It should be no surprise that people have stuff, and when people travel in cars, that stuff has to go somewhere. Obviously, the trunk is the best place for stuff you’ll be removing at your destination, but what about a place for stuff that’s meant to travel with the car? I’m talking about the glovebox, which is used for storing just about anything except for gloves.
Not only has the glovebox become the de facto place to stash an owner’s manual, it’s also great for keeping little, less frequently used things out of sight and out of mind. It’s even lockable on many cars for a little extra security, should you wish to keep something valuable like a code reader or a spare set of headphones in there.
Now, my Boxster doesn’t have a glovebox, and the only things in the glovebox of my 325i are copies of the registration and proof of insurance, but the lifted Miata? Its glovebox is a cornucopia of treasures and tales, so let’s unpack the contents of this in-cabin drawer, aside from the usual paperwork.
Next up, a bag of chalk. In the first lifted Miata piece, I detailed how this was a group buy of sorts, and some of my friends like to draw on the bedliner-clad exterior, Top Gear-style. Admittedly, I’m more partial to mud than chalk, but the chalk exists in the glovebox for a reason. Whatever makes people smile, right?
Lastly, we have a spare brake bleeder. When we picked this thing up, a hardline to the right rear wheel had rotted out, and with a rusted bleeder in the caliper, we figured we could just flare and bend a new line, extract the old bleeder, pop in a new one, and everything would be dandy. Well, we ended up with leftover hardware, so into the glovebox it went. Will we ever need it? I’m doubtful, but you never know.
So, what’s in your glovebox? Are you one of the few people who actually uses it for gloves, is it essentially barren, or do you have a few essentials in there? Perhaps mints, or a slip containing the code to your radio. As ever, let us know in the comments below, because we’re curious.
(Photo credits: Thomas Hundal)
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Gloves, for real my wife has a pair of Aris Isotoner gloves in our car, along with the owners manual, related papers, wrenches for the bike rack, some Advil and a toy xylophone for stress relief.
the usual legal stuff, spare fuses, several 2nd-in-a-pack bulbs, emergency napkins. Receipt for PO’s engine rebuild in the Subaru. A little notebook tracking what I’ve done to the car. Since 2020 each car also has a decent cloth mask.
Some might find this macabre, but the roo also has a little bottle with a bit of a former gf’s cremains. She loved being copilot as I cos-played WRC driver on fire roads, so I kinda want to bring her along still. Very occasionally, I’ll find a spot she would have loved and I’ll sprinkle a bit out, then wallow in nostalgia a bit.
Damnit! I’m not crying. It must be an eyelash (or someone’s ashes) in my eye.
Like everyone else, insurance, registration, owner’s manual. Also GLOVES. The gloves are a holdover from when I lived in Colorado, where it’s actually cold and sometimes snowy in the winter. I haven’t needed them since I moved to Maryland.
Bungee net. That’s because my car right now is a motorcycle.
My car doesnt have a glovebox :/
It seems like a lot of cars don’t have a goovebox…
The glove compartment,
is inaccurately named.
And everybody knows it.
So I’m proposing,
A swift orderly change.
1) A ziplock back with the most recent registration and insurance card in them. Don’t want to sort through 75 expired versions if I ever need them.
2) A Rennsteig automatic center punch.
https://www.rennsteig.us/products/hardware-tools/punches/284-adjustable-automatic-center-punch-with-hand-guard
This exists in my car for two reasons. The second is if I am ever trapped in the car and need to break a window.
The first is if I ever see a helpless living thing locked up in a car with the windows rolled up.
https://youtu.be/8Dv0UU66CbU?si=7UvKQEt3bmDOUCXf
You know it’s legal to throw the expired ones in the trash when you get the new ones, right?
No one actually does that though. They sit attached to your fridge for weeks after they are active, until your wife says “put this in the car”.. which is when you throw it in the glove box with the rest of them.
“Like” this post if you feel seen.
You do you – good thing you are married, I guess. Mine go in the car the day they arrive in the mail (or for my cars at my summer place, when they come out of storage), and the old ones go in the trash. <shrug>
Luckily I no longer do me… hence the above stated solution.
Some folks need more direction I guess. Glad you found yours! I have a friend who would probably leave the house most days without his pants on and mismatched shoes if it wasn’t for his husband.
Insurance card, registration (without home address), owners manual, 12vUSB power adapter, umbrella, garage door opener, spare fuses, micro fiber rag, CD Jewel case for Rage Against the Machine The Battle of Los Angeles.
“What’s a glovebox?” – ND Miata driver
I’d argue we in fact have 3 gloveboxes, their just all behind you instead of in front of you. Confirmed by the fact that one of mine does in fact have gloves in it.
If I’m not mistaken, the RF only has 2, or maybe 1. I never go back behind the seats…
I have a hat and all the appropriate government paperwork in the middle cubby.
My GT6 also has no glovebox. Or cubbies. Or cupholders.
It seems like it’s a 2 seater sportscar thing to not have a glovebox.
Technically the GT6/Spitfire had a little cardboard shelf in place of a “box”. But mine is missing 🙂
Ah, that explains it, nevermind. They are actually fairly cheap to replace, as long as you still have the metal bar that forms the leading edge. You should have two, one at each end. It’s actually rather a lot of space.
