Article of the Day: 9 best Driving Smartphone Apps.

Now, it isn't ok to text and drive. But if you're at a pit stop or right before a road trip or such, or have someone that can use the phone while driving, then these are the best apps for you to use.

1. Google Maps is at the top, of course. Best for directions and time estimates.
2. Waze is a helpful alternative for traffic navigation, showing a lot of hazards that Google doesn't, such as accidents, speed traps, etc..(And they were just purchased by Google).
3. RoadTrippers is great for planning an extensive road trip, giving reviews about various hotels, gas stations, and information about expected gas usage.
4. SpotHero is an interesting one, basically if you are in an unfamiliar area and need a quick parking spot, you can reserve and pay for a spot all on your phone. Currently in 12 major US Cities.
5. RepairPal is an estimator for repairs, in order to not get scammed at an unfamiliar repair center. You tell it what model car you have, the issue, and it'll give you the average repair cost and a mechanic nearby.
6. Automatic is technically not an app, but a dongle that plugs into your vehicle's diagnostic port and stays there, unseen. Once set up, it has plenty of apps that can be used with it in order to give you information about engine health, gas mileage, performance, and to automatically alert emergency services if you've been in an accident. The dongle costs $100, most of the apps that support it are free.
7. GasBuddy is a simple app for finding the lowest gas nearest you, with nearly every gas station in the US in its database, as well as numerous user reviews and updates.
8. PlugShare is basically essential if you are one of the lucky few to own a compatible electric car. Showing you all of the public charging stations near you, and can even tell you which ones are full or not.
9. Last but not least, XLR8. A silly little app that can transform the sound of your hybrid or electric car into a powerful V-8 Muscle Car, or a NASCAR of your choice. Just connect to your cars stereo.

What do you think, will you be downloading any of these apps today? If you already have, why not leave a review or thoughts about them in the comments?
 

 

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