3 Must-Have Apps for Any Car Enthusiast

Hello people! What’s good? Hope you’re all having a great week, whatever you’re up to.

Today, I’m sharing my go-to three apps that I use pretty much every time I’m out and about. For me, these are the essentials that make any drive just that little bit better.

In today’s world, we’ve got a plethora of apps at our disposal, we’re spoilt for choice. But that’s not always a good thing. Some apps hide in the background, barely noticed. Others we stick with simply because they work for us. So with this post, I might just tell you about three you already know. If that’s the case, fair play, this post might not be for you!

But if you’re curious, here are the three must-have driving apps I use day to day and wouldn’t set off without.

Music – Spotify

Let’s be real, when it comes to music apps, it’s pretty much a two-horse race: Apple Music or Spotify. They’re constantly trying to outdo each other, but for me, Spotify has been the go-to for years. Don’t worry though, I won’t judge if you’re flying the Apple flag for your tunes.

Why Spotify? It’s all about having the right song for the right moment. Whether you’re blasting Act A Fool by Ludacris pulling up to a meet, or cruising with Language by Porter Robinson living out your Forza Horizon dreams, music transforms a drive. It sets the tone, lifts the mood, and sometimes even becomes the soundtrack to your memories.

Add to that seamless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, plus a dedicated driving mode if your car doesn’t have those features, and it’s simple and safe to use on the move. Podcasts? Sorted. Playlists? Endless.

So whether it’s Spotify, Apple Music, or another favourite, we can all agree: music is a non-negotiable for any journey.

Navigation – Waze

When it comes to navigation, there’s really only one winner for me: Waze. This app has been a lifesaver more times than I can count. It’s not just about directions, it’s much more than that.

Waze lets you find nearby petrol stations (with prices listed), EV charging points, and even crowd-sourced hazard reports. Sure, you sometimes take the info with a pinch of salt, but nine times out of ten, it’s spot-on.

Planning a route is effortless, and real-time reports help you avoid traffic, delays, or even unwanted attention from the police. There have been a few times it’s saved me from making a costly mistake, and saved me a trip to a fuel station that didn’t have the 99 octane I needed.

If you’re still using something else for navigation, give Waze a go, you might not go back.

Local Meets & Like-Minded Drivers – First2

Right, the first two apps were pretty standard and well known, however this one might be new to you.

First2 is designed specifically for car enthusiasts, making it easy to find local events, meets, and like-minded people nearby. Think of it as a “mini-map” for car culture. It’s as simple as opening the app, see who’s about, and discover events you might otherwise miss.

It’s still fairly new, but the team behind it are active and always rolling out updates. There’s built-in navigation, groups, a drive mode for hands-free use, and even a simple social-style feed for sharing photos.

If you’re trying to get more involved in the scene, or you just want to know what’s happening locally, it’s well worth a download.

So there you have it: Spotify for the tunes, Waze for the route, and First2 for the community. No over-complication, no endless scrolling through app stores, just three essentials that make every drive better.

What about you? What’s your go-to app when heading out for a drive? Is there a hidden gem I’ve missed that deserves a spot next time? Drop it in the comments, I’m always on the lookout for new ones.

Next week’s teaser: I’ll be digging into the hidden costs of chasing “cheap” project cars, because we’ve all been there.

Until the next post, enjoy the ride.

E.