A guide to navigating auto apps

Smartphone technology has unlocked endless ways to enhance your driving experience. Let our thorough list of the top-rated, most useful, trendy car apps guide you along your journey.

When time is money, why do we allow ourselves to sit in traffic? Plan ahead with an app that details how congested the roads will be on your route, before you find yourself stuck in a gridlock. With Waze, you’ll see traffic and navigation information that is compiled by users in your area. As one of the world’s largest community-based traffic and navigation apps, Waze offers you real-time traffic information to get you where you need to go in the least amount of time. It also pairs with your music app so you can hear the directions and shows you the predicted traffic for your upcoming trips.

Download Google Maps on the Google Play Store  | Apple App Store

GasBuddy is a mile ahead of its competitors with its immense database of gas stations and consistent updates that will allow you to easily find the gas station with the best price. With almost every gas station in the U.S. on record, you can rest assured that you’ll find the most affordable gas near you, no matter your location. And in Waze-like fashion, user corrections and updates are continually flowing, so you can expect pretty accurate info and prices when it comes time to hit the pump.

Electricity is the wave of the future, so electric car owners know the hassle that comes when trying to map out all of the available charging stations. Thankfully, U.S. electric car infrastructure continues to grow, and PlugShare has an interactive map of the 40,000+ and counting charging stations across the country. The app may be simple but gets the job done with filters, an option to add stations, and a trip planner to boot, so you’ll never be without a charge when you need one.

Many car-buying apps exist, but where CARFAX sets itself apart is with its vehicle history reports — an invaluable summary for used car shoppers. You can get a free history report with every car listed for sale on their app and even request reports on vehicles listed elsewhere. This capability could potentially save you the substantial repair dollars you’d have to shell out if you were to buy a car that turns out to be a lemon or was involved in an undisclosed collision.

With millions of listings for new and used vehicles, and a breakdown of a vehicle's details, the Cars.com app is a certified encyclopedia for informed car shopping. You can instantly get pricing info and compare nearby inventory just by scanning the VIN of any vehicle on the lot. And when a car goes on sale, you’ll be able to act fast with the app’s price drop alerts. Additional features include vehicle reviews, a payment estimator, and an inventory comparison.

Download AutoGuard on the Google Play Store

It’s all in the details — the parking details that is. From height restrictions to security information, Parkopedia provides detailed information on 70 million parking spaces in more than 15,000 cities around the world. You can search the app to find and reserve the perfect spot and pay online or in-person. Plus, you can read reviews of previous customers to ensure you’re picking the right parking space for your car, not to mention a guaranteed reservation in even the most popular garages.

If you’re someone who likes planning ahead, SpotHero is the bread and butter of parking apps. Whether you’re looking for hourly, monthly, or airport parking, SpotHero allows you to enter a specific address or use their feature to find parking spots near your location. Compare prices and prepay to receive the parking pass on your phone.

Everyone has car issues. Whether your car needs a regular oil change or a bumper replacement, RepairPal makes it easy to find the best shop near you to fix it. The web app gives you access to trusted and highly rated mechanics anytime, anywhere. And you can get average quotes based on the specific repair needed for your particular vehicle so you’re not price gouged at an unfamiliar mechanics shop (and we’ve all been there).

If you want to manage the efficiency and cost of using your car, Drivvo helps you stay on top of maintenance and track your vehicular expenses. The app manages all of your vehicle maintenance records and automatically calculates fuel economy. Simply enter your mileage whenever you gas up, and the app builds a record over time of how much your car costs to operate. It may have less coverage for fuel prices than GasBuddy, but it helps eliminate guesswork when budgeting car-related expenses.

Are you planning a big cross-country road trip in your future? You might want to download the appropriately named Roadtrippers app first. For schedule-averse road warriors, the app will help plan and map out your entire trek. It’s packed with features that are road trip-focused, like reviewed and searchable hotels, campgrounds, and places of interest along your route. It can even give you an estimate of how much gas you’ll use, to keep things affordable when you’re cruising along Route 66.

The automotive app landscape is constantly evolving, and this list can help you with every aspect of the auto experience. These technologies have the power to transform your drive while also saving you money.