Car Chargers and Phone Holders: What to Buy for Your Car

A good car setup keeps your phone charged, in sight and out of your hands while you drive. It costs less than a fine.

How many watts?

Most phones fast-charge at 20W to 30W from USB-C, so a 30W car charger is plenty for one phone. If you charge two phones, or a laptop or tablet on the road, look at 45W to 100W chargers with more than one port.

Check that the charger works on both 12V and 24V if you drive a truck or bus, and that it supports USB Power Delivery (PD) for modern phones.

USB-C or USB-A?

New phones charge fastest from USB-C. Keep one USB-A port if passengers still have older cables. A charger with a built-in or retractable cable saves you hunting for one.

Holders: magnetic or clamp

Magnetic holders are quick: the phone snaps on. They need a MagSafe iPhone or a case with a metal ring. Clamp holders grip almost any phone and are the safer pick for big Android phones.

Vent mounts are easy to fit. Dashboard and windscreen mounts keep the phone higher, closer to your line of sight. If you use a magnetic holder, make sure the magnets are strong enough for bumpy roads.

CarPlay and Android Auto screens

If your car has an old radio, a plug-in CarPlay or Android Auto screen gives you maps, music and calls on a big display without replacing the stereo. Check how it connects to your speakers: through AUX or FM.