For a lot of people, the car is the most important place in the world. It’s where we spend an average of three hours a day, and sometimes more! It’s where we get to be alone with our thoughts, or just with ourselves—and that’s something that can be hard to find in our busy lives. The car is also where we spend a lot of time listening to music and podcasts, which are great ways to pass the time when you’re on the road.
But all of this can be hard if you don’t have the right apps. You want something that will keep you entertained while still allowing you to focus on driving safely. That’s why we’ve put together this list: to help you find the best apps for drivers.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For The Car
Car apps can help you find your next car, rent a car, find cheap gas prices or the most efficient route, make it safer to use your phone in the car, and even find your car for you when you forget where you parked.
Since phones have limited space, and you probably don’t want to waste your mobile data downloading apps when you’re on the road, it’s important to install the best ones well ahead of time.
With that in mind, we’ve pulled together a list of the 10 best car apps over a wide variety of categories. These apps are all available for free, although some of them do have premium versions. That means you can download and check them all out without paying first.
Most of the apps on our list are available for Android and iOS, and links are provided to Google Play and the App Store. In cases where an app isn’t available for both platforms, we have provided a decent substitute option.
Here’s our list of the 10 best car apps:
01
of 10
Best Live Traffic App: Waze
The Waze app displayed on a phone
What We Like
Alerts you to things like potholes and speed traps that other apps don’t know about.
You can start using it without creating an account.
Includes an optional carpool feature if you don’t mind riding with strangers.
What We Don’t Like
If you live in an area where nobody uses the app, you won’t get as much out of it.
No lane guidance included with the navigation feature.
Waze is one of those essential apps that every driver should have, because it’s the kind of app that gets more and more useful based on how many people in your area are using it.
In addition to live traffic, Waze also allows fellow users of the app to provide useful warnings about road closures, speed traps, construction delays, and more. That makes it great for shaving some time off your commute, but it has also been a massive help to evacuees during natural disasters.
Download For:
Android
iOS
02
of 10
Best Gas Price App: GasBuddy
The GasBuddy app displayed on a phone
What We Like
Save money, and time, by going straight to the cheapest gas around.
Earn entries for daily prize drawings by submitting fuel price reports.
What We Don’t Like
Price accuracy and availability relies on user reports, so you may run into inaccuracies if few people in your area use the service.
GasBuddy is another app that relies on crowdsourced data, but it’s designed to help you find the cheapest gas wherever you are. Users are able to report gas prices through the GasBuddy website or app, and you can use the app to access that data when you’re on the road.
The app is free, but there are two premium yearly memberships that add perks like discounted gas and roadside service. You can also sign up to use their basic Pay with GasBuddy service for free, which nets you a smaller discount on gas at participating locations.
Download For:
Android
iOS
03
of 10
Best Parking Spot Locating App: Parkopedia Parking
The Parkopedia app displayed on a phone
What We Like
Features parking spaces in many cities that just aren’t covered by other apps.
Includes vital information about availability, hours, and pricing.
What We Don’t Like
No in-app payment feature.
There are a ton of apps that can help you find a parking spot, and some of them even let you pay right through the app. The problem is that if there is any breakdown between the app and the parking lot or garage, you’re typically the one who is liable for any fines.
Parkopedia doesn’t include an in-app payment feature, but it does have a massive index of over 60 million parking spaces in over 8,000 cities around the world. That’s better coverage than most of the competitors, which is more than enough to make it worth a download.
Download For:
Android
iOS
04
of 10
Best Car Finding App: ParKing
The ParKing app displayed on a phone
What We Like
Allows you to record your parking spot manually on your phone or smartwatch.
Includes an option to record your parking spot automatically.
Has a built-in feature to snap a picture of your space if you park in a large parking garage facility.
What We Don’t Like
The banner ads can be intrusive.
ParKing is another app that’s focused around parking, but it’s designed to help you find your way back to your car when it’s time to go. It’s extremely easy to use, and you can even set it up to log your parking location automatically if you have a Bluetooth device in your car.
The reason ParKing is better than the competition is that it includes wearable integration, so you can log your parking spot and find your way back without getting your phone out if you have a smartwatch.
Download For:
Android
iOS
05
of 10
Best App for Mechanics and DIY: Torque
The Torque app displayed on a phone
What We Like
One of the cheapest ways to find out why your check engine light is on.
If you want to attempt repairs yourself, the app can clear the trouble codes when you’re done.
What We Don’t Like
Functionality without an ELM327 device is extremely limited.
Ads in the free version can be intrusive.
Torque is one of the original apps designed to interface with ELM 327 OBD2 code readers via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. There are a lot of competing apps that do the same basic thing, but Torque still gets the job done.
If you’re willing to buy a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi ELM 327 code reader, you can connect it to this app to read trouble codes if your check engine light is on, and pull all sorts of other useful information out of your car’s onboard computer. You can even use it when you’re driving to display your speed and a ton of other interesting data sets.
