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The best hands-free Bluetooth devices for your car

  • It's an offense to use your phone while driving.
  • A hands-free Bluetooth device will allow you to take phone calls while still concentrating on the road.
  • We've picked our favourites for you to check out. 

Written by Naveed Hussain Updated: 10 September 2024

Hands-free Bluetooth devices not only improves driver and passenger safety, but they also mean that you’re not breaking the law. While most modern vehicles come with the technology built-in, some models may require you to purchase a Bluetooth device if you want to make phone calls while on the road.

The advantage of using a Bluetooth device is you can connect your smartphone to your car wirelessly and enhance in-car entertainment. It’s also useful in older cars where music streaming and phone calls are impossible unless you upgrade your system to facilitate streaming music.

Using your phone while driving is illegal, and can land you six points on your license as well as a £200 fine, and it gets worse if you’ve passed your test within the last two years as the penalty for using a phone or a handheld device behind the wheel is to give up your licence. It’s also important to note – when using a Bluetooth device that you have full view of the road ahead, and that you have proper control of your vehicle, so choosing the right one is crucial to avoid distractions.

Thankfully, a load of Bluetooth devices can be plugged into a car radio, usually via the aux-in connector, and then connected to your phone to allow you to make legal phone calls on the move. You might even want to take things a stage further and have a voice assistant in your car. It’s not as difficult as it might seem – all you need is a smartphone, and the Alexa Auto device will take care of the rest bringing your in-car entertainment system right up to date.

The best hands-free Bluetooth devices for your car at a glance:

Editor’s choice: Anker Soundsync Bluetooth Receiver – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best speakerphone kit: SuperTooth Buddy – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best in-ear device: New bee Bluetooth headset – Buy now from Amazon UK

We’ve found the best Bluetooth devices for you to use in your car so you can stay on the right side of the law while keeping your focus on the road.

The best hands-free Bluetooth devices for your car

Editor's choice
Price: $34.99
This small and simple device will provide Bluetooth connectivity to any sound system with an AUX port, perfect for modernising an older car without having to stomach the cost of a new radio. Once connected to the car and your phone via Bluetooth, it allows you to stream music and take phone calls with ease. It also has a 12-hour battery life before needing recharging, which is long enough for almost any commute.

Pros

  • Simple and easy to use
  • Long battery life - 12 hours of playtime
  • Can pair two Bluetooth devices at the same time

Cons

  • No headset
  • Other devices may offer better sound quality
Dimensions 4.98 x 2.9 x 1.02 cm
Battery Life 12 hours of continuous usage
Charging time 2 hours
Bluetooth specification Version 5.0
Weight 49.9 g
Operating distance 30 ft
Best speakerphone car kit
The Supertooth Buddy is so easy to set up and use. Pair it with your smartphone, then when you get in the car, attach it to the sun visor - hey presto! The speaker is loud and clear enough to break through the car engine noise, and the battery is long-lasting, with 20 hours of talk time and 1000 hours of standby on a full charge. It's also easy to set up and doesn't even need to be connected to your car.

Pros

  • Simple set-up
  • Long battery life
  • Compact design

Cons

  • Sound can degrade at high speeds
  • Doesn't connect to the car's main speakers
Dimensions 12.98 x 1.4 x 4.83 cm
Battery Life 20 hours talk time and 1000 hours standby time
Charging time N/A
Bluetooth specification Version 2.1
Weight 300g
Operating distance 10 metres
Best in-ear hands-free Bluetooth device
Price: £18.79
An alternative idea is to buy a Bluetooth earpiece like you see people talking to themselves on the train, only to realise they're on a call. This option from New Bee offers an impressive 24-hour talk time, or 22 hours if you choose to listen to music through it. Why you’d want to listen to music through a single Bluetooth earpiece is questionable, but nonetheless, it’s a novel addition. It can also be connected to a PC and is available in either black, white or gold.

Pros

  • Long battery life
  • Multifunctional
  • Lightweight design

Cons

  • Outdated technology
  • Can easily be misplaced
Dimensions 5.85 x 2.42 x 1.6 cm
Battery Life 22 hours of music playback, 24 hours of talk time, 180 days of standby
Charging time 2-3 hours
Bluetooth specification Version 5.0
Weight 12g
Operating distance Telephone
Best hands-free Bluetooth device with a speaker

Rrp: $49.99

Price: $39.99
Alternative Retailers
Newegg
$33.99
Walmart
$39.99
Does your car not have a working sound system? Maybe it’s packed up, and you don’t want to fix it. Or maybe you’ve opted for a lightweight sports car that lost the radio during its diet. No matter what you can still enjoy Bluetooth calls and even streamed music with this device from Avantree. You simply clip it somewhere in your car, connect your phone and then you can stream music and take calls using the built-in speaker. It also works with Google Assistant and Siri which means you’ll be able to safely check directions, the weather and even silly questions while driving.

Pros

  • Relatively high-quality speaker
  • Easy to place anywhere around the car
  • Can be used in any car

Cons

  • Lacking user interface
  • Doesn't connect to the car's main speakers
Dimensions 13 x 6 x 3 cm
Battery Life 18 hours playback, 600 hours standby
Charging time 2-3 hours
Bluetooth specification Version 5.0
Weight 108g
Operating distance Up to 30ft
Best budget in-ear hands-free Bluetooth device
One of the simplest and cheapest ways to go hands-free is to buy this earpiece from the AA. Simple and small in design, it’s great for those who struggle with technology. Like the New Bee, you can choose to stream music through the single earpiece if you want. Its small size also means it doesn’t get in the way of glasses.

Pros

  • Cheap and simple
  • Ability to link two phones at the same time
  • Lightweight design

Cons

  • New Bee model more capable
  • Can easily be misplaced
Dimensions N/A
Battery Life Talk/music
Charging time 2 hours
Bluetooth specification Version 4.1 with EDR
Weight 5g
Operating distance 10 metres

Frequently asked questions:

Can I connect multiple phones to my car’s Bluetooth system?

Most Bluetooth car systems will support multiple devices, but only one device at a time can be actively connected for calls or media playback. You may need to disconnect one device before connecting another.

Can I stream music through Bluetooth in my car?

Yes, if your car’s Bluetooth system supports audio streaming, you can play music, podcasts, or any audio from your phone wirelessly through the car’s speakers.

Is it safe to use a Bluetooth car set while driving?

Using a hands-free Bluetooth car set is safer than holding a phone while driving (which could get you fined), as it allows you to keep both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. However, it’s essential to remain focused on driving and avoid distractions.

Can I use voice commands to control my phone through the car’s Bluetooth system?

The majority of modern Bluetooth car systems support voice commands for making calls, sending messages, playing music, and navigating, but the level of functionality may vary depending on the car and phone models.

Does using Bluetooth drain my phone’s battery faster?

Bluetooth technology is designed to be energy-efficient, so while it does consume some power, the impact on your phone’s battery life is usually minimal. However, keeping Bluetooth enabled all the time can contribute to overall battery usage.

Naveed Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He enjoys anything with four wheels, and is always planning his next road trip.

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