If you’re driving an older car, you probably don’t have the benefit of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

But that doesn’t mean you cannot have a connected journey. Various options are available for bringing Android into your car, as an entertainment system, for navigation, and even monitoring vehicle performance.

3 Ways You Can Add Android to Your Vehicle

Android is a little more flexible than Apple CarPlay. This makes it more suitable for DIY projects such as adding Android Auto to your vehicle. Three options are available here, each progressively more complicated.

  1. Android Phone/tab
  2. Android Auto head unit
  3. Provide the infrastructure for your passengers to bring their own Android devices

Android Auto is genuinely worth considering. With a wealth of supported apps (from Google Maps and Spotify to Waze, Amazon Music, various podcast players), the key to using the system while driving is the Google Assistant. With full integration with your phone’s address book, telephony software, and messenger, you can instruct it to make calls, send messages, and even set reminders, all while driving.

Of course, you should take care when driving, so Android Auto also features a pause feature. This auto-initializes when you spend too long interacting with the system, encouraging you to return attention to the road.

Here’s list of some of the main things Android Auto can do.

Impressed? You can add this to your own car. Let’s look at each of these options in turn.

1. Hook Up Your Android Phone or Tablet

Phone mounted on car dashboard

Clearly hooking up an Android device to your car is the simplest option.

While Android is a permanent feature in many current cars, it might not be in yours. The easiest way to change this is to connect your Android device to your car’s existing audio head unit (the car stereo, that is). Various options are available here, from Bluetooth to USB. Our guide to hooking up an Android phone to a car stereo can help here.

However, with this option, you don't get to use Android Auto. Instead, you can rely on any of the Android Auto alternatives available on the Play Store. These include:

If all you need is a navigation tool, you can use Google Maps or Waze (or any alternative). Teamed up with Google Assistant, you can use voice commands to instruct the apps to plan your route.

Mount Your Android Device

Before you make it a permanent addition to your car, the most important thing to do is mount your phone correctly. To droid your ride with an Android smartphone, you'll need a suitable dashboard or windshield mount tailored to your particular device.

You can also find mounts for tablets, although these are tricker to install. Dashboard and window mounts, and even stands that connect to the car charger port are available, but take up space. They also draw attention to your tablet, potentially making your vehicle a target for thieves.

2. Install an Android Auto-Compatible Head Unit

Arguably the best way to add Android to your car is with a new head unit.

If you’re unsure about what this means, it basically means replacing your existing car stereo with an in-car system that looks like an Android tablet. You’ll still be able to connect your phone over Bluetooth or USB for calls.

With an Android Auto head unit installed, you can access everything from maps and music to phone calls and Google Assistant. With integration with your car stereo, it’s a great replacement. Plus, some models (at the more expensive end of the scale) include OBD-II compatibility for performance and diagnostic display.

Note that if your car doesn’t have the required space for a larger head unit, dashboard-mounted options are available.

Check our guide to the best Android Auto head units for some examples and pricing ideas. Once you have it installed, our Android Auto user guide will help you get started.

3. In-Car Entertainment for Your Passengers

Children in car

Whether using Android Auto or an Android device connected to your car’s audio system, you can bring some entertainment to passengers with music, podcasts, and audiobooks.

If your passengers would rather enjoy their own choice of entertainment (and give you control of the in-car audio) you can give them what they want. This easier option means you can provide power and internet to your passengers’ Android phones or tablets for entertainment purposes.

Something like this 9-in-1 car charger adapter for your car’s power (A.K.A. “cigarette lighter”) socket can be routed through to the back of your vehicle and mounted so that rear passengers can keep their devices powered up.

Meanwhile, an in-car mobile hotspot will ensure your passengers have enough data. Just make sure the data plan isn’t capped…

Monitor Your Car's Performance With Android

OBD-II is an on-board diagnostics system found in almost all cars manufactured after 1996, and it can be used to display information on any car-linked Android device using an inexpensive Bluetooth OBD-II interface.

With this device connected you can use OBDeleven, Infocar, or any other OBD-II Android app to monitor car performance and diagnose issues.

The benefits of this approach speak for themselves: up-to-the-minute monitoring of your car's status that can help you spot any faults before they develop into problems and a possible breakdown.

You Don't Need a New Car for Android Auto

As mentioned earlier, major car manufacturers are beginning to introduce Android (and Apple CarPlay) as an in-car entertainment management system.

The truth is, however, that you don't need to spend thousands on a new car to take advantage of this. All the hardware, apps, and peripheral devices you need to make it work already exist.

It doesn’t matter if you plan to install an Android Auto head unit, plug your phone or tablet into your car’s audio system, or give your passengers all the power and internet access they could need for their own Android devices.

You can get Android in your car whatever your budget.