What are the best in-car apps?

Download these in-car apps to make your life that much easier

Whether you’re nipping to the shops, commuting to work or heading off on a family holiday, it’s likely you’ll turn to an app for help.

From navigation and music, to an app that turns your phone into a dash cam, there’s a whole world of car apps out there that you might not know exist.

Luckily, we do.

And the best thing about apps? They’re universal. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve got a Tesla lease or a BYD lease – all you need to take advantage of the tech is a relatively new mobile phone and a good internet connection. Yes, you might struggle a little if you’re in the depths of the English countryside like us.

But with most of us spending our time in towns and on the motorways, nine times out of ten you should have no issues.

So, let’s dive into the best in-car apps that’ll take some of the hassle out of your life.

Your Parking Space

Your Parking Space is a pretty simple app, but it’s extremely helpful. It allows you to find a parking space easily, keeping track of your spending and parking permits all in one place.

Download the app to find spaces near you, as well as their prices. 

If you’ve got a parking space and you’d like to rent it out and earn a bit of spare cash, it’s easy to add it to the marketplace.

Your Parking Space has locations across all UK major cities, including airports, train stations and stadiums. To find out if your local area is included, head to their locations page for the full list.

Smart Dash Cam

Dash cams can cost you a pretty penny. This is where Smart Dash Cam comes in.

It allows you to turn your phone into a dash cam, meaning you can easily take it with you no matter what car you’re in.

No more difficult installation process. Just set the app on your phone and off you go.

It has some clever settings which allow you to decide how long you want each recorded loop to last, so your recordings don’t eat up all of your memory.

The footage won’t always be useful, but we’ve all had that time where you wish you had a camera recording.

iCarMode

iCarMode is a one-stop-shop for all your in-car needs.

With a large and easy to use interface, the app includes all the things you could need for a long journey. From radio stations and music control, to maps and car parking apps, it makes your journey as easy and stress-free as possible.

It simply comes up on your car dashboard, allowing you to easily call your favourite contacts, find a good coffee shop, and find your parked car.

Speaking as someone who once spent over an hour trying to work out where they’d parked the car, we’re sold.

Waze

Waze is one of the most popular in-car apps on the market – and for good reason.

It’s the ultimate app for navigation and live traffic updates, as well as telling you when there’s a speed camera nearby.

It’ll give you an instant route change if there’s any problems ahead and tell you when you’ll arrive too. 

Need fuel? It’ll let you know where the cheapest petrol station is on your route too.

Is there anything it can’t do?

Netflix

A bit of a rogue one, granted, seeing as you won’t be catching up on Bridgerton while you’re keeping your eyes on the road, but hear us out.

If you’re off on a longer journey and you’ve got kids, having Netflix (or a similar streaming app) downloaded on your phone or tablet is a great way to keep them occupied (provided they don’t get travel sick easily).

Screen time can be a tad taboo, but when you’ve got overtired and often bored children repeatedly asking ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ in the back, it can be a lifesaver.

Driving requires your full focus and attention, especially when trying to navigate somewhere new. Netflix can help provide that bit of peace and quiet so you can concentrate.

Plus, no one wants a danger nap. It can also help keep them awake that bit longer until you can get them tucked up in their beds.

Spotify

Again, not aimed solely for car use – but one that’ll absolutely elevate your journeys.

Spotify (or your music app of choice) makes it easy to listen to your favourite songs and podcasts in your car.

Entertain all passengers by playing their favourite tunes, or listen to a podcast to make the miles fly by.

Car-aoke, anyone?

Petrol Prices

With fuel costs rising and falling on what feels like a daily basis, plus the cost of living crisis, knowing where the cheapest petrol station closest to you has become so important.

Well, now you can easily find them no matter where you are with the Petrol Prices app.

It shows you the cheapest petrol stations near you, allowing you to fill up with that smug feeling that you’ve got the best price for your fuel. 

You can even sign up for alerts that send you the cheapest option each week, ensuring you’re never overpaying for that liquid treasure that keeps you on the move.

Zap-Map

If you've made the leap to electric, Zap-Map will quickly become your new bestie.

Let's face it – range anxiety is real, and knowing where your next charge is coming from can make the difference between a relaxing journey and a stressful one.

Zap-Map puts your mind at ease by showing you charging points, wherever you may be. It even has clever filters that let you find exactly what you need – whether that's a rapid charger for a quick top-up or a specific connector type.

The real game-changer? User reviews.

You'll know if a charger is reliable, and, well, working, before you make the detour, saving you from that sinking feeling when you arrive at a broken charger.

And with the Zap-Pay feature, you can pay for your charge directly through the app. No more fumbling around for your payment card – just plug in, pay, and be on your way.

For EV drivers, this isn't just convenient – it's essential.

Think of it as your electric equivalent of the Petrol Prices app, but with even more features to make electric driving that much easier.

The road to a better driving experience

These apps are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to making your driving experience smoother, safer, and more enjoyable.

Whether you're leasing a brand-new electric car or cruising in a traditional petrol model, technology is ready to put the ease back into your journey.