There was a time when owning a car meant investing in maps for the glove box and a collection of tools to tinker under the hood with. Those days are gone. (Though we still keep a trusty leatherman at all times.) Now the phone you keep in your pocket can be your best roadside companion. Unfortunately, with limited storage space and the plethora of apps out there, finding out which are worth your time can be a pain. We’re here to help. Broadly speaking, we think it’s worth having at least one app across each of the below categories. You’ll certainly want a GPS app and, in the digital age, having your insurance info on your phone is extremely helpful. And depending on your driving habits, a parking app, gas locator app, and some maintenance apps could come in handy. Lastly, if you’re in the market to buy a used or new car or need to rent a car, we’ve got you covered.
These are the best apps we think every car owner should have. Download them and thank us later.
Best Car GPS Apps
Waze
We’re still surprised how many people don’t use Waze. They turn to the default navigation app their phones come packaged with and never think twice. Well, it’s time to think twice. Waze is far superior to every other navigation app out there. Why? Jeez, where do we start? Since Waze relies on its users for info—and there are a lot of users—you get real-time help. Not only does that mean you can avoid traffic and find the fastest route, but it means you can slow down when police are ahead, be more cautious when a pothole has been spotted, and not run into roads that have been recently closed. Honestly, that’s only scratching the surface. Waze can tell you where you can get the cheapest gas while you’re driving and even if your friends are on the road. The one downside with this navigation app is also its greatest strength. If not many people are using the app, you won’t get the full benefits. Still, we think this is an essential car app. If you’re not using it, you should be. iOS | Android
Google Maps
If Waze doesn’t strike your fancy, Google Maps is easily the second-best option. If you already have a Google account, you can quickly and easily save favorite locations and pre-program routes. It’s not a perfect navigation app but the real-time updates, priority routing, and fairly solid user interface make it one of our favorite car apps. iOS | Android
Roadtrippers
A great roadtrip is more than the right snacks and the right company; it’s the right route. So many people get that last part wrong and end up driving boring road after boring road. The Roadtrippers app makes planning easy. The excellent car app finds historic and scenic points between you and your destination, and then it maps out the best path to take. A great roadtrip is not about the destination; it’s about the journey. Roadtrippers will make sure that journey can’t be beaten. iOS | Android
Best Gas & Fuel Apps
PlugShare
Drive an EV? You need PlugShare on your phone, pronto. PlugShare helps you find charging locations all over the world. Planning a drive and don’t know where you can stop to juice your vehicle? With PlugShare you no longer have to worry about long stretches without charging stations. Look, we all know how annoying it can be to find a gas station when you’re almost empty; imagine having to hunt down a much rarer charging station. Tesla owners, this car app is for you. iOS | Android
GasBuddy
Okay, when said we can’t understand why anyone would not use Waze, we did forget one caveat. The app can, at times, choose odd routes, and if you live in an area where those odd routes could take you through seedy areas, we get why you might want to skip. If you want the gas pricing power Waze offers, without using Waze, use GasBuddy, an app dedicated to up-to-date fuel prices. Follow GasBuddy recommendations and you can save $340 a year. Dig a little deeper and you can even use GasBuddy to find the closest gas station with a bathroom, a car wash, and more. iOS | Android
Best Parking Apps
BestParking
BestParking changed the game for parking in cities. Anyone who’s ever debated going into NYC solely because parking is a pain needs to download Best Parking. The app shows rates at all the garages around the spot you’re headed and even lets you lock down a price. You can even use it for airport parking so you don’t have to pay the exorbitant fees at the regular overnight lot. It’s hands-down the best parking app you can download. iOS | Android
SpotHero
With an average rating of 4.8 stars on the Apple app store, this is easily one of the best parking apps you can download. If you’re looking to reserve a spot in advance or need to find an open sparking spot quickly, this is your app. Plus, if you’re parking for work, you can have the app send receipt to whatever billing software your company uses. While it’s limited to select cities, there are plenty of destinations where Spot Hero will come in handy. iOS | Android
Best Car Buying Apps
Cars.com
If you’re in the market for a new car, the Cars.com app should be your first stop. The web browser is an excellent source for car sales and the apps offers plenty of useful features too. Compare different dealerships, find discounts and stock availability, and negotiate a fair price for your new vehicle. iOS | Android
