There are a number of cool gadgets and accessories for older drivers out on the market, but we wanted to narrow them down and tell you which ones are the best.
In our opinion, here are the 7 best car aids and auto products for senior drivers – plus an extra one that’s pretty nifty, too:
- Car cane standing aids
- Seat belt handles and buckle holders
- Leg lift straps
- Easy seat belt unbucklers
- Gas cap remover tools
- Seat belt buckle guards
- Easy turn spinner knobs for steering wheels
1. Car Cane Standing Aids
I love the Stander HandyBar Car Cane Plus so much that I just gave this one to a senior friend who recently had a knee replacement (that’s her in the video below).
The HandyBar Car Cane Plus (AKA the Standers Metro Car Handle) a small portable support handle that works in most cars.It’s wonderful for those who have physical challenges that make it difficult to stand up from a car seat (add a swivel seat cushion to make it even easier for them!).
The most important thing to know with a car “cane” is that it has to be inserted into/removed from the door frame every time the senior uses it.
To use the device, insert it into the door latch of the car (this latch is also known as the striker plate). Next, turn the handle out so it faces away from the car. Note: some people find it works better for their needs if it is turned sideways across the threshold of the door.
When the person gets into or out of the car, they grasp the handle, then use it for leverage to pull themselves up or they lean on it for stability as they sit down. For added safety, the Car Cane comes with a non-slip grip handle so the person’s hand won’t slide off it while they are moving.
The Stander HandyBar Car Cane can support up to 300 pounds in body weight but it only weighs 10 ounces. This makes it portable if the user can’t store it in the car, or is using it in someone else’s car, or is taking it along while ridesharing.
Additionally, the car cane has a seat belt cutter in the handle, plus the tip (the part that goes into the door latch) can be used to break a window in the case of an accident. This model also has a small flashlight in the handle.
The biggest drawback to the HandyBar Car Cane is that the person has to remember to take it out of the latch before they shut the door. We could see this being a problem if they get distracted while gathering up coats, purses, etc, from the car.
TIP: car canes like this will not work in a car door that latches with a bolt. You must have a latch that attaches to the door frame with two bolts or screws. Be sure to check the door latch before you purchase one of these!
2. Seat Belt Help
Seat Belt Buckle Holders
When I used to drive my elderly parents around, it made me nuts to have to buckle and unbuckle their seat belts.
I felt bad that I had to do it because I know they sort of felt like toddlers who couldn’t do things for themselves. But, the truth is, they both had limited mobility and really couldn’t do it on their own.
To begin with, both my parents usually had a hard time finding the seat belt strap in the first place. Then, even if they had the buckle in hand, they often couldn’t turn sideways enough to see it, which meant they kept trying to latch the belt by feel. This just resulted in frustration and pinched fingers.
If you or a senior loved one has this problem, get a seat belt buckle holder. The buckle holder keeps seat belt latch upright and easily accessible so no one has to fish around for the buckle.
A drawback is that some buckle holders are made of hard plastic, which can damage cloth upholstery. For this reason, I like the silicone types made by Wididi Buckle Up. They are soft and have rounded corners, plus they are flexible and won’t harm the car’s fabric.
The Wididi Buckle Up is easy to install. Just slip the holder over the seat belt latch – that’s it. I’ll grant that it’s a tight fit, but the silicone does have a little “give” so they will work with most seat belts.
TIP: seat belt buckle holders are meant for floppy seat belt latches (the kind that has a strap with a buckle). They won’t work on the short buckles in some cars and SUVs. In the case of the Wididi Buckle Up, the dimensions of the opening are 1.85 inches x 1.02 inch. Check to be sure they fit before you order them for a vehicle.
Easy Reach Seat Belt Handle
This six-inch rubber extension handle (seat belt pull) would have helped my parents grab their seat belt without turning too much in their seat.
Meant for older adults who have a limited range of motion in their neck and shoulders, this product is a small plastic handle that sticks out from the shoulder strap of the seat belt. When the person wants to buckle up, they just grab the handle to pull the seat belt towards them.
The drawback is that some reviewers say they had a difficult time using the handle because it has a tendency to slide down the seat belt and get trapped in the door. Also, some said the handle would twist away from the person when they unbuckled, making it difficult to reach the handle the next time they tried.