Download For:
Android
(Torque is only available on Android.)
Most OBD2 scanner apps for iOS require specialty hardware and don’t work with generic ELM327 devices. If you have an iOS device and an ELM327 device, try out Car Scanner ELM OBD2 on the App Store.
06
of 10
Best Car Buying App: Cars.com
The Cars.com app displayed on a phone
What We Like
Easier to use and better information than competing apps.
Price quote option allows you to contact dealers right through the app.
Includes additional useful tools like a payment calculator.
What We Don’t Like
Only useful for new cars and used car dealerships.
Cars.com is one of the best sites to buy a car online, and the associated app has even more features. The basic functionality of the app is that it lets you search for new and used cars at dealerships in your area, including details and features of individual vehicles. It also includes dealer profiles and reviews, and even a market comparison tool to show what similar vehicles have sold for in your area.
The killer feature of the Cars.com app is the On the Lot tool. Pull this tool up when you’re at a dealership, and it will instantly provide you with the inventory of other local dealers, including special offers, that may help you negotiate a better price.
Download For:
Android
iOS
07
of 10
Best Used Car Buying App: Used Car Search Pro
The Used Car Search Pro app displayed on a phone
What We Like
Market price feature allows you to see if you’re likely to overpay.
Listings are automatically sorted to show the best deals based on market data.
Includes objective ratings for each dealership in the system.
What We Don’t Like
Ads can be intrusive.
If you’re more interested in a used car than a new car, then Used Car Search Pro is one of the best tools you’ll find. This app searches a database of more than 40,000 dealerships, and private listings, to locate the exact car you want.
The killer feature of Used Car Search Pro is that the app calculates the market value of every used car in its system, so you can see at a glance if the seller is asking too much.
Download For:
Android
iOS
08
of 10
Best Car Rental App: Rentalcars.com
The Rentalcars.com app displayed on a phone
What We Like
Provides information about all the major car rental agencies without having to download multiple apps.
Lets you book a car rental right from the app if you don’t want to call the agency yourself.
Works with hundreds of local rental agencies in more than 53,000 locations around the world.
What We Don’t Like
Some users report customer service issues in cases where there is a problem with the booking.
All of the major car rental companies have their own apps, and they all work just fine. If you want to install just one app instead of dozens, the Rentalcars.com app is the way to go. This app allows you to see availability and pricing for cars in your area from all of the big-name car rental companies.
If you primarily rent from a single rental car agency, then download their app, and if you want to book airfare or a hotel at the same time as your car, download the Expedia or Kayak app. Otherwise, the Rentalcars.com app has the best coverage, in the most locations, wherever you end up traveling.
Download For:
Android
iOS
09
of 10
Airbnb For Car Rental: Turo
The Turo app displayed on a phone
What We Like
Provides an alternative to the big rental agencies.
You can rent cars that you can’t rent from regular car rental companies.
What We Don’t Like
Since you’re renting from private parties, your experience may vary.
Turo is basically Airbnb for cars. Instead of renting someone’s house or condo, you rent their minivan or Ferrari. It’s basically an alternative to the big rental agencies that can save you money, especially during peak tourism season when specific vehicles can be tough to find. It also provides access to specialty and high-end cars that the regular rental agencies just don’t have.
Download For:
Android
iOS
10
of 10
Best Car Maintenance App: Drivvo
The Drivvo app displayed on a phone
What We Like
Automatically calculates fuel economy, so you can adjust your driving habits accordingly.
Includes vehicle maintenance records management with reminders.
Can also help find cheap fuel prices if other people in your area are using the app.
What We Don’t Like
Ads can be intrusive.
Less coverage than GasBuddy for fuel prices.
Drivvo is the app you need if you want to track expenses associated with your car and keep on top of maintenance. The basic functionality requires you to put in your mileage whenever you fuel up, and it builds a record over time of how much your car costs to operate. This makes it a lot easier to budget for car-related expenses in the future.
Download For:
Android
iOS
best apps for android car screen
A lot of people spend a lot of time in their cars. It’s to the point now where Google, Apple, car manufacturers, and others are trying to get technology there as well. The ecosystem isn’t all that amazing yet. Still, motorists, mechanics, and car fans have some fun stuff they can play with. Here are the best car apps for Android!
The best car apps for Android
Android Auto
Car Maintenace by myCARFAX
Drivvo or Fuelio
GasBuddy
SpotAngels
Torque Pro
YouTube
Gas station reward apps
Car part store apps
Car manufacturer mobile apps
Android Auto
Price: Free
Android Auto is easily one of the best car apps around. It gives drives quick access to Google Maps, messaging apps, music apps, and other utilities quickly. It works two ways. The app can open on your device and work from a mount on your dashboard. There are also cars with Android Auto built-in. That puts Android right there on your car’s touchscreen. In either case, it’s completely free and usually better than what car manufacturers offer. The only downside is that Android Auto isn’t available on older vehicles. You can also check out the best music players for Android Auto here.
