windows like many built-in laundry hooks do in cars.

Augo Ratchet Straps

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If you need to haul something oversized, a roof rack is a handy thing to have. It’s only usable, however, if you have the right straps to attach it safely so you don’t have to worry about it making a break for freedom while you drive down the highway. This simple set of ratchet tie-downs will work with almost any cargo management system—roof rack, van or SUV tie-down hooks, or utility trailer hooks—which makes it a handy thing to have in the trunk the next time you pick up a load of Swedish furniture or a Christmas tree.

Fortem Trunk Organizer

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Trying to keep your trunk from becoming a mess with all these cool car accessories you’re now carting around is made a lot easier with something like this Fortem organizer. Essentially a well-divided treasure chest, the Fortem folds down when you don’t need it but pops back into action to offer multiple compartments and pockets. It’s also available in a number of different sizes, with larger versions helpful for those who can fit them inside the cargo area of a full-size SUV. A bonus with this type of organizer? You can load it in the house or garage and then bring it out to the vehicle before your next trip.

Amiss Cargo Net

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Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best when dealing with cargo. This net from Amiss stretches across your trunk and clips into one of three different mounting possibilities, providing you with a way to keep items upright and safe from rolling around while driving. Offered in four sizes, it’s easy to unclip the net when you want to haul something bigger, and you can either leave it on the floor of your trunk or remove it entirely. SUV owners might even want to consider buying two of these nets and using them to keep different types of cargo (such as smooshable groceries and heavy washer fluid jugs, for example), apart.

Urpower Dog Hammock

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Sometimes, the most precious cargo is also the most challenging to keep safe. Urpower’s dog hammock doesn’t just do a good job of protecting your rear seats from the indignities of hair accumulation, muddy stains from active paws, and the potential rips associated with errant claws, but it also offers a nonslip surface for your doggo to sit on, as well as a cushion to protect them from being launched between the front seats during a panic stop. Remember to always pair a harness with this hammock to keep your canine companion safe and comfortable while driving.

Off-Roading

All-Top Tire Deflator Valves

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If you plan to take your 4x4 off-road, you’re likely familiar with the benefits of airing down your tire pressures to deal with certain types of driving conditions. Boosting your traction gets a lot easier when using these auto-stop tire deflator valves. Simply preset the pressure you want in each tire by rotating the shell on the deflator and then screw them on top of your existing tire valve. Pull on the small piston to activate the airing out and remove it after it’s automatically stopped at the desired value. No more futzing with gauges in the mud!

Bunker Indust Off-Road Recovery Ramps

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Should you end up in a situation where even lower tire pressures can’t overcome slick conditions, having a set of these off-road traction boards on board with you can mean the difference between getting home and paying for an expensive tow. The boards are strong enough to withstand serious abuse and will bend rather than break to help get you out of a hole. They also offer traction-enhancing teeth, easy-to-grip handles (that let them double as shovels in a pinch), and a jackable center section just in case you need to engage in any automotive surgery while out on the trail.

Daily Practicality

Apollo Tools Compact Toolkit

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Sometimes a simple repair can mean the difference between driving yourself home and waiting in a parking lot for roadside assistance. Having a basic toolkit with you in your car, like this 56-piece set from Apollo Tools, can help you with small fixes that otherwise might leave you stranded. The kit comes in a small, zip-up bag that makes it easy to stow, and it covers a lot of bases with its socket set, multi-head screwdriver, and of course zip tires and pliers. It’s a great addition to any car’s emergency kit.

Car Seat Gap Filler

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When’s the last time you dropped something between the seats of your car and just gave up on ever seeing it again? It’s one thing when it’s small change, but if we’re talking about keys or your phone, you’ll be digging into that tiny crevice filled with sharp edges for as long as it takes to rescue your gear. This ingenious little device latches onto your seatbelt receiver and blocks that gap so you never have to go on another fishing expedition. It’s even leather-wrapped, so it won’t look out of place in most automobiles.

EcoNour Snowbrush

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Forget clearing your windshield with your winter gloves or the sleeve of your jacket: When snow and ice arrive in force, you need a durable and effective brush to wipe away the white stuff. This EcoNour snowbrush features an aluminum chassis to stay strong even in the face of very cold weather, and its foam grip is easy to hold onto while you scrape, scrape, scrape your way to forward visibility. It comes in several colors and offers a pair of sizes to choose from, with the larger model a good choice for dealing with tall SUVs and trucks.

MaxxHaul Car Ramps

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If you’re the kind of DIYer who works on their own car, it’s essential to have a set of ramps on hand so you can tackle basic maintenance without having to break out a jack. These MaxxHaul units are capable of handling anything from a compact car to most full-size trucks thanks to their 6,500-pound weight rating. With rubber stops built in, they won’t slip out, either, while you’re driving onto them. Ramps like this are perfect for oil changes at home, where you need to keep the car level but don’t require the full access height of a traditional lift.

License Plate Protector

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If you live in a climate that exposes your license plate to regular abuse—whether it’s constant sand-blasting as you drive down a desert highway, or the corrosive effectives of road salt in the winter—a plate protector like this one can help keep your tags looking their best. Cheaper than a replacement plate, certainly less expensive than a traffic ticket, and helpful to anyone who’s state has cheaped out on the quality of paint and construction, these tin protectors come in pairs so you can mount them front and rear, if required.

Saucemoto Dip Clip

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When snacks are life and dip is religion, but you also want to keep your car’s interior as clean as possible, there’s no better choice than the Dip Clip. Made by Saucemoto, these stain-savers attach to your vehicle’s heating and cooling vents and are perfectly sized to accommodate the condiment containers of most take-out restaurants. Hot sauce, BBQ sauce, or honey, it really doesn’t matter as the Dip Clip handles them all. The company even bundles in a special ketchup container, so you can squeeze in not one, but two of the plastic packets offered by some chains.