Still – for family members with mobility loss, it’s worth trying.these adaptive devices. I think they should work fine if the user pulls and releases the the seat belt slowly.
*TIP: An older person might also appreciate the softness of a seat belt shoulder pad and the added length of a seat belt extender so they seat belt isn’t so tight across their laps.
3. Leg Lifter Straps
I remember a friend of my parent’s who couldn’t lift either leg high enough to get in the car – even if she used her hands. Travel would have been much easier for her if she’d had one of these.
A leg lifter strap is a long-handled device that has a loop for your foot at one end of the strap and another loop at the other end that you hold in your hand.
These straps are most stable if they have a semi-rigid aluminum rod enclosed within the strap (between the loops).
The rod makes it easy for the person to position the bottom loop over their foot without having to bend over.
The straps come in various lengths, ranging from about 32 inches long for shorter people and up to 40 inches long for taller adults. Be sure to check the size you need before ordering one.
TIP: not only are leg lifter straps helpful for car travel, they are also great for people who have trouble lifting their legs when they get into bed or off the couch.
4. Easy Seatbelt Unbuckler
Seat belt unbucklers to the rescue! The UnBuckleMe is actually marketed as an easy release tool for unlatching the buckles on children’s car seats, but they are also awesome for seniors with weak or arthritic fingers.
Did you know that it takes about 9 pounds of pressure to unbuckle a seat belt? Me either, but it’s no wonder many elderly people have a hard time with them. Using the UnBuckleMe reduces the needed pressure by roughly 50 percent. Genius!
To use the UnBuckleMe:
- Slide it around the seat belt buckle latch
- Put the peg over the button of the latch
- Squeeze the button to open the buckle
TIP: a nice advantage is that the UnBuckleMe is about the size of your palm so it’s easy to slip into a pocket or purse for use in any car.
5. Gas Cap Remover Tool
Some gas cap remover tools are flat and fit easily in the pocket of the car door. The image to the right shows a flat one. You can also store this type in the glove box or in a seat-back pocket.
They’re pretty easy to use:
- Pop open the car’s gas tank cover
- Fit the tool over the cap
- Pull up to loosen
- After filling the tank, replace the gas cap over the tank’s opening, fit the tool over the cap again, then push down.
The Freedom Gas Cap Wrench is bigger, so it has to be stored on the floor behind the driver’s seat or in the car trunk. However, I have an acquaintance who keeps hers in the cup holder of the car’s console – a handy alternative!
To use the wrench-type of opener:
- Open the car’s gas tank cover
- Fit the tool over the gas cap
- Twist to open
- Reverse the process to tighten the cap after filling the tank.
TIP: because people have different strength levels or deficits in their hands, wrists, or fingers, check to see which type of gas cap remover will work best for their needs before you order one. Some people may have trouble with the wrench-type of opener because the handle is short and doesn’t give them enough leverage to open the gas cap.
6. Buckle Guards
Buckle guards are usually marketed for parents and kids, but they work well for seniors, too. A buckle guard fits over the seat belt latch and prevents someone from unfastening their seat belt while you are driving. They are particularly helpful for caregivers of a senior (or other loved one) who has dementia, Alzheimer’s or cognitive challenges.
It’s so easy to use, you don’t even have to install it. Simply place the guard on top of the seat belt’s buckle receptacle (again, it’s kind of like putting a cap over it). Then, fasten the seat belt through the wide slot just like you always do.
To open the seat belt, just push a regular car key through the small opening in the guard, press the latch button on the seat belt, and it will unlock.
While I think the concept is great, there are a few drawbacks you should be aware of:
- It only works with an actual key, but not with the key fobs that come with newer cars. You can work around this by putting an old metal key in the console of the car (or somewhere else that’s handy).
- It could be difficult to get someone unbuckled if there is an accident. The Buckleroo does come with a small, breakaway safety “key” to use in emergencies, though.
- Buckle guards aren’t attached to anything so they could get lost.
7. Turn Spinner Knobs For Steering Wheels
Some seniors find it very difficult to turn the steering wheel for a variety of reasons but most often it’s due to arthritic hands.
For those seniors, we recommend installing an Easy Turn Spinner Knob on the steering wheel itself. It’s inexpensive and a very simple attachment that can make turning that wheel a lot easier.