The Best Automotive Apps Every Driver Should Download

Car apps are becoming a staple in people’s day-to-day lives. For regular commuters, planning a long road trip or managing maintenance, the right car app can make every journey easier. From navigating traffic in real time to finding EV charging stations and tracking servicing costs, modern automotive apps are designed to help you save both time and money and make your motoring life as easy as possible.  

If you get a new car, it is now usually equipped with Android Auto, Android Automotive, or Apple CarPlay, making it easier than ever to access your favourite apps safely while driving. So if you are behind the wheel of a petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric vehicle, these apps can help you get more from your car. 

At Motorlet, we believe leasing should be simple from day one. In addition to choosing the right vehicle, downloading a few essential driving apps can help you enjoy a smoother ownership experience throughout your lease.

Why Download Automotive Apps? 

It wasn’t that long ago that even having a sat nav in your car was considered swish. Today, driving apps offer far more than simple sat nav directions. They can provide live traffic updates, monitor your vehicle's health, help you find the cheapest fuel or the nearest charging station, and even remind you when your MOT or service is due. For some electric vehicles you can turn on AC, warm up seats or set your favourite song playing from your car app before even getting into your car.  

Benefits include: 

• Live traffic and route planning 

• Finding cheaper fuel prices 

• Locating EV charging stations 

• Vehicle maintenance reminders 

• Parking payment and reservations 

• Breakdown assistance 

• Tracking running costs 

• Hands-free entertainment through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay 

Best Navigation Apps 

Although there are many more options now with apps, navigation still remains one of the most valuable uses, so much so that Sat Nav use is now included in driving tests! Modern mapping applications use real-time traffic information to suggest the quickest routes, which helps you to avoid congestion, roadworks and accidents and make your journey much smoother. 

Google Maps 

Google Maps is the default navigation app for many drivers. It provides accurate directions, estimated arrival times and live traffic information while suggesting alternative routes if congestion develops ahead. 

Offline maps with Google are particularly useful if you're travelling in areas with limited mobile signal, but they do take up storage space, and live updates won’t work with this feature.  

Waze 

Waze uses information submitted by millions of drivers to provide real-time alerts about accidents, roadworks, traffic queues, speed cameras and other hazards. 

For commuters, this community-driven approach often makes Waze one of the quickest ways to avoid delays. 

HERE WeGo 

HERE WeGo is particularly popular with drivers travelling abroad thanks to its comprehensive offline mapping and reliable European coverage. 

Best Fuel Price Apps 

Any driver will know how much fuel prices can change from location to location and provider to provider. This makes fuel comparison apps an easy way to reduce running costs throughout your lease if you opt for petrol or diesel.  

These apps help you to: 

• Compare nearby fuel prices 

• Monitor fuel consumption 

• Track MPG 

• Record business mileage 

• Monitor vehicle running costs 

Best Vehicle Maintenance Apps 

Keeping your leased vehicle well-maintained helps ensure it remains reliable throughout your agreement and is usually a requirement under your lease to keep maintenance up to date. Maintenance apps can remind you about servicing, tyre checks and MOT dates while recording your vehicle's service history so you have all the information at your fingertips.

Many drivers also use these apps to monitor annual mileage, which helps to keep track of their agreed lease allowance. 

Best Parking Apps 

Finding and paying for parking has become considerably easier thanks to mobile apps. Long gone are the days when you had to drive around to find a car park and then hope that a spot was available. 

If you regularly park in public car parks, you will be no stranger to the fact that much paid parking is now done through apps rather than by putting coins into a machine. For city centre visits or business travel, these apps reduce the hassle of scrambling for change, which is not always something people have with contactless payments so popular. They can also be great for finding parking and reserving spots, so you are sure to have a place to park when you get there. 

Best EV Charging Apps 

If you've leased an electric vehicle, charging apps quickly become an essential tool in your kit. They help you locate nearby charging stations, compare charging speeds and check availability before you arrive, this is a lifesaver for longer journeys where you want to park up and plug in without waiting around. 

EV charging apps make it easier to find and use public charge points with confidence. They make it easy to search for nearby charging stations, check real-time charger availability, compare charging speeds and view the cost of charging before you arrive. 

Many apps also support planning for longer journeys, helping to map routes around suitable charging stops along the way. Filters can be used to find rapid, ultra-rapid or destination chargers depending on how quickly the vehicle needs to be charged. 

Best Car Diagnostic Apps 

Some apps connect to your vehicle through an OBD-II scanner, allowing you to monitor engine performance and identify potential issues before they become expensive repairs. 

These apps can display: 

• Engine fault codes 

• Battery health 

• Fuel economy 

• Live engine performance 

• Temperature readings 

Best Entertainment Apps 

Long journeys become much more enjoyable when your favourite entertainment is available safely through your vehicle's infotainment system. 

Popular options include: 

• Spotify 

• Audible 

• BBC Sounds 

• YouTube Music 

• Podcast apps 

Most modern lease vehicles support these via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, allowing you to use voice commands instead of handling your phone while driving. 

Best Manufacturer Apps 

Many vehicle manufacturers now offer dedicated smartphone apps that connect directly with your vehicle. 

Common features include: 

• Remote locking and unlocking 

• Vehicle location 

• Service reminders 

• Climate control 

• Battery charging status 

• Journey history 

These apps are particularly useful for electric vehicle owners, allowing them to monitor charging remotely and schedule charging during off-peak electricity tariffs. 

Choosing the Right Lease Vehicle 

Technology has become an important part of the driving experience, and many of the latest lease vehicles include large touchscreen displays, wireless smartphone connectivity and advanced infotainment systems as standard. 

At Motorlet, we offer a wide range of petrol, hybrid and electric vehicle leasing deals featuring the latest connected technology. Whether you're looking for seamless Google Maps integration, Android Auto compatibility or a vehicle designed specifically for EV drivers, our team can help you find the right car for your needs. 

Browse our latest lease deals or speak to our experts to find a vehicle that keeps you connected wherever the road takes you.

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