Connect your mobile phone to the car radio - how it works

In most cars, you can connect your cell phone to the car radio. We show you which options are available and which advantages and disadvantages have to be considered.

Connect the mobile phone to the car radio via Bluetooth

The easiest way to do this is if your car radio has Bluetooth. So your music can be streamed wirelessly.

1. Switch on Bluetooth on your smartphone and search for the Bluetooth settings in your car's on-board computer.
2. Here you can search for available Bluetooth devices. By entering a code on the smartphone or on-board computer, the two devices can be linked together.
3. Every time you get into your car and Bluetooth is activated on your cell phone, the devices will connect automatically. Select the Bluetooth connection on the car radio as the input source and the music will be transmitted.

Connect the mobile phone to the car radio without Bluetooth

Even if a Bluetooth connection is not available, the music can usually be transmitted in other ways.

• Cable: First check whether there is an audio connection on the car radio. On some models, this is also in the center armrest. With a simple audio cable you can then connect the mobile phone and radio.
• FM transmitter: If the music on your car cannot be transmitted at all, you can use an FM transmitter. The small device runs on batteries or the power connection of your car and is connected to the cell phone via audio cable. For example, if you set the frequency on the transmitter and on the radio to 80.2, your music will be transmitted. The FM transmitter turns your smartphone into a small radio station for around 5 to 20 euros.
• Cassette: Even if your car is still playing cassettes, the music can be transferred. With a cassette adapter for around 5 to 10 euros, you can transfer your music from your cell phone to the inserted cassette in real time via cable.

Connect mobile phone to car: smartphone instead of navigation system

You can now do without expensive navigation systems. Numerous smartphone apps offer the same functions, sometimes even free of charge. If you connect your cell phone to the car radio, you can transfer the driving instructions in addition to the music.

• With Google Maps you can navigate worldwide completely free of charge. Depending on the length of the route, however, a few MB of data volume is incurred. Information about traffic jams and closures is extremely accurate on Google Maps.
• With TomTom GO you get a classic navigation system as an app for iOS and Android. In contrast to Google Maps, TomTom also warns you about speed cameras. In addition, you can download complete maps for almost all countries in the world and therefore do not consume any data on the go. The navigation of 75 kilometers per month is free of charge, for further routes you need a subscription for 19.99 euros per year.

In the next practical tip, we will show you how to use several Bluetooth speakers at the same time.