A well-designed power inverter that’s great for small devices.
Large inverter that can power small appliances like a coffee maker. Automotive Inverter Power Supply
A power converter with a sleek design and plenty of useful outlets.
This review will spotlight some of the best power inverters for cars as determined by our research team. We scored each product based on design, installation process, and overall value to consumers.
You can see how the Bestek 300W performed in each of our testing categories below:
The other issue is the absence of any rubber feet or other ways to secure the Bestek to the vehicle. So make sure you have a space set aside where the inverter can’t freely roll about the car. Otherwise, the Bestek gets high marks for its compact design and power specifications.
Customers enjoy the amount of power the Bestek puts out. It is durable, reliable, and also very quiet. One customer even reported reliable use for 10 years. On the negative end, several consumers report longevity issues and spotty customer service.
You can see how the Maxpart performed in each of our testing categories below:
Design: Connecting the battery cables to the inverter unit was incredibly easy thanks to the color-coded ports on the back of the device. Our team liked the inclusion of two additional cigarette lighters and the added flexibility of being able to connect directly to the car battery.
Installation: The only thing we docked the Maxpart for is the assembly required out of the box. Conversely, several other brands are ready to go as soon as you open the package.
Value: Even though the Maxpart was the largest inverter we tested, we found it mostly quiet, and it had plenty of room for our devices to plug into making it worth the higher price point.
Customers liked the Maxpart for charging simple devices. It works as stated and 83 percent of reviewers rate it 4.0 or more stars. This power inverter gets high marks for value and ease of use.
Some users mention issues with the battery cables being of poor quality. They are a little short and can stop charging when jostled. A few complain that this inverter isn’t as reliable for powering larger devices such as laptop computers.
If you need to charge multiple portable electronics, the ShockFlo 200W Power Inverter is a good option because it has four USB ports in addition to two 120.0-V outlets. This power inverter even has a USB-C outlet, which none of the other recommendations on this list offer.
The ShockFlo power inverter was easy for us to test and the spacing of the power outputs gave this inverter extra points when considering the overall design. However, the lower build-quality and wattage affected the overall value of the ShockFlo.
Design: The ShockFlo works as advertised. Power outputs are spaced apart and oriented so that one extra-long plug won’t cover the other output which we enjoyed because it allowed us to plug in multiple devices without tangling the power cords.
Value: We had no issues using the ShockFlo, though the plastic housing and button feel flimsier and less durable than other, higher-priced power inverters. If you’re prone to dropping your electronics, you might choose something more robust.
Google reviewers generally feel that the ShockFlo is a good purchase for the price. Some have noted that it is not especially powerful or robust but is nonetheless reliable. Those who need to power multiple devices at once appreciate the many outputs as well as the USB-C output.
Some have issues using the ShockFlo because you must turn on the AC outlets by holding down the power button for several seconds. This is not very well explained in the user manual, leading some to think the device is broken.
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The Potek 750W Power Inverter is a good power inverter option for drivers who want an above-average amount of power. Like our runner-up pick, the Potek comes with the option of connecting directly to the car battery or going through the cigarette lighter. It also has a litany of safety features to prevent overheating and short circuits.
Potek goes the extra mile by providing you with two extra sets of fuses in the event of over-voltage. Need to power a drill or vacuum off your car battery? The Potek 750W car inverter will give you that option. If you’re looking to charge a tablet or something else, you should consider a more basic device. Below are the pros and cons of the Potek:
Installation: This inverter had the same assembly issues as the Maxpart, meaning it had to be assembled and was much less of a typical plug-and-play inverter that makes installation easy. While not impossible, it was time-consuming and required us to follow multiple steps to ensure a correct assembly and installation.
Value: The bulky design and lack of USB-C power outputs made it difficult for us to give this inverter 5.0 stars for value. However, the high wattage and connection compatibility to vehicles helped make this power inverter more worth the investment.
Fans of the Potek power inverter say it has tremendous power output. It runs quietly as well. However, critics claim that Potek’s quality control is lacking, with some receiving defective units. The finish also quickly fades in sunlight, according to one user.
