What Is That Strange Part Between the Car Cup Holders? 🚗

They Can Be Easy to Miss

Because these pieces are integrated into the center console, many drivers never pay attention to them.

At first, they can look like:

Decorative trim
A divider
Part of the cup-holder mechanism
An oddly shaped piece of plastic

But their position directly between the cup-holder openings gives them an important clue: they are related to keeping containers secure.

What Can You Put in the Cup Holder?

Depending on the design of the particular vehicle, these stabilizing grips can help accommodate different container sizes, including:

Coffee cups
Water bottles
Soft-drink bottles
Travel mugs
Small beverage containers

The exact range depends on the vehicle’s cup-holder design.

Why Do Some Cars Have Them and Others Don’t?

Automakers use many different cup-holder designs.

Some rely on fixed circular openings, while others use:

Flexible rubber fingers
Spring-loaded tabs
Adjustable inserts
Sliding supports
Removable cup-holder adapters

The goal is essentially the same: make one cup holder useful for containers of different sizes.

A Small Feature With a Practical Purpose

Modern cars are filled with little design details that are easy to overlook.

The pieces highlighted in this image are a good example. They aren’t simply taking up space between the cup holders—they are there to help stabilize your drink while you’re driving.

And once you know what they do, you’ll probably notice similar mechanisms in other vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove these pieces?

That depends on the specific vehicle. Some are permanently integrated into the cup-holder assembly, while others are removable. It’s best not to force them because the retaining mechanism can be damaged.

Do they hold large bottles?

Their main benefit is usually with smaller or narrower containers. A large bottle that already fits snugly may not need them.

Why do they move?

The movement allows the cup holder to accommodate containers with different diameters while maintaining contact with the sides.

Are they designed to stop spills?

They can help reduce movement and tipping, but they cannot guarantee that a drink won’t spill, especially during sudden braking, sharp turns, or rough roads.