What car fanatics really want wouldn't fit under a tree. That shiny red Corvette or silver Infiniti really belongs in the garage and would break the bank of most gift-givers who don't have vested and above-water stock options.

If you've given up on getting your favorite auto enthusiast an actual vehicle, here are some ideas for presents you can find and buy in a hurry.

Microfiber cloth. These polishing cloths, about $2 apiece, remove dust and oil from a navigation screen display without scratching it. They also work for eyeglasses, sunglasses, cell phone, and glossy wood trim. Look for them in computer or camera departments, or at your optician. Great stocking stuffers.

Diagnostic tester. Your dealer charges $50 to read the "check engine fault" codes. This is not the season for politics—otherwise I'd note that the readout should be free to attract your business, or the car should explain the fault in plain English. But for not much more than $50, you can get a plug-in that explains the codes to you. Check out AutoXray's CodeScout, the CarMD, the Davis Instruments CarChip, and the Palmer Performance PCMSCan.

In-car laptop transformer. Every laptop needs a spare transformer. Rather than buying a single-brand transformer (Dell, Lenovo, HP, or Apple), buy a universal auto/air/home adapter that works everywhere, including in cars and (with $10 tips) with nearly every laptop and cell phone. Look for a model with an auto-sensing tip that sets the voltage. Don't buy a bulkier 120-watt adapter unless your laptop draws that much power; for smaller laptops, 75 watts is fine. And cheaper. $75 to $125.

Universal car cell-phone charger. Same deal here: Get a universal charger with interchangeable tips for the various cell phones you have now or in the future. About $30.

LED flashlight with lithium batteries. For emergencies, your car should have two flashlights (one for the glove box that'll be borrowed by a loved one and never returned, and one hidden away, maybe secured under the seat so it won't roll around). LED lights draw less power, and single-use lithium batteries are good for 15 years. The pack I just bought expires in 2020.

Satellite radio. I love music, not commercials, which makes Sirius or XM the way to go. Add-on radios cost $50 to $100. Better: If the car has a replaceable radio, buy one (or a gift certificate) with satellite built in. It's more convenient when it's built in and doesn't cost a lot more than a low-cost portable, plus the cost of having it installed (which is recommended).

HD radio. I'm waiting for the prices to come down on the radios and add-on tuners. One exception: JVC makes a replacement radio with a CD player and HD tuner, the KD-S100, that has been selling (after rebates) for less than $150.

Portable navigation device.They work passably well, though they could be more user-friendly. And be prepared to spend $500-plus for a good one. Check out the Garmin nuvi 360 or the more affordable Lowrance iWay 250C.

Portable DVD player. If you've got kids or bored adults sitting in back on a long trip, just about any portable DVD player costing $75 and up will be adequate. Just make sure it has two headphone jacks and a car adapter. Costlier models have bigger and better screens, but most all of them work well.

USB power adapter. Some devices, including cell phones, recharge directly from a USB jack. Check out Belkin's USB car power adapter: Plug it into the accessory slot, and you get a powered USB jack capable of recharging music players and an increasing number of cell phones, or for plugging in a stalk-mount USB light.

Professional installation. When you self-install a portable satellite radio or navigation device that mounts on the console or dash, you wind up with power and signal cables running everywhere. For $50 to $100, a car electronics technician will hide the wires and tap into a power supply that doesn't use the accessory socket.

First-aid kit. It's not a tech item but every car ought to have one. Germany, land of the unlimited-speed autobahn, requires drivers to carry first-aid kits.