4 Tips for Using Your iPhone as a Car GPS

With all of the new GPS apps coming out for the iPhone, you might have considered using the devices as a full-time car GPS.

I was somewhat forced into this decision after my last GPS-a great Magellan unit that had survived a lot of abuse-finally died on me. After shedding a tear, I started to use the iPhone. I quickly learned that it isn't perfect. It's not designed to work as a car GPS, after all, so there are a few minor shortcomings.

Here are a few tips to help you overcome the problems that you'll face when using the iPhone as a reliable GPS for your car.

Get A Window Mount. First and foremost: if you do any serious driving, your iPhone is going to lose its GPS connection on a regular basis, especially if you keep it in your lap or in your car's cup holder. The iPhone needs a clear view of the sky.

To manage this, get a window mount for the iPhone. Don't use one of those cheap car charger mounts. They won't do the trick. Get a window or dash mount and leave the iPhone there when you're using it as a GPS. You'll be much less frustrated, and you'll still be spending a whole lot less than if you'd purchased a brand new car GPS.

Get A Good App. There are a few major iPhone apps that turn the device into a car GPS, but one of the cheapest is also one of the best. It's called MotionX, you can find it on the App store, and it'll only cost you about twenty bucks a year.

It does have a few problems. The voice guidance can be incredibly annoying, especially when it lowers the volume of your music or podcast to tell you to point the iPhone at the sky when it loses its GPS signal. Still, I like it. It works as well as anything else that the iPhone has to offer, and it's pretty cool that it's so cheap.

Get A Car Charger. GPS apps can quickly suck the batteries out of your iPhone, and although the iPhone will last longer than a few of the car GPS systems that I've tested which were designed for the purpose, you'll still need a car charger for longer trips. Remember to buy a car charger that can stretch up to the windshield, since your iPhone will be sitting up there as you use it.

Finally, don't set any directions on the iPhone while you're driving a vehicle unless you're trying to get into an accident. Park somewhere. You'll save yourself some car repair bills and a ticket or two.

Have any other tips for using the iPhone as a car GPS? Post in our comments section below.