Myth vs. Fact: What Car Accessories Really Do
From seat belt clips to phone mounts and fuel-saving gadgets, car accessory claims are everywhere. Here’s how to tell safe, useful accessories from risky gimmicks.
Cover: Alternate Reality, Part I · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Question: Which common car accessory myths should be ignored, and what are the facts?
Myth: Seat belt adjuster clips make seat belts more comfortable and safer.
A padded clip may feel more comfortable, but it can move the belt webbing away from the position engineers designed. Seat belts are crash-tested as complete systems, so adding aftermarket adjusters or clips could change how the belt fits and reduce its ability to protect you. If a seat belt is uncomfortable, frayed, or hard to buckle, have it checked by a qualified service shop instead of altering it.
Myth: A phone mount is an automatic safety device.
A mount can help keep a navigation phone within the driver’s line of sight, which is better than holding it. The mount is only helpful, however, if the phone is set before driving and not touched, scrolled, or typed while the vehicle is moving. A phone mount mounted low or in a blind spot can still cause dangerous glances away from the road.
Myth: Fuel-saving devices and fuel pills significantly improve gas mileage.
Most add-on fuel-saving devices, such as magnetic fuel line attachments or special additives, do not show meaningful, repeatable gains under controlled testing. The most reliable fuel savings come from keeping tires properly inflated, removing unnecessary weight, following the vehicle’s maintenance schedule, and driving smoothly at moderate speeds.
Myth: Accessories hanging from the rearview mirror are harmless.
Heavy hanging accessories can swing, block part of the windshield view, and become moving objects inside the cabin if the vehicle stops suddenly or is involved in a crash. Keeping the mirror area clear is a simple way to maintain visibility and reduce distractions.