Whether you’re looking to mount your phone so you can work for a rideshare or you have a car without navigation capabilities, there are a variety of quality GPS mounts to help you get to where you’re going. If you’re looking for a mount for your phone, most are universal and can accommodate your Android, iPhone or another mobile device. Others can even pair with GPS devices, such as the Garmin Drive 61.
While there are a number of GPS mounts for your car on the market, many have cheap construction, flimsy plastic or poor suction. A few options stand out for their durability and easy installation. The best is the iOttie Easy One Touch 4, which is compatible with multiple phones and can mount to your dashboard or windshield. But there is a variety of options available should you require a different mount for your car, truck, SUV, van or RV.
What to know before you buy a GPS car mount
Which mount you choose for your phone or GPS system revolves around safety. This will determine where you place it and what kind of mounting system you need.
Car mount location
Phone and GPS mounts for your car can mount to three locations. Depending on your vehicle, you’ll want to consider these when purchasing a mount for your device.
Dashboard: GPS mounts for your dashboard affix to the plastic with either suction, adhesive or screws. These are useful for drivers looking to keep their field of view open without blocking the center of the windshield, or the portion near their A-pillar. Choosing a dash mount comes at the expense of keeping your eyes up and off the road but is still better than looking down into a center console.
Windshield: Using a phone or GPS mount for your windshield is the safest solution when it comes to getting directions while driving. They are safe, that is, so long as you aren’t obstructing your field of view. These almost entirely use suction and can be placed on any part of the glass, but your two best options are the center of the windshield down low, or to the left of the driver near the A-pillar.
Center console: If you’re worried about the durability of the suction cup or messing up your dashboard, a center-console mount is a viable alternative, particularly if you won’t be looking at the screen a lot and just listening to directions. These clip to your air vents or adhere to a blank surface, both of which might be less useful for modern cars but present a good solution for older models.
GPS car mount safety
Many modern cars have foregone haptic controls like dials and buttons for sleek touch screens in the center console. While advanced, these present numerous safety issues for vehicle operators who need to keep their eyes on the road at all times. In 2019, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that distracted driving was responsible for nearly 3,200 deaths in the U.S alone. Where a volume knob was easy to find without looking, clicking through a complicated user interface to turn on your A/C can distract you long enough to collide with another vehicle, miss a red light or lose control of your own vehicle.
A proper GPS mount for your car is especially important for getting your eyes away from your center console. Even modern cars with their own satellite navigation can benefit from a phone mount if that navigation isn’t in a safe location.
GPS car mount features
GPS car mount type
Phones and GPS devices can be mounted in your car using a few different methods:
Clip: Choose a clip if you have something like an air vent or dash element that can hold a mount without blocking other useful controls. These can be a bit brittle if you’ll be removing the mount often, so handle with care. Also, be wary of the fact that a weak clip mount or inferior product can fall or slouch with the weight of the phone.
Suction: These are great for windshields, but they can be a double-edged sword. While there are many products out there that will be just right, you can find yourself in one of two situations: You’ll have a mount that becomes impossible to remove (usually due to heat from the sun) or a mount that constantly falls off (cold climates, dirty windshield). If you’re going the suction route, make sure you’re ok with the mount potentially becoming a permanent addition to your car’s cabin.
Screw: These make a lot of sense for work trucks and fleet vehicles that will see multiple customers or workers in and out of the car, truck, van or SUV. Difficult to remove and durable, a screw-on mount will weather the storm of heavy use, but will also damage your vehicle’s interior permanently in order to install it.
Adhesive: Adhesive mounts have the added benefit of attaching to any surface in your car but are often a little weaker than their counterparts. They also leave behind a sticky residue once you remove them, so you’ll need something like Goo Gone to clean up your interior.
GPS car mount cost
Because they’re relatively simple products and easy to produce, mount prices don’t often correlate with quality. While some are as little as $10, expect to pay around $20 for a phone or GPS mount on average.
GPS car mount FAQ
Will my mount hold my device?
A. Most mounts are universal, employing spring-loaded clamping mechanisms. These enable you to fit any screened device short of an iPad in your car mount. If you have a bulky phone case, consider removing your phone for use when mounted, or sizing down to something less weighty so your phone doesn’t fall out while driving.
Will the suction hold for a long time?
A. How well your suction holds depends on how well you install it. Before installing a suction mount, be sure to clean the surface and suction cup with rubbing alcohol. You can even use a little petroleum jelly to make the seal airtight. When mounting, press the suction cup firmly and hold for a few seconds. Do not add any more weight for 24 hours so that the suction can set.
Which GPS car mount should I get?
Best of the best GPS car mount
iOttie Easy One Touch 4 Dash and Windshield Universal Car Mount: available at Amazon
Our take: This universal phone mount attaches to your windshield via suction cup.
What we like: The One Touch 4 is fully adjustable, with a telescoping arm and rotating platform. Users can fold the mount out of the way when not in use and alternate between portrait and landscape mode for directions. The arm and mounting foot can be locked in with tightening knobs.
What we dislike: Some users have had trouble getting the suction to stick after a couple of months of use. Be sure to follow installation instructions.
Best bang for your buck GPS car mount
PopSockets Vent Mount: available at Amazon
Our take: Pair this product with your PopSocket PopGrip to make phone mounting simple and adhesive-free.
What we like: With an adjustable pinching mechanism, the PopSocket vent mount can attach to a variety of vent types. Comes with a 30-day warranty to ensure a proper fit should you find it doesn’t pair well with your car’s vents.
What we dislike: This product requires you to have a PopGrip attached to the back of your phone to use.
Honorable mention GPS car mount
APPS2Car GPS Dashboard Mount: available at Amazon
Our take: A damage-free universal dashboard mount that not only works with your phone but also Garmins, TomToms, Magellans and many other GPS models.
What we like: This sleek, pop-up mount sits on top of your car’s dashboard and can be folded down when out of use. When opened, the spring-lock clamp can fit any screen between 3-7 inches in height. It uses an anti-slip friction pad to attach to your dashboard — no adhesive or suction is required.
What we dislike: Users with steep-sloped dashes report that this bulky model can fall off easily. Be sure to wash the bottom to remove dust and debris if it starts to slip.
Karl Daum is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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