10 Best Uber Driver Essentials Worth Buying
Uber driver essentials do not have to cost a fortune. A secure phone holder, reliable charging and a few things to keep the car clean can make a useful difference during a shift.
The important part is choosing equipment that suits the job. A charger needs enough connections for your setup. A passenger cable needs to reach the back seat. And a sick bag needs to hold what goes into it.
I’ve put together ten accessories worth considering for Uber, Bolt and other private-hire work in the UK. Some belong near the top of your shopping list. Others depend on your car and the shifts you work.
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Editor’s note:
Which Uber driver essentials should you buy first?
Start with your working phone: keep it secure, visible and charged. Then think about recording journeys, cleaning up small messes and protecting the car.
| Essential | Our selected product | Main reason to consider it |
|---|---|---|
| Phone holder | Miracase dashboard and windscreen holder | Keep navigation in a steady position |
| Multi-port charger | Anker 167.5W three-port charger | Charge several devices |
| Dash cam | Vantrue N4 Pro S | Record the road, interior and rear |
| Interior cleaning kit | Autoglym Perfect Interiors | Keep suitable cleaning products together |
| Sick bags | Medi Grade absorbent sick bags | Help contain sickness before it reaches the upholstery |
| Tyre inflator | AstroAI 12V digital inflator | Adjust tyre pressures at home |
| Rubber floor mats | Nyxi four-piece rubber mats | Make wet and muddy footwells easier to clean |
| Passenger charging cable | Anker USB-C cable, 1.8m two-pack | Give passengers more reach |
| Boot liner | Sakura SS5125 | Protect the boot floor |
| Lumbar cushion | POOTACK lumbar support cushion | Add support if it suits your seating position |
These are research-led selections. I have not personally tested every product, and fit or compatibility should always come before brand or bestseller badges.
1. A phone holder that stays where you put it
Our pick: Miracase dashboard and windscreen phone holder
A good phone holder keeps your phone steady and your directions easy to see. You do not want it slipping every time you turn or go over a bump.
The Miracase holder can attach to your dashboard or windscreen. Before buying, check that it fits your phone with the case on and that you have a suitable place to mount it.
Keep it clear of your view, controls and airbags. Set it up before driving. Holding and using your phone while driving is illegal, even when stopped at traffic lights.
2. A charger for your phones and passengers
Our pick: Anker 167.5W three-port car charger
If you use two phones for work, a charger with just one port is not enough. You may also want a spare port for passengers.
The Anker charger has three USB ports, so you can charge up to three devices at once. It has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. Check that your charging cables fit these connections.
Keep your main phone plugged in for bookings and directions. That leaves the other ports available without interrupting your work.
Working across Uber, Bolt or other apps? Our multi-apping guide explains how to manage more than one platform.
3. A dash cam that records inside the car too
Our pick: Vantrue N4 Pro S
For passenger work, it makes sense to consider what happens inside the car as well as on the road.
A front camera might record a collision ahead. An interior camera provides another view if a disagreement develops during a journey. Footage can help explain what happened, although no camera guarantees that every detail will be captured.
The Vantrue N4 Pro S is a 3-channel system covering the front, interior and rear. It is worth considering if you want all three views in one setup.
Check your council’s rules before buying. Some licensing authorities require an approved CCTV system. Also check the rules on recording passengers, including signs and audio recording.
For recording options and alternatives, read my best dash cams for Uber drivers guide.
4. A cleaning kit for the mess between bookings
Our pick: Autoglym The Collection — Perfect Interiors
You clean the car before your shift. A few trips later, there are muddy shoe marks on the door and fingerprints on the windows. It’s frustrating, especially when your next passenger is already waiting.
The Autoglym Perfect Interiors kit includes products to clean the glass and upholstery and care for interior plastic and rubber. Keep a few microfibre cloths alongside it for small marks between bookings.
Use a separate cloth for the windows. The one you’ve just used on a muddy door sill will only leave you with another cleaning job.
