I live in one of the cities with the worst driving experience according to Waze’s global driver satisfaction index. Using Waze allows me to know what time I would need to leave to arrive at my destination on time. It provides me a fairly accurate ETA (estimated time of arrival). With the simple use of Waze in your car, you automatically upgrade your car in having free navigation. You just need the best car mount to use.

READ: Keep or replace your old car?

If you’re like me who is one of the 50 million users of Waze, you probably faced the same questions I had – where and how to place my phone in my car’s dashboard? What kind of car mount should I use for my phone?

What to look for

1. No damages in the car.

Car phone mounts that use sticky gel pads and adhesives were taken off the options. Also those that would require some installation screws and etc. are out.

2. Road visibility should not be compromised.

Location of the mount should not impede driver’s vision of the road.

3. Ease of use.

Placing and removing the phone should be easy.

See below different types of car mounts that might suit your needs.

Suction Cup Car Mount

Check in Amazon.com: TaoTronics Car Phone Mount Holder, Windshield / Dashboard

This is probably the most commonly used car mount. I used to have this suction-based windshield car mount. My car has an A-pillar window which was a perfect place to put the suction car mount where it does not obstruct the driver’s view.

However, eventually I didn’t like that the phone is on the driver’s side and passengers are not able to see the navigation screen from the phone. It is bulky and makes the dashboard look cluttered. The suction cup also falls off when the car gets into direct sunlight for extended periods of time. But this lasted a long time and is durable.

Air-vent Grip

Check in Amazon.com: Kenu Airframe | Car Mount for Smartphones (Non Phablets) | Black

This car mount clips on your car’s air vents and grips your phone. This is a compact and an elegant solution. The downside is it is painful to use. Using the grip to put and remove the phone requires a certain level of force that takes a few seconds. And when you are in a hurry those few seconds matter.

Steering Wheel Mount

Check in Amazon.com: iTimo Universal Car Steering Wheel Mobile Phone Stand Holder Mount Clip

A friend has given me this steering wheel mount and I was able to try it. I wouldn’t recommend this to be used for your navigation on your phone. Since it is mounted on the steering wheel, when you turn the wheel, the phone will move with the steering wheel. It can get really distracting and dangerous. I found this useful to hold a stereo remote control though. So for those that do not have audio controls on the steering wheel, this is an option where you can mount your infrared stereo remote.

Magnetic Air Vent Car Mount

Check in Amazon.com: TechMatte MagGrip Air Vent Magnetic Universal Car Mount Holder

This mount is small and it makes the dashboard look clean and uncluttered. I recommend using a phone case and putting the included magnet in between the phone and the phone case. Since it uses magnets, putting the phone and removing it from the mount is effortless. This is the best type of car mount that I have used and continue to use today. The only downside is you have to find the right position on the air vent where it can be securely installed.

CD Slot Car Mount

Check in Amazon.com: Car Mount TechMatte MagGrip CD Slot Magnetic Universal Car Mount

This is an alternative solution for those with awkward positions on the air vents. It uses a magnet as its connection point with the phone which is similar to the Magnetic air vent car mount. The only difference is instead of attaching it to the air vent, it goes into the stereo’s CD slot. This works if you still have a CD slot and its position is ideal in placing the phone.

Which car mount worked for you best? Do you have other recommendations? Please post your comments below.

READ: Ultimate Guide to Online Shopping from the Philippines

Related Products

Check out the related products mentioned on this post from Amazon.com using the links below.  I may get a small commission from the use of these links and your purchase helps the continuity of this site. Prices are the same if you purchase through these links or directly from Amazon. Thanks for your support!
TechMatte MagGrip Air Vent Magnetic Universal Car Mount Holder for Smartphones
Kenu Airframe Grip| Car Mount for Smartphones (Non Phablets) | Black
TechMatte MagGrip CD Slot Magnetic
TaoTronics Car Phone Mount Holder, Windshield / Dashboard Suction Cup
iTimo Universal Car Steering Wheel Mobile Phone Stand Holder