Car phone mount buyer's guide
Realising you need a phone holder in your car is the first battle but where to from there?Failure to stick, damage your car, ugly and obtrusive: car phone mounts and holders can sometimes cause more harm (or frustration), than good.
But they're very convenient when they work properly and as Chris Jager, head of Finder Shopping points out, required by law.
“All states and territories strictly prohibit holding a mobile phone while driving (and yes, that includes using your GPS app),” he tells carsales.
So how do you choose which option is legal, safe, effective, and best suits your needs? Let’s start with the most important: the legalities.
Legal Requirements
Unfortunately, unlike bike helmets, phone mounts do not require a specific safety standard to be sold in Australia but there are still some legal requirements you need to be aware of.
“Not all phone mounts are acceptable for hands-free operation," Jager says.
“The specific rules differ between states and territories, but as a general rule of thumb, the mount needs to hold your phone securely at all times, not obscure your vision of the road, and not interfere with driving in any way.”
The legal guidelines for each state and territory are below and worth looking at especially if you travel between states. Also, if you hold a learner’s or probationary licence, the laws are different again and, in most cases, it is illegal to use your phone under any circumstances, mounted or not.
What type of mount?
Vented mounts, windscreen mounts, suction, adhesive strips, and magnetic; there are a wide range of mounts of phone holders available and it can be confusing to decide which is best.
To help, Jager believes the first thing you should consider is effectiveness.
“It’s important to choose a phone mount that will do the job properly,” he says, while also aligning with your state or territory’s specific laws.
“Most road transport authorities recommend using a windshield mount. It should be fastened to the lower right of your windshield, out of your line of sight.”
According to testing by CHOICE, suction mounts generally scored better overall than vent and adhesive attachments (out of 13 mounts tested, suction cup mounts made up the top five) because of superior stability while driving.
The testing found that vented mounts had excellent results in the vibration/shock and heat tests but not so much with stability.
“Vented mounts tend to be cheaper than windshield mounts, but they are also less reliable,” says Jager.
The Grip
Jager says that it is also important to consider how the mount grips your phone.
“Some models use a magnetic cradle while others use a vice-like clamp. Whichever type you go for, make sure that the mount supports your phone model. You can usually find this info on the manufacturer’s website or on the back of the packaging.”
However, based on their testing, CHOICE advised steering clear of adhesive strips due to their very poor performance overall.
The Needs of Your Car
Zipping around the city or heading off-road are two different driving experiences and should be factored in when deciding on a phone mount; as should your specific model of car.
“If the mount is not specifically designed for your car model, there’s a high chance it won’t be properly secured. A cheap, wobbly mount could land you in strife with a highway patrol officer,” Jager says.
Read the product information to ensure the mount you choose is compatible with the model of your car.
Price
With phone mounts, paying more doesn’t always mean a better product.
According to tests by Finder, here are some of the best phone mounts and their process.
The best phone holder overall
The iOttie Easy One Touch Car Mount comes highly recommended with a 4.1 out of 5-star rating (after 2.0K Amazon reviews).
It ranges from $49.95 on eBay - $82.69 on Amazon.
The best affordable phone holder
At under $30.00 on both Amazon and eBay, the AU Select Car Phone Holder is cheaper than most, with 3.9 stars out of 5 from 56 ratings.
The best windscreen phone holder
Finally, the IPOW Long Arm Universal Magnetic Cradle was named the best windscreen mount. It can be purchased on eBay for just over $40 (not including postage) or on Amazon from around $32.
And with 4.2 stars out of five with over 10k ratings, it has consistent customer approval.
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