Used Car Search Pro
What this app lacks in a pithy name, it more than makes up for in quality. This used car buying app calculates market values and helps you pick out a sued car that’s right for you. It’s not the flashiest app on this list but it’s a useful tool for those looking to shop for used cars with confidence. iOS | Android
Best Car Rental Apps
Zipcar
There are a myriad of reasons why a car owner might need to rent a car. For work, on vacation, during a move, when your car is in the shop. Whatever the reason, a car rental app can come in handy. Zipcar is a great local app that connects you with nearby cars available for rent. Pick one of the day or a long-term trip. You can even use the app to make changes to your rental on the go. iOS | Android
Hertz
Considering Hertz is available at most airports around the world, it’s a no-brainer to keep the car rental company’s mobile app. Make your reservation ahead of time, modify or cancel as you need, and search for discounts or special offers. Plus, you can find nearby parking within the app, in case you don’t feel like opening the Spot Hero app separately. iOS | Android
Best Car Insurance Apps
Allstate
Whatever car insurance company you use, we’d suggest getting their app. Allstate is considered to offer one of the best mobile experiences thanks to a quality interface and breadth of features. Access your ID cards, make payments, and get roadside assistance with the touch of a button. Plus, you can even take a photo after an accident to lodge a claim right away. iOS | Android
Geico
Like Allstate, Geico is rated very well as far as car insurance apps go. A 4.8-star rating from 3.2 million reviews ain’t nothing to scoff at. Keep your ID cards handy, file a claim on-the-go, and use the virtual assistant to answer any insurance questions that might come up. iOS | Android
Best Car Maintenance Apps
FIXD
The FIXD app requires you purchase the FIXD Sensor for your car, but trust us, it’s worth the investment. After installing the $59 FIXD Sensor, you can use the FIXD app to quickly decipher those annoying check engine lights that pop up at the worst times. When the light comes on, simply look in the FIXD app for the cause and the severity of the issue. No more driving in fear over whether that little yellow icon means disaster is coming. Not only that, but FIXD can also deliver info about maintenance needs based on your make and model. Yes, we know it’s not as cheap as most apps, but sixty bucks is a small price to pay for this peace of mind. iOS | Android
Auto Care
Owning a car is a responsibility. Far too many people don’t give it the attention it deserves and are “rewarded” with expensive problems down the line. Don’t be one of those people. Auto Care is free app that helps you manage your car’s maintenance needs. Instead of just popping into Jiffy Lube every once in a while, use Auto Care to stay on top of your car’s service history. You’ll get reminders based on month or distance and will be able to chart just how much you’ve spent on your vehicle. And since Auto Care works with Dropbox, you can back up all your info for safe keeping. It’s something we wish we started when we bought our last car. iOS
Torque Pro
If you have the need for speed, or you just want a better understanding of your car’s performance, Torque Pro is the answer. By using an OBD II Bluetooth adapter, the app allows you to view a digital dash of precise information of your choosing. See the dynometer. Check 0–60 time. Get a CO2 emissions report. Admittedly, this is next-level stuff, but for the passionate, Torque Pro is a game-changer. Because it taps into your car’s OBD, the data is accurate, unlike other apps that claim to do the same just by using the powers of your phone. So yes, you do need to drop $15 on a dongle and plug it into your car, but the info it will generate will make you more connected with your car than you’ve ever been before. Android
Best Dashboard/Dash Cam Apps
AutoMate Car Dashboard
The last thing you want to be doing while driving is fiddling with your phone. It’s a hazard to you and everyone on the road. For Android users, AutoMate can help. AutoMate is a dashboard that revolves around driving, and it lets you control things with your voice and simple gestures. It brings together everything from navigation to the soundtrack for your trip. Voice control keeps your eyes where they should be, on the road. And since everything is put into one interface, you don’t have to go digging through files, menus, and screens to find the apps you need. Android
Smart Dash Cam
There’s a good chance you’ll never need a dashcam. Should the situation arise that you do, you’ll be more than happy you shelled out the cash. If the price is what’s stopping you, consider Smart Dash Cam, an app for iPhone and Android that turns your phone into a dashboard camera. You can upload videos to YouTube, choose the resolution based on your storage, and record with or without audio. Your only responsibility is to keep an eye on your storage so you don’t lose a video you need. If you can do that, this app delivers peace of mind without making you buy a pricey recording device for your dash. iOS | Android