I don’t have those bars, either. I know where to get some, though. This winter’s project is to rehab the whole dashboard. Haven’t decided yet if I want to replace the shelves or not.
It’s not a bad job. I did that part the last time I did the interior 20 years ago and they are still fine. I have new seat bits with nice leather covers, all the interior panels and new door and dash caps to do when I get a ’round tuit’. Maybe next summer, or once my new garage is done and I haul the Spitfire down to FL from ME.
I love GT6s, but sadly I don’t fit. I’d love to make a “Spit6” someday though! I’ve had my Spitfire for 28 years, so it’s time for another round of refreshing.
A friend of mine who makes wooden things as a hobby offered to make me a new dash. Mines an autocross car, so the appearance isn’t a top priority, but I couldn’t pass that up!
Nice! I made a new one myself for my car 25 years ago. Still looks pretty good. Same shape and general idea as the factory dash, but where the GT6 has those eyeball vents I put an oil pressure gauge on the driver’s side and a clock on the passenger’s, both matching Smith gauges. Removed a couple of useless warning lights, and added an override switch and pilot light for the electric fan. Veneered in bird’s eye maple, it looks pretty factory. All the gauges recessed in like stock.
Oooo, Thanks for reminding me about the fan switch! I had forgotten about that one.
My Spitfire has two walloping great package shelf things, one at either end of the dash. They just lack doors. The GT6 doesn’t have the same??
Napkins! Thousands and thousands of napkins!
And a years-old parking pass for a really shitty hotel in Sacramento.
In both, owner’s manuals and insurance cards, in the Camaro a pack of playing cards, a couple soft packs of facial tissues and a McDonalds straw.
What are the cards for? Magic tricks?
If I get stuck waiting somewhere I can at least play solitaire or poker or go fish or whatever
Nothing at all!
Because my car has no glove box. *pointing to head meme*
The usual stuff plus some OTC meds, plus some basic tools. I also like to keep napkins and utensils in there and maybe a multi-tool If I feel fancy.
I bought a bulk container of hospital grade barf bags on Amazon, put a few in my cars’ gloveboxes, and gave a bunch to my friends and family. More than a few have been used at this point and saved someone from smelling puke in their car for the next several years.
In the dash glovebox, I have a bag of coins, an emergency tool (it’s a flashlight, glass-breaker, tire PSI reader, and like one other thing combo), my little fake-leather registration holder, a lighter, and the both inappropriate & appropriate “light able” object, and I think a sharpie.
Center console glovebox has tissues, some tampons my sister left in there after I let her drive it for a couple days, oil change stickers, and a bunch of old papers. Maybe an old speaker that could clip to the visors that doesn’t work anymore either.
Yeah right, like I’m going to disclose that sort of information to this group!!!
We cleaned out my wife’s glovebox this weekend because she is getting a new car (Sorento). So owners manual, insurance card, pens, reading glasses, dog poop bags, hair elastics etc. Ownership? Who knows where that went so she is paying the $32 and getting a new one.
My Kia, owners manual, 2 cds (Dropkick Murphys and Mastodon), some cables, random receipts, extra glasses, insurance/ownership.
Mustang? Owners manual, insurance/ownership, extra glasses. Not really room for anything else.
But the big question – Do I sell my 2012 Soul or her 2012 Forester. Soul has lower KM but I really gotta do the brakes. Insurance is within $50 per year. Forester is also what our aging dog rides in so has a distinct dog smell and mess. May be easier/quicker to sell the Soul and transfer the Forester to me. But I like my Soul. But the Forester is fine too, and larger as it’ll become the hauling vehicle. Plus it already has a trailer hitch.
Nice CD’s in the KIA.
Never sell your soul!! /S/
I already sold it for rock and roll.
I’m pretty sure we are keeping the soul. 60,000 less km and it’s smaller size makes it useful at times.
Manual, proof of insurance, National Park and FL State Park cards, flashlight, mini binoculars, peppermint lifesavers, tire pressure gauge, pens, and the plug for USB cellphones.
Which one?
The main glovebox is for the manual and paperwork; the flashlight that’s knocking around the back should be in there too. The upper driver’s side has a tire pressure gauge and should have a pen and notepad in there again; the upper passenger side just has half a pack of smokes a friend left in there several months ago.
Dashboard glovebox: owners manual, two tire pressure gauges, reg, assorted service receipts.
Console glovebox: OBDII scanner plug-in, spare reading glasses, old COVID-era face mask, a couple of napkins, probably $1.20 in change.
Aside from the basics (paperwork, manual, notepad, pens), there’s a dial tire pressure gauge, Leatherman clone, and some allergy tablets. I emptied it out a few months ago when it went into the shop, so all the junk is gone.
Once I had a pair of gloves in the glove box. Just for the novelty.
In my Kia, receipts, owner’s manual, pen/paper, and tire pressure gauge.
In my MGB, receipts, log book, and registration.
My jeep is packed full of stuff. In the glove box, without looking, I think I have a medication organizer with general meds for emergencies, sewing kit, extra socks, tablet zip ties, fuses, and a bunch of other stuff I cannot recall but may need. Just in case stuff.