It’ll also bring your car interior into the 21st century.

Not to mention it’s relatively easy to install yourself; just check that the model is compatible.

It also serves as the basis for compatible backup and dash cameras, which I’ll talk about shortly.

The interior of an old car with an onboard computer.

Lucas Gouveia / How-To Geek |djgis/ Shutterstock | Best Buy

The best models come from highly reputable brands like Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood, and JVC.

A backup camera can save you from many bumps, scratches, and expensive car accidents.

There are many different ways to add a backup camera.

A backup camera installed over a car’s license plate.

Kwangmoozaa / Shutterstock.com

The best approach involves hooking a compatible model up to your infotainment system.

Some dash cam models support 24/7 surveillance to protect your car when it’s parked.

A less bleak use for a dash cam would be to record your road trips.

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The WOLFBOX wireless backup camera comes with a rearview mirror display, which doubles as a dashcam!

The WOLFBOX wireless backup camera comes with a rearview mirror display, which doubles as a dashcam!

At its most basic, it tells you the time and your speed.

Pricier models even integrate GPS and navigation into them.

anker 535 car charger

Anker

I like minimalist models that only project the current speed because my car lacks a digital speedometer.

If you want to get fancy, you might get a wireless charging dock or magnetic phone holder.

Parking Sensors

Although backup cameras make for an excellent reverse gear assistant, they aren’t perfect.

ugreen 130w usb car charger

With 100W power delivery via one of its USB-C ports, the UGREEN 130W Car Charger can juice up most mobile devices, including laptops, at their top speed.

That’s where parking sensors come inthe closer you are to an object, the faster it beeps.

They can be installed both in the back and front.

Parking sensors are a great standalone upgrade, but they also work well in tandem with a backup camera.

dashboard of a car

It can save you hundreds of dollars in parking mishaps.

Here’s anaffordable model with a display from Aiuphing.

It’s a must-have if you take long trips all the time.

Also, if your car supports an OEM cruise control retrofit, you should go with that instead.

It provides real-time data on your speed, oil and coolant temp, gas mileage, and other metrics.

Availability depends on your car’s make and model, so do some research before you upgrade.