What Is Apple CarPlay? How Does Apple CarPlay Work?

What Is Apple Car Play?

Think of Apple CarPlay as a tool to project your phone screen onto a screen in your car. If your car is compatible and connected to your phone, your screen will appear on the infotainment system for you to interact with. Some of the items displayed include podcasts, apple maps and phone calls, helping you sync up your phone seamlessly. This isn’t all though, you can use Siri to communicate whilst driving, and control music with your voice. With phone use illegal whilst driving, Apple CarPlay and its Siri voice command make it possible to complete simple tasks without diverting attention away from the road.

How To Set Up Apple CarPlay

Setting up Apple CarPlay is super simple:

1. Either use Bluetooth or a USB cable to connect up.
2. You’ll see a message appear asking if you want to use CarPlay. Click ‘yes’.
3. Navigate to settings on your phone and enable CarPlay in the ‘general’ section.
4. Select your car in the ‘available cars’ section.
5. You’re good to go.

The Features And Benefits Of Apple CarPlay

Once you have Apple CarPlay installed, you can expect a host of great features now available to you whilst you drive:

• Apple Maps.
• Apple Music.
• Spotify.
• Siri voice command.
• Waze (traffic app).
• Phone.
• Contacts.
• Calendar.
• Parking apps.
• Ordering food (Yep! Order while you drive, and have food waiting for you 🥡).

Some of the benefits of having Apple CarPlay include:

• You can get live traffic updates via Apple Maps or Waze, as opposed to sat-nav that sometimes doesn’t display live information. This can help you avoid traffic jams and get where you need to go quicker.
• Still being able to ring or message someone without picking up a phone. You can use Siri to message and arrange calls, helping you still get things done without taking your eyes off the road.
• Control your music much easier. Clicking straight into an app is much cleaner than messing around with a car’s Bluetooth settings.
• The aesthetic. Let’s face it, most car infotainment screens are slightly dated and uncool. However, Apple CarPlay allows you to have the modern look of an iPhone. Even this small feature can make your driving experience all the more enjoyable.

Cars That Offer Apple CarPlay

There are plenty of vehicles that offer Apple CarPlay. Here are some of the stand outs brands:

• Audi (most cars produced after 2017)
• BMW (most models produced after 2017)
• BYD (models produced after 2021)
• Citroen (some models as far back as 2016 offer CarPlay)
• Dacia (post-2019 cars)
• Fiat (most cars after 2017)
• Ford (cars post 2017)
• Honda (post 2016)
• Hyundai (post 2015)
• Mercedes (post 2016)

This is just a snapshot, and there are plenty of models that facilitate Apple CarPlay. Take a look for yourself and see if your vehicle makes the list.

Apple CarPlay Not Working: Troubleshooting

If your Apple CarPlay has stopped working, check your settings, the connection to the car, and vehicle compatibility. Make sure you check the connection if the CarPlay is wired, as the cable may have stopped working. If you are using Apple CarPlay wireless and the issue can’t be resolved, reach out to Apple or visit a mechanic who has experience with Apple CarPlay systems.

There’s another potential solution too; if you haven’t updated your iPhone to the latest IOS, this could be causing the CarPlay not to work. Make sure your phone is fully updated to ensure maximum compatibility with your car.

Of course, if you’re setting CarPlay up for the first time and it isn’t working, there’s a chance that your car doesn’t actually support the feature. There are plenty of models that don’t support Apple CarPlay, so it’s normal if yours doesn’t. If this is the case and you want to use Apple CarPlay, you can choose an adapter to help connect and make the most of your iPhone’s features. Connecting via an Apple CarPlay adapter is perfectly legal, and a great way for those without Apple CarPlay compatibility to make the most of the feature. We’ve had a look at how Apple CarPlay adapters work below.

Apple CarPlay Adapters – What Are They? What Are The Best Ones On The Market?

Apple CarPlay adapters are a great way for people to access the latest tech in cars that traditionally didn’t cater to a newer generation of smart tech. With a simple USB plug or wire, you can connect your phone to your car and display your home screen. These pieces of kit don’t tend to be cheap, ranging anywhere from £20 to over £100! You can find super cheap options out there, but these aren’t as good and tend to last less time before needing to be replaced.

Auto Express provided a list of the best Apple CarPlay adapters for last year (2024), but these options should still fit the bill in 2025:

• XIXIXIAXIA Wireless CarPlay Adapter
  • £32
  • AutoExpress rating: 4 Stars
• Carlinkit
  • £80
  • Auto Express rating: 3.5 Stars
• Ottocast U2airPro
  • £62
  • Auto Express rating: 3.5 Stars

Any of these options should do the job, but the clear favourite in our eyes is the XIXIXIAXIA Wireless CarPlay Adapter, with the cheapest price and highest rating.

What If I Don’t Have An iPhone?

Don’t have an iPhone? Don’t worry! You can access Android Auto, a similar option to CarPlay, just for Androids.

You can connect your Android to your car via Bluetooth or a wired connection, and there are plenty of great adapters if you want to link up your Android to an older car:

• Ottocast A2airPro
  • £62
  • Auto Express Rating: 5 Stars
• AAWireless
  • £70
  • Auto Express Rating: 4.5 Stars
• Carluex Air
  • £156
  • Auto Express Rating: 3 Stars

Finding An Apple Car Play Installation Near Me

Most car garages will fit Apple CarPlay systems, and a simple Google search can find plenty of great options near you. Halfords also offer CarPlay installation, coming as part of car stereos and head units that include Apple CarPlay.

The availability of Apple CarPlay fitters depends on where you live, although there should be at least one near you that can fit this smart tech.

Final Words

Apple CarPlay is a great tool for completing tasks whilst still having full attention to the road. The surge in drivers being caught using their phones and the number of accidents caused by mobile use suggest that there’s a real problem with screen time at the wheel. Apple CarPlay takes this away by allowing you to text, call, set a destination, and even pick a song purely by using Siri's voice command. This can help you keep your eyes on the road and remain safe while driving.

Interested in getting a car with Apple CarPlay built in? We provide finance on the brands mentioned earlier, meaning you can make the most of CarPlay whilst paying for your car in cheaper monthly chunks. What’s more to love?!

Check your eligibility today by completing our 30-second form. Don’t worry, it doesn’t affect your credit score; instead providing you an idea of what finance might look like without hurting your file.

Apply today.