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Oh, technology – saving us time and frustration for decades. While some inventions are more technologically advanced than others, we all need a little help sometimes, even from the low-tech gadgets. Here are our favorite gadgets to upgrade your car to the most efficient, fun, and comfortable vehicle for you. more Tablet Headrest Mount Ever look over at the car next to you on the freeway and envy how docile the children in the back seat are as they watch Spongebob on the in-car television? You can have that same peace and your children can enjoy their favorite entertainment with a tablet headrest mount. Whether you have an iPad, Kindle Fire, Google Nexus, or Samsung tablet, you can mount it easily and securely on one of the front seat headrests and entertain everyone behind you for hours. Car Seat Gap Filler Every car comes with its own Bermuda triangle; it's that gap between the seat and your center console. That small space where the most useful items – cell phones, pens, credit cards, French fries – like to go and hide. But you can stop the maddening mishaps by filling that black hole with a car seat gap filler. Never again will you have to wedge your barely-too-short fingers into that gap while trying to keep your car in your own lane. A Multi-USB Charging Port Whether you're on a road trip with the whole family or heading to dinner with friends, everyone has a device they need charged. No more fighting over USB outlets and cables with a multi-USB charging port. You can pick one up with any number of ports to suit all of your passengers and gadgets. Car Desk If you're a busy working professional, you're on the phone all day, shuffling papers, trying to find that important contract, and trying to remember if you left your agenda in your desk, your car, or under the couch. But it is possible to keep it all straight with a car desk. With space for hanging files, a non-skid surface, and a convenient writing area, your car desk will help you maximize time and stay organized on the go. Bluetooth Car Locator We've all done it. You come out of a long movie or a shopping spree at the mall and you can't remember where you parked your car. You try to remember the section number that you forced yourself to memorize three hours ago, but to no avail. Now you'll never have to worry about losing your car in a sea of automobiles again with the Bluetooth car locator. Plug it into the cigarette lighter/charger in your car and it will send a signal to your phone telling you where you parked. And don't worry about forgetting your phone in your car. This little device will remind you to grab it before you lock the doors. Your car should suit your lifestyle. Just because it didn't come from the factory with twelve USB charging ports, an in-headrest DVD player, and a desk for your work on-the-go doesn't mean you can't upgrade your vehicle to your needs. This photo, " Like cheap mod,” by N0fX used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.o. " Like cheap mod " is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 by Gay Family Kia.

Before you let someone borrow your car, you should take into consideration the risks involved. It may seem like the nice thing to do if a friend is in need of a car, but make sure you know the laws in your state and your risk of liability before you let anyone take control of your vehicle. Here are some things you should know. more Insurance In most states insurance coverage is on the car, not the driver. This means that if you let someone borrow your car and they get into an accident, it is your insurance that is on the hook to pay. If your car is in an accident even if you are not driving, your premiums could go up. If your liability limits are lower than the damages, then you are legally responsible for paying out any additional money. Owner Liability In some states such as Michigan, owner liability laws state that the owner of the vehicle is responsible for damages in an accident as long as the driver had your consent to drive the car. This means that if someone borrows your car, as long as they had your consent, you are liable for damages in the event of an accident. You could also be held responsible for the actions of the person who drove your car if they committed a crime. Use Without Your Consent It is important to note that the rules change if you have not given your consent for someone to drive your car. If you can prove that you didn't give the other person permission to drive your car and they got into an accident, most likely their insurance will provide coverage. Keep in mind that in many states, family members are assumed to have consent unless it is specifically stated otherwise. Before Lending Your Car There are a few things you should do before you lend your car to someone. First, check with your insurance company to find out their policies and if there are any restrictions. Make sure your friend has a valid license, and check to see if they have any insurance. It is also important to make sure they have not been drinking or are under the influence. Short Term Car Insurance If someone will be driving your car on a regular basis, you can cover them for a short period of time. Contact your insurance company about adding them to your policy temporarily, or shop around for a company that offers temporary insurance. Just remember, it will cost extra to cover them, so you want to work out who is responsible for the payment. Helping someone out by lending them your car is not always a bad idea, but you do want to make sure you are both aware of the risks and responsibilities. You also want to make sure you are lending it to someone who is responsible. Accidents happen even with responsible drivers, so think about it before you lend your car to anyone. This photo, " Kia-” by laurencotie used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.o. "Kia-" is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 by Gay Family Kia.

You may not think being a passenger in a car is something you need to think about, but the way you act in a vehicle can have a big impact on the ride for everyone in the car.  Here are some tips on being a good passenger. more Don't Be a Backseat Driver Don't try to take control of the ride or give orders to the driver. Unless the driver asks you, don't tell them which way to turn or point out what they are doing wrong. This can put the driver under too much pressure and cause anxiety. If you have helpful information to give to the driver make sure you speak in a calm voice so there is no tension. Let the Driver Choose the Music The driver is in charge of the music. Don't be tempted to change the station or scroll through the playlist to find something you like; let the driver tell you what they want to listen to. This is also the case for the volume. Some people like to blast the music when they drive while others find this distracting. Make sure the person behind the wheel is comfortable with the volume level. Stay Awake It is not polite to fall asleep when you are riding in the car with someone unless you are sick or extremely tired. As a passenger, you should keep the driver company and be there for help with directions if needed. This is very important when you are on the road at night. The later it gets the harder it is for the driver to stay awake too, so if you can help keep their mind occupied, it will be a great assistance to them as they continue driving. You can also keep an eye out for gas stations or rest stops when the time comes to fill up or take a break. Only Use Your Phone When Needed If it is just you and the driver in the car, you want to keep your phone calls to a minimum. Only take a call if it is important. It is distracting for the driver to have the person next to them talking to someone else and if you get loud it is even worse. When you do take a call make sure to keep your voice calm and quiet. Be The Designated Text Reader and Writer If the driver wants you to, you can read their texts for them and reply when needed. The driver might feel more relaxed if they know they won't miss an important message if they have someone to keep an eye on their phone. They can concentrate on the road while you take responsibility for keeping up with their texts and calls. There are a lot of things you can do while riding in the car to make sure you are a good and helpful passenger. Whether the driver is new or experienced you can make the trip easier for them until it is your turn to take over the wheel. This photo, " Road” by Lara Eakins used under CC BY-NC 2.o. "Road" is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 by Gay Family Kia.

