The app world offers an ocean of tools for your smart devices. In fact, there are so many apps available that it can be a tad difficult to know which 1s are the best and which 1s are nothing more than a waste of data. We’ve decided to do the heavy lifting and find the best apps for drivers.
Why? Well, South African drivers spend so much of their time in their cars each day, making this an area where digital innovation can really make a difference. That’s why we thought we’d help you out by coming up with a list of handy apps that’ll make the commute more bearable.
Here are some brilliant car apps that you can use every single day.
Car Dashdroid
Ever find yourself a little jealous of new cars that come fully equipped with fancy tech that enables them to make calls, easily spy the weather report, or choose their favourite playlist without taking their focus off the road? We get you. Sometimes you have to make the hard call and get the more affordable car that doesn’t come with all the bells and digital whistles. Well, now you don’t have to get all green-eyed about it, because you can just download Car Dashdroid for Android.
Car Dashdroid has an automatic car mode that detects when you begin driving and then offers various actions and features (which you can use hands-free). Actions like using the voice command functionality to make calls, reply to messages, start a playlist, or find a location. It also features a speedometer, a compass, a navigator, and weather report.
See? Now your car is just like the Batmobile, minus the weapons and massive price tag.
Honk
A frustrating issue with parking, especially at the airport where everything looks the same, is finding your car when you need to go home. It’s a serious pain. But with Honk (available for iOS) we’ve now got the answer to the most frequently asked question of our time… ‘Where did I park the car?’
The app uses GPS functionality to pin your car’s parked location and then provides directions that you can follow back to your spot. It’s simple and it’s life-changing.
Drivvo
This all-in-1 car management system helps you control your car-related finances by monitoring your petrol spend, car insurance, service costs and appointments, and any other car-related expenses. It’s available on Android and iOS and offers a free basic version and a paid for pro version.
You get a lot with the free option, including a record of your expenses, payment and service reminders, and vehicle performance summaries, so you don’t have to pay for the app if your budget is already stretched to the limit.
Car Minder Plus
Most of us forget until the last minute (or a few kms over) when it’s time to service our cars… That could be a thing of the past if you take just a few seconds to download the Car Minder Plus app.
This app is available on iOS for a small fee (somewhere around the R40 mark) and reminds you when it’s time for a service, as well as logging your services and repairs. All you have to do is input the maintenance schedule from the owner’s manual and you’re off. You can even manage multiple cars, which is a win if you’re the hero responsible for your family’s cars. We’re talking to you, parents who still remind your blessed (adult) progeny to get their cars serviced.
Waze
GPS apps are great, but they’re not all equal. We like Waze because it’s free for both Android and iOS and goes beyond the call of duty of just giving you directions. The app actually alerts you to when the robots are out, where the traffic jams are, and even if there’s a road block up ahead. You can even join the community and add in info on your route to help other drivers become aware of potholes, accidents, and broken robots.
Torque Pro
While we’d like to be prepared for all manner of issues that our cars may face, the hard truth is that there are some unexpected incidents that can take the wind out of our tyres. Like car parts that fail unexpectedly. Enter the Torque Pro app. This app helps with reporting any faults your car may be experiencing without your knowledge by using your car’s Bluetooth. It doesn’t cost a lot, coming in at around R50 for Android users.
Another great tool in this department is car warranty insurance, which covers the cost of repairing or replacing car parts that fail unexpectedly. You can buy this particular car warranty cover for a super cheap price (calculated using your car’s value and mileage) without even being insured by the company. No strings attached.
So, that’s our list. Are there any car apps that you’ve found which you think we should include?
Posted in partnership with King Price Insurance