You don’t need a boot full of cleaning gear. Just a few useful products to keep the car presentable between trips, with a proper clean when you finish.
5. Sick bags that actually contain the mess
Our pick: Medi Grade absorbent sick bags
If a passenger is sick in your car, you could lose the rest of your shift and face an expensive cleaning bill. A few sick bags are worth keeping close by, especially on late-night jobs.
Choose proper sick bags that hold the mess and close securely. A bag that leaks is no help. The Medi Grade bags contain material that soaks up liquid and turns it into gel.
Keep a few where you can reach them quickly. If someone says they feel sick, you do not want to be searching through the boot.
6. A tyre inflator you can use before leaving home
Our pick: AstroAI 12V digital tyre inflator
You’re ready to start work, but a tyre needs air. Having your own pump saves you a trip to find a working one at the petrol station.
The AstroAI tyre inflator plugs into your car’s 12V socket. Set the pressure you need, and it stops automatically when it reaches it. The screen shows the pressure as it pumps.
Check your tyres before driving, while they’re cold. You’ll usually find the correct pressures inside the driver’s door or in the handbook.
If a tyre keeps losing air, get it checked. Pumping it up again won’t fix a puncture.
7. Rubber floor mats for wet shoes and muddy pickups
Our pick: Nyxi four-piece rubber car mats, subject to fit
On a rainy day, passengers bring wet shoes and mud into the car. Rubber mats make cleaning easier. Take them out, wash them and let them dry.
The Nyxi set has two front mats and two rear mats. Check the sizes before buying, as they won’t fit every car.
Make sure the driver’s mat stays in place and cannot slide under the pedals. Don’t put it on top of another mat.
8. A passenger charging cable with enough reach
Our pick: Anker USB-C to USB-C cable, 1.8m two-pack
“Have you got a charger?” You’ll hear that plenty of times during a shift. A long cable lets passengers charge their phone in the back without leaning forward or handing it over.
This Anker pack comes with two 1.8-metre USB-C cables. Keep one for passengers and the other as a spare.
They fit phones with a USB-C socket. For older iPhones, you’ll need a separate Lightning cable.
Keep the cable off the floor so passengers don’t catch it with their feet, and tuck it away when it’s not being used.
9. A boot liner for luggage and everyday dirt
Our pick: Sakura SS5125 universal boot mat
Airport runs can leave your boot covered in dirt from suitcase wheels. Add a wet pushchair or leaking shopping bag, and you’ve got more cleaning to do.
The Sakura boot liner helps protect the carpet and can be taken out to clean.
It measures 120 × 80cm, with marked lines you can cut along to fit your boot. Check the size before buying.
It’s a flat mat, so it won’t stop spills running over the edges, but it makes everyday dirt easier to deal with.
10. A lumbar cushion, if your seat needs extra support
Our pick: POOTACK lumbar support cushion
Long hours behind the wheel can be hard on your back. You’re looking after passengers all day—your comfort matters too.
If adjusting your seat isn’t enough, the POOTACK lumbar cushion could give you extra support. Make sure it fits comfortably without pushing you too far forward, and still take regular breaks to stretch your legs.
Which Uber driver essentials should you buy first?
If your budget is tight, start with Uber driver essentials that keep your phone secure, your battery charged and your car clean.
After that, look at what your car already provides. Good-fitted mats do not need replacing. A supportive seat may not need a cushion. Built-in charging may already handle part of your setup.
Buy equipment that solves a problem during your shifts. You can build the rest of the kit as you learn what you actually use.
Getting your car ready is only part of starting work. Read our Uber driver insurance guide to understand the cover you need.
Are these accessories only for Uber drivers?
No. The same equipment can be useful for Bolt and other private-hire work, as well as many taxi drivers. Phone compatibility, vehicle fit and licensing conditions matter more than which booking app you use.
Will passenger extras improve my ratings or tips?
There is no guarantee. A charging cable is a useful courtesy, but I would put dependable working equipment and a clean car first.
Offer the extras you can maintain easily. You should not need to turn the car into a shop to provide a comfortable journey.