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In 2024, almost every new car will have an advanced infotainment system with various levels of Bluetooth compatibility. With Bluetooth, drivers can easily stream music from their smart devices and make hands-free phone calls through the vehicle’s speaker system. There are still many older model cars on the road that are not equipped with this technology. Fortunately, for many of us who drive our older vehicles until the wheels fall off, there is an easy and inexpensive way to get around this problem. With a Bluetooth car adapter, many modern WiFi functions are easily available to drivers of older cars. In many cases, you simply plug the adapter into your car’s cigarette lighter or auxiliary jack and connect to it wirelessly, allowing your phone to play audio through your car’s speakers as if the feature were built-in. Here are some of the best Bluetooth car adapters available on Amazon.
$17.99 at Amazon
This Imden Bluetooth 5.0 FM transmitter offers clear sound and is compatible with smartphones, laptops and tablets. It has intelligent fast charging efficiency of up to 80% and reduces power loss. There’s also a car tracking feature that saves your vehicle’s location and sends it to your phone so you can easily find it.
Important specifications
- Connectivity: Bluetooth V5.0
- Power Source: Wired Power
- Loading: QC3.0
The Comsoon Bluetooth 5.0V receiver for cars connects to the AUX port in the car and allows you to use Bluetooth whenever you need it. This adapter has an integrated microphone with intelligent noise cancellation and digital signal processing.
Important specifications
- Connectivity: Bluetooth V5.3
- Power source: DC
- Charging time: 2.5 hours
- Battery life: 16 hours
$25.99 at Amazon
The Syncwire Bluetooth 5.1 FM transmitter offers high-quality audio and has built-in noise compression. It has a USB and a Type-C port that allow you to charge two devices at the same time.
Important specifications
- Connectivity: Bluetooth V5.1 FM transmitter
- Power Source: Wired Power
- Maximum power: 38W
- Charging: QC3.0 dual USB
- Assistant support: Siri, Google Assistant
This UNBREAKcable Bluetooth 5.0 FM car transmitter is compatible with most modern iPhones and Android smartphones. It includes voice navigation, hands-free calling and a strong microphone. This adapter comes with a 3-year warranty and lifetime service.
Important specifications
- Connectivity: Bluetooth V5.3
- Power Source: Wired Power
- Maximum power: 38W
- Charging: QC.3.0 and PD 20W
- Warranty: 3-year warranty and lifetime support
$25.99 at Amazon
Sumind Bluetooth FM Transmitter features a large LCD screen that displays incoming calls, song titles and your car’s battery voltage. The flexible hose makes it easy to rotate and move. The adapter features CVC (Clear Voice Capture) technology, which produces full-duplex sound that cancels out noise and wind.
Important specifications
- Connectivity: Bluetooth V4.2
- Power Source: Wired Power
- Charging: QC3.0 and 2.4A
- Assistant support: Siri and Hey Google Assistant
$54.99 at Amazon
If you’re already part of the Amazon Alexa ecosystem, this is a no-brainer. It works the same as many other Bluetooth adapters on the market, but is fully compatible with Alexa. That means if you have a few Echos and a few smart home devices at home, you can control most or all of them just by talking to your Echo Auto. Of course, you can also listen to all your favorite music, podcasts and audio books.
Important specifications
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Power Source: Wired Power
- Loading: QC3.0
- Assistant support: Amazon Alexa
- Warranty: 1 year limited warranty and service (extended warranty available)
frequently asked Questions
What functions do Bluetooth car adapters have?
Bluetooth adapters offer many great benefits to you and your car. They allow you to listen to navigation, play music and answer calls while driving. They also allow charging of phones, laptops and tablets. Some adapters have two ports that can be used to charge multiple devices at the same time.
Are there any disadvantages to Bluetooth adapters?
One downside to these adapters is that they never reach the quality of Bluetooth that comes standard in newer vehicles. Another problem you may face is that if you don’t have an AUX jack or a cigarette lighter, you’re out of luck.
Bluetooth adapter vs. FM transmitter
FM transmitters can transmit Bluetooth from your phone over FM radio frequencies and are received by your vehicle’s radio. On the other hand, Bluetooth adapters use digital transmissions, which provide better sound quality and transmit more information than FM transmissions.