Portable Car Heater Solutions — Pros, Cons, and Recommendations

Car heater not working? No way to defrost the windshield, and no money to fix it right now?

No problem!

Did you know there are portable car heaters you can buy for less than $15? And they'll work with any car that’s got a cigarette lighter.

What a relief it would be to see that layer of windshield frost melt away in just a few minutes. Sure, that's what your car's built-in heater is for--but there are many situations where a portable car heater (and yes, there is a variety of such devices!) offers exactly the solution you need on a frosty winter day.

Did you have your car's heater core bypassed?

Maybe you had to have your car's heater core bypassed--and while you save money to fix the heater (or buy another car), you think, "Brrrrr, what would I give for a cheap little portable car heater and defroster? Just something to get me through this one winter!" Well, guess what? A cigarette lighter electric car heater IS cheap--and quite helpful in a pinch. Not a long-term solution, to be sure--but that little plug-in portable car heater working away might just make all the difference to your getting between work and home on the coldest, frostiest days.

Young Children Shivering in the Car?

Maybe you're getting young children up early each morning to go to school or daycare--and you want to make the wintertime ride as "warm-fuzzy" as possible. In that case, a portable electric garage heater or heated car seat covers might be your best (and safest) solution.

Or maybe you're looking for a more permanent auxiliary to your vehicle's heating system--a directly wired electric car heater that will offer a safe, long-term, effective boost to your car's heat output.

Portable Car Heater Solutions Come in Several Shapes and Sizes!

The thing to keep in mind is, a portable car heater can take a number of different forms. And if you take a quick look at the reviews on Amazon when you enter "portable car heater," it'll be obvious to you right away that buyers are pretty disappointed when they purchase a "solution" that does not really address their needs.

So how about we run down a quick list of the pros and cons of each type of electric car heater?

1. The Cigarette Lighter Portable Car Heater

Pros: Cheap (most are under $30), easy, safe, and quick to implement. Ability to defrost your windows if your car's defroster is not functioning.

Cons: Your 10-amp cigarette lighter wiring cannot put out enough heat to make you and your passengers feel all warm and toasty if your car's heater core is not working.

2. The Directly Wired 12-Volt Electric Car Heater

Pros: This is the portable car heater that most experts recommend (if fixing the heater core is not an option). Wiring a device directly into your car's battery means that you can generate a whole lot more heat than your measly cigarette lighter hookup can manage.

Cons: A more expensive solution (between $80 and $200) Also trickier to install than a cigarette lighter plug-in. While you should be able to handle this as a DIY project, many people might still find that prospect overwhelming or unappealing. It's also a more pricey portable car heater than the cigarette lighter variety. Finally, if the DIY hookup is not done correctly, it might make for an unsafe electrical wiring situation in your vehicle.

3. The Alternative Portable Car Heater Solutions: Infrared Electric Garage Heaters and Heated Car Seat Covers

Pros: No little heater device (and annoying cord) sliding around the car. No arguments over where it's pointing--or requests to PLEASE send the electric car heater to the back seat! Focus on getting the heat where it makes the most difference.

Cons: These solutions will NOT help with defrosting your windshield (which, if your heater core is not functioning properly, is really your primary concern. And the prices can add up--especially if you are looking at getting every seat in your car outfitted.

Bottom Line: What is the Best Portable Car Heater?

For those of you who don't want to look at any further reviews, here are my thoroughly researched recommendations for each different type of portable auto heater:

Best plugin 12volt portable car heater