See also: The best Android Auto apps to get the most out of it
Car Maintenance by myCARFAX
Price: Free
Car Maintenance by myCARFAX is a car management app. That means you can keep an eye on a bunch of things. You can see all of your maintenance and repairs from the app. Additionally, the app alerts you when it’s time for additional maintenance or even to renew your registration. There is a mechanic search. However, it’ll only show mechanics in the CARFAX network. That’s likely a good thing most of the time. It’s one of the better car apps to keep everything organized.
Drivvo and Fuelio
Price: Free / Up to $6.00
Drivvo is one of the most powerful car apps. You can keep track of basically everything. That includes repairs, maintenance, expenditures, miles driven, gas mileage, and more. It’s especially good for those who drive as a job. You can use this app to keep track of your expenses for tax season. It also has maintenance records with reminders when more maintenance is necessary. Fuelio is a very similar app and arguably Drivvo’s biggest rival in this space. They both do more or less the same thing in different ways. You can go with whatever one you feel is best for your needs.
See also: The best road trip apps for Android
GasBuddy
Price: Free
GasBuddy screenshot 2020
GasBuddy is a money-saving app for motorists. It crowdsources gas prices in your area. You can then choose the gas station with the cheapest gas. It works best on road trips. However, it’s just as good if you’re cruising around your hometown. You can also contribute by changing prices as you see them. Those who help contribute can win $100 in free gas. The crowdsourcing helps keep gas prices as up-to-date as possible and it’s a fun little community to be a part of. The app is known for borrowing user location data. You may want to skip this one if that bothers you or, if you run a newer version of Android, set the location permission to only be active while you’re using the app.
SpotAngels
Price: Free
SpotAngels is a bit of a wild card. It’s one of the newer car apps. However, it has a ton of potential. Its primary function is to help you avoid parking tickets. Currently, there are 20 supported cities where that works. It can also keep track of where you parked. That way you don’t get lost trying to find your car. That functionality is available to everybody whether they’re in a supported city or not. People can also send information and images for places that are safe to park anywhere. Over time, this could be a great app to help avoid parking tickets.
See also: The best parking apps to find a spot and your car
Torque Pro
Price: $4.95
Torque Pro is an app for troubleshooting. It pairs with various OBD 2 devices via Bluetooth. It can then read the codes and let you know what your check engine light is. It’s one of the better car apps for mechanics and those who can do their own car work. It can also keep track of a variety of stats from your car. That includes a GPS speedometer, alarms and warnings, CO2 emissions, and more. There is a free version you can try first. However, it was 2015 when it wast last updated. The pro version gets more frequent updates. It’s just something to keep in mind.
YouTube
Price: Free / $12.99 per month
YouTube is an amazing resource for car fans. There are a ton of mechanics, aficionados, and other car people on there. They make tons of videos about how to change your oil, how to fix brakes, and even cosmetic stuff like the proper method to wax your car. Plus, you can find videos about fun cars, new cars, old cars, and highlights from various types of races. Of course, most people know that already. This one isn’t a very exciting pick. It’s still among the best car apps, though.
See also: Here are all the YouTube apps and what they do
Gas station rewards apps
Price: Free
Speedway Fuel and Speedy Rewards screenshot 2022
Most large chain gas stations have rewards programs. You use your card when you buy gas and other items. The rewards points stack up and you use them to get gift cards, free stuff, and discounts on gas. There are several grocery stores with gas station chains that offer similar rewards. These may take a while to be effective. However, it’s possible to get things like free gas and all kinds of other things over time. They’re car apps worth having. In fact, everyone should have at least one of these apps. Some popular brands include Giant Eagle, Speedway, Kroger, Circle K, and others.
Car part mobile apps
Price: Free / Items in these apps cost money
AutoZone screenshot 2021
There are tons of stores that sell car parts. AutoZone, Advanced Auto Parts, and NAPA are just a few. Most major car parts chains have dedicated apps. You can use them to order parts, buy things, and surf inventory. In addition, online stores like eBay and Amazon (to a lesser extent) can be excellent sources for after market parts and parts that are hard to find. We won’t recommend any one store because they all perform about as well. However, these are car apps many should have.
See also: The best shopping apps for Android
Car manufacturer car apps
Price: Free / Varies
FordPass screenshot 2021
Many manufacturers have car apps now. They provide a variety of functions as well. Some of the features include remote starting your car, unlocking or locking the doors, OnStar access, diagnostics, and some bonus stuff. You need the right trim levels and newer cars to make these work, usually. However, they can be pretty handy. The range of features is fairly large. However, they range dramatically between manufacturers.
Most of them are good enough, but they could all use some stability improvements. Still, you own the car, you might as well look, right? Some manufacturers that lean quite heavily on their mobile app experience include Ford (linked), Hyundai, and Chevy, but most manufacturers have official apps that do at least something. Some of those services do have a yearly subscription, though, so be sure to ask your dealership about it for details.
Conclusion
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