Android Auto in NZ: What It Is and How to Get It in Your Car
Android Auto is Google's system for showing your Android phone's driving apps on the car screen, so you can use maps, music, calls and messages with touch or your voice and keep your hands on the wheel. The phone does the work and the car screen is the display. It is the Android equivalent of Apple CarPlay.
What Android Auto does
You get Google Maps or Waze for navigation, music and podcast apps, phone calls, and messages read out and answered by voice using Google Assistant. Messaging apps such as WhatsApp work by voice too. The screen layout uses large buttons so you can use it with a glance.
What you need
- An Android phone: on recent versions of Android, Android Auto is built in. On older phones you install the Android Auto app from Google Play.
- A screen that supports Android Auto: a car built with it, or a head unit that adds it.
- A connection: a USB cable, or wireless if both your phone and the head unit support wireless Android Auto.
Wired or wireless Android Auto
Both show the same screen. Wired uses a cable and charges the phone. Wireless connects by itself over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when you get in, but needs both the phone and the head unit to support it, and can use more phone battery on long drives.
Adding Android Auto to your car
If the car does not have Android Auto, the usual fix is a new head unit that supports it. An Android Auto wireless adapter only helps when the car already supports wired Android Auto, so it will not add the feature to a car without it. Our CarPlay adapter vs head unit guide explains the same difference for CarPlay.
Most head units that support Android Auto also support Apple CarPlay, so one unit works whichever phone you use now or later. We fit them at your home or work anywhere in Auckland, usually in 1 to 2 hours. See Android Auto installation in Auckland, or Apple CarPlay vs Android Auto if you are weighing the two.
Frequently asked questions
Is Android Auto free?
Yes, Android Auto itself is free. The apps you use on it, such as music services, have their own pricing as they do on the phone.
Does Android Auto use mobile data?
The apps use your phone's data connection as normal, so streaming and live maps use data. Downloading offline maps and music beforehand reduces it.
Can an iPhone use Android Auto?
No. Android Auto works with Android phones. iPhones use Apple CarPlay.
Can I get Android Auto in a Japanese import?
Many imports were not built with it, but a new head unit can add it. See Japanese stereo conversion for the options.