The Best Car Apps To Install To Your Smartphone [2021]

If you’ve had your fair share of driving your car before smartphones and tablets come along, you once had to constantly rely on sheer instinct, a map inside your car’s glove compartment, and asking for directions from passersby to get to your destination. However, your instincts can be wrong, maps can get outdated, and a stranger can lead you to another place by mistake. Good thing there are mobile apps nowadays that can save you time, money and gas while you’re out on the road. To help you decide which car apps to download for your next journey, here’s a quick rundown of the top ones that can help you and many other drivers reach your respective destinations hassle-free.

What Are Some of the Top Car Apps That Can Help You and Many Other Drivers on the Road?

Before you step into your car, you shouldn’t forget to bring either your smartphone or tablet with you for you to be able to use the apps listed below. Without any further ado, here are some of the top car apps that can help you and many other drivers have an easier time out on the road.

1. Google Maps

A couple of problems can arise out of using a physical map to look for directions on how to reach your destination. For one, the path leading to your destination might have certain roads that aren’t included in your map which can leave you lost. Another problem with using a physical map is that the paper in which it was printed may crumble over time.

• As we’re now living in an age of smartphones and tablets, digital maps have since been the norm, all thanks to Google Maps where all you need to is to enter the name of your destination in the search bar and check the displayed list of results.
• Aside from the usual map view, Google Maps also offers 360-degree views of certain streets as well as real-time traffic updates and the estimated time that it would take you to get to your destination.
• Google Maps also provides additional information about local businesses located along the path leading to your destination which can be useful when you want to get out of your car for a bit, grab a quick lunch, empty your bladder, or buy some food and other supplies for your trip.

2. Waze

When you’re looking for an alternate route or shortcut to reach your destination, GPS navigation app Waze gives you the best possible route that you can take so you don’t have to waste too much time and mileage.

• If ever there’s any traffic jams, accidents, or any other mishaps that you might encounter while driving towards your destination, Waze will inform you of them before you come across them so you can decide on whether to risk it or find an alternate route to take.
• There are two routing options that Waze uses to help car drivers spend less time on the road, namely the fastest and shortest routes. However, it’s important to note here that the fastest route doesn’t always mean that it’s the shortest one too.

3. GasBuddy

Fuel is a limited resource which is why it shouldn’t surprise anyone that its prices are getting higher and higher by the day. Thankfully, not all gas stations in a certain area carry the same price for the different kinds of fuel that they carry.

• You’d want to refill your car’s engine with the cheapest fuel around that can get it running and save you money at the same time. Mobile app GasBuddy scours its database for gas stations along the area where you’re driving and displays the updated prices of all their fuel products so that you can decide where to gas up your car. 
• GasBuddy is currently available only in the United States, Canada, and Australia, so you might want to limit using the said mobile app to only those three countries for now.

The prevalence of smartphones and tablets in today’s technologically driven era has made almost everyone’s lives more convenient, including those of car drivers. With the above-listed top car apps aiming to make driving less tedious compared to before, you and many other drivers can save time, money and gas, plus avoid a car accident as you reach your respective destinations safe and sound. You should bear in mind though that all the apps listed above aren’t meant to completely replace gaining enough knowledge and street smarts that you should still use once you’re behind the wheel. You shouldn’t get too distracted as well with using any of the mentioned apps as you wouldn’t want a car accident to happen to you.

Written By

Vicki Haskett

Vicki is a writing enthusiast who has over 25 years of experience in her field. She enjoys sharing her experiences with those who want to learn more about the legal world. In her spare time she spends quality time with her family and friends.