Most kids are pretty hungry by the time they get out of school. You can keep them all occupied and happy during the carpool ride home with some healthy and fun snacks. Here are some carpool snack hacks you can put together before picking up the kids. more Use Takeout Containers Fun takeout containers such as cardboard Chinese style boxes are easy to fill and easy to carry. Fill them up with a mixture of whole wheat cereal, yogurt covered almonds or raisins, roasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds, and any other mixture of dried fruits that your kids like. Fold the tops and carry them to the car to hand out as the kids take their seats. The Go Bag Use a large gallon Ziploc bag and fill it with a variety of choices. You can keep a couple of these in the front with you and let the kids choose what they want, or pack up one for each child. You can put anything you want in the bags from individual applesauce containers to small bags of cereal and granola bars. You can also put in some raw baby carrots for a crunchy treat or some mixed berries for something sweet and healthy. The Snack Bin Use a medium sized storage bin to hold a variety of snack options for the kids. Use smaller sandwich bags and cups to organize the different foods. Fill some small snack or sandwich size individual bags with pretzels, popcorn, and crackers, and use a plastic cup filled with granola bars or other snack bars so the kids can just pull one out. Put some individual snack size cups of peanut butter such as Skippy singles in the bin for the kids to grab. Fill A Cooler When the weather turns warmer you can fill a cooler with refreshing snacks. Fill the bottom with cold packs and then add drinks, cheese sticks, yogurt, some crisp veggies, and cups of fruit salad or mixed berries. You could also add juice boxes and even freeze some yogurt sticks so they have some time to thaw before the kids get in. Kid-Friendly Trail Mix Pop up some popcorn and add pretzels, some Cheerios, and your favorite Chex for an easy trail mix. Add some M&M's to the mix and then divide it up into individual bags for the kids to snack on while they ride. They'll love the mix of salt and sweet, and the bite size pieces will keep them busy and quiet until they get home. Dried Fruit Dried fruit is a good option when you don't have a cooler to keep things cool and you have limited space. These are a nice sweet treat while still providing the healthy nutrients from fruit. Whether your carpool ride is a long one with lots of kids and many stops, or just a short drive down the road, having a healthy assortment of snacks will make it a better experience for everyone. This photo, " after school snacks” by Nicole used under CC BY-NC 2.o. "after school snacks" is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 by Gay Family Kia.

Having an emergency car care kit in your Kia is essential. Being stranded on the side of the road is a scary prospect, but it's easier to deal with when you're prepared for the worst-case scenario. more Essential Car Care Equipment You should always keep a spare tire, working jack, pipe, and lug nut wrench or tire iron in your trunk or hatchback cargo area in the event that you need to change a tire. If you don't know how to change a tire, keep a list of emergency numbers in your glove box, including a number for roadside assistance. AAA members should always keep their membership card in the glove compartment or center console. Additional emergency equipment that will come in handy includes roadside flares, two quarts of oil, jumper cables, one gallon of antifreeze, extra fuses, brake fluid, a flashlight, screwdriver, adjustable wrench, a pair of pliers, a tire inflator, tire pressure gauge, vise grips, a roll of duct tape, an ice scraper, pocketknife, work gloves, a funnel, rags, and paper towels. Store these items in a large, durable canvas bag, tool box, or plastic storage box with a secure lid. This list may seem excessive, but it's a must if you frequently drive in inclement weather or are planning a road trip. For the daily commute, you can reduce your emergency car care kit to the basics. For instance, it's a good idea to always have a flashlight, extra oil, roadside flares, and jumper cables on hand. Personal Comfort and First Aid In addition to a basic emergency car care kit, you should always keep a first aid kit on hand. You can purchase one that's already been assembled or put it together yourself. A basic first aid kit should include Band-Aids, aspirin, backup medications (such as an extra asthma inhaler), antibiotic ointment packets, compress dressing, wipes, scissors, gauze pads, tweezers, and emergency numbers. In addition to first aid, your emergency kit should include a blanket, jacket or coat, change of clothes, bottled water, and snacks. Granola and energy bars are perfect for storing in your emergency kit; just be sure to check the expiration dates often so you can replace items as needed. Mental Preparation Before you end up in an emergency situation, become familiar with the items you've packed. Most prepackaged first aid kits come with inserts on how to perform basic first aid, so study this information before an emergency arises. Along those same lines, there's little point in storing items to change a tire if you're not familiar with the process. If you're not mechanically inclined, ask a knowledgeable friend to show you the basics. Even if you intend to rely on emergency numbers and a good towing company to get you out of a bind, it's important to reduce your chance of injury by pulling off the road safely. You shouldn't try to change a tire on the side of a high-speed freeway, for example, so sometimes your best bet is to just sit and wait. You can't always prevent a tire blowout or other accident, but having an emergency car kit on hand will make the experience much less stressful. This photo, " HA1-000523” by Highways England used under CC BY 2.o. " HA1-000523 " is licensed under CC BY 2.0 by Gay Family Kia.