How to Choose the Best Car Phone Mount for You

Choosing the right phone mount for you and your vehicle really comes down to where you want to see the display. If you have high cupholders, that style might be the easiest route. If you want to see your phone raised toward the road without mounting it on the dashboard or windshield, a vent mount is a great choice. And if you want the best line of sight to your phone, albeit with a slight knock against overall visibility, a window/dash mount would work for you.

Whatever your personal preference, remember that safety is the theme here. Our phones should be on display only for necessary things—not for scrolling Facebook or catching up on your streaming shows. So go out there, fire up your favorite maps app, throw your phone on your new mount, and enjoy your next drive!

FAQs

What type of car phone mount is best?

This totally depends on what kind of car phone mount you're looking for. There are mounts with magnets, clamping arms, wireless charging, and even Alexa integration. Our advice is to think about the features you'd most prefer and search for a phone mount with them in mind.

Where is the best place to put a phone holder in your car?

Depends on the car. Cupholder mounts are super easy to use, but you need a vehicle with cupholders near the windshield. Vent mounts are great, but the phone blocks airflow from the vent it's mounted to. And window/dash mounts are an optimum choice for line of sight with the road, but they can decrease your visibility through the windshield or leave a sticky ring on your dashboard.

Do magnetic car phone mounts damage phones?

No. Modern chip technology is made with nonmagnetic materials, so your phone is totally safe.

Are car vent mounts safe?

Car vent mounts are safe, but phones are a distraction no matter where they are. However, you can minimize risk by positioning your vent mount near your view of the road.

How can you keep the suction cup on a phone mount from falling off?

All of the dashboard and windshield car phone mounts we tested had impressively strong suction cups. However, they won't stick well if the mounting surface is dirty or porous. Clean the inside of your windshield with glass cleaner and dry with a lint-free towel.

For dashboards, either attach the suction cup to the included mounting plate—or clean and dry your dash well, and avoid placing over any holes, cracks, or porous material.

Do car phone mounts damage air vents?

Vent-style car phone mounts are designed to secure to just about any style of air vent without causing damage. However, installing the mount incorrectly can cause issues.

When sliding a vent mount onto the fin of an air vent, push consistently and smoothly, without any jerking motions. If you need to exert an excessive amount of force to slide the mount on, try a different approach. This is one of the most common ways your car's air vents can get damaged.