Cars come equipped with powerful heaters that are designed to keep you warm in even the coldest conditions, but what do you do when your car heater breaks? Car heater repairs can be prohibitively expensive, and 12-volt car heaters are relatively affordable, so it’s only natural to wonder if you can get by with the cheaper option.

While 12-volt heaters aren’t designed to replace factory car heaters and aren’t capable of putting out the same amount of heat, they can be useful in many situations. It’s just important to understand what you’re getting into so you can make an informed decision.

To select the right 12 volt car heater, there are a few simple questions you can ask yourself. These questions will focus on how you plan to use the heater, effectively allowing you to choose whether to buy a 12 volt plug-in car heater, a larger, hardwired unit, or whether a regular 120v space heater might do the trick.

Considering these important questions will also help you determine what type of heater to select, how much wattage you need to get the job done, and whether you actually need a universal car heater replacement that connects to the cooling system.