If your vehicle has cup holders, you have a spot for the Bestek 200W Car Power Inverter . This version has a design similar to our top pick in terms of outlets with the added bonus of a 12.0-V socket, albeit at a lower wattage. As our most compact option, the Bestek is terrific if you’re OK with giving up a cupholder and you like having your power station close by at all times.
You can see how the Bestek performed in each of our testing categories below:
This product is probably better at charging multiple low-voltage devices like smartphones than bigger items requiring AC outlets. But if you don’t mind a squished version of our best pick, it’s hard to argue with the form factor. Below are the pros and cons of the Bestek:
Overall, the Bestek was a lower price but it also lacked in power output and overall value. The cheaper design made us question how reliable this power inverter would be in the long run.
Design: Bestek’s 200.0-W offering was the most compact and form-fitting portable power inverter we profiled. Besides running into a similar outlet real estate issue, the plastic design has a cheaper feel than Bestek’s 300.0-W counterpart.
Value: From a value standpoint, this product is difficult to recommend because, for a few pennies more, you can get a more powerful inverter from the same manufacturer. It also happened to be the loudest power inverter we tested.
Customers seem to really like the straightforward design and portability of the product. Several report multiple years of reliable use of this power inverter. However, not all Bestek 200W power inverters seem to last that long, some report device failure after a year. It also does not completely fill most cupholders and so can rattle.
The Foval 200W Car Power Inverter places function over design. Whereas the other brand brands we featured use a hotrod red, Foval went with a simple gray for its 200.0-W model. Color choices aside, we chose this product simply for its portability and smart design.
While the installation was simple for us, there was a concern about the value and design quality. The design is visually appealing and convenient but felt cheaper and lower quality when we compared this inverter to others in our review.
Installation: Like the rest of the power inverters, the installation was incredibly simple with a quick connection to the cigarette lighter.
There are a few complaints about the device overheating and blowing fuses. The Foval may not be as robust as other power inverters.
What Is A Power Inverter?
A car battery outputs a direct electrical current (DC), whereas most personal electronics require alternating electrical current (AC). A power inverter takes in DC power and outputs AC power (side note: a device that takes in AC power and converts it to DC power is called a “power rectifier”).
The appliances you plan on using should dictate the wattage of your power inverter. If you’re looking to charge your phone, laptop, or multiple small electronic devices, a 250.0-W to 300.0-W inverter should pack enough power.
If you’re planning on a road trip and want to use more heavy-duty appliances such as power tools or a coffee maker, you’ll want to pick something in the 1,000.0-W range or above to avoid a short circuit of your car or overheating the device.
Modified sine waves refer to deviations in the amount of energy in the power source, creating sometimes what’s called a square wave. Modified weaves can run devices efficiently but negatively impact performance over time.
Below are some common frequently asked questions about power inverters:
Most cars can handle a power inverter under a certain wattage. For a high-wattage power supply that you need to run continuous power, you’re best off pairing it with heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks or RVs.
A power inverter will drain your car’s battery if you operate it while the car isn’t running. To maintain the car battery’s charge, we advise only using the inverter to power devices while the engine is running.
Most cars can run power inverters of up to 1,000.0 watts but might not have enough juice for higher-wattage inverters to hit peak power.
Our design score is based on several features. We consider the size and shape of each power inverter as well as the number, type, and location of charging ports. Extra features like digital displays also contribute to our design score. Finally, power inverters can be noisy, and those that run silently scored more points in this category.
Our installation score is based on how easily the power inverter can be used. Many power inverters can be used right out of the box, but some require assembly. Any additional features that make using them easier like extra cord length or included batteries added to this score.
Star ratings help us evaluate and differentiate between the top-performing products in our reviews. The power inverters in this review were scored based on various criteria: design, installation, and value. Based on our calculations, the power inverters in this review scored an average of 4.3 out of 5.0 stars.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here .
Will has written for several major auto sites including Motor1 since 2020, logging hundreds of hours researching and testing products ranging from child car seats to torque wrenches. Will is also Certified by Safe Kids Worldwide as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (#T836339).