Installing Dash Mounts and Car Kits in Your Vehicle

Do we really need to tell you how unsafe it is to use your cell phone while driving? No, of course we don’t. However, we all have the need to conduct important phone conversations while driving, but taking our hands from the wheel to retrieve a ringing cell phone, or hold a cell phone during a conversation is asking for trouble. If you aren’t fortunate enough to have Bluetooth as a feature in your vehicle, you can still take those calls and manage your device safely by mounting it in a secure cell phone dash mount, or car kit with cradle. Follow these tips to ensure you install your dash mount or car kit correctly.

• Select a dash mount or car kit that works with your smartphone. Believe it or not, all kits are not universal. Every phone brand is a slightly different size and shape, so you need a carrier cradle that works with your phone’s make and model.

• Ensure that your dash mount or car kit fits your current vehicle. Yup, again, all of them are not universal. This type of hardware is often designed on a car-by-car basis, so look for dash mounts and kits that are designed to fit your specific car. There may be a few that have hardware that’s universal, but it’s best to choose a mount that is designed for your car.

• Once you have the appropriate dash model, or car kit for both your cell phone and your vehicle, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install the hardware. Don’t be absent-minded and accidentally install the phone cradle backwards so that the phone faces away from you instead of toward you. Likewise, make sure that your phone mount does not block your view of important dashboard items or prevents you from easily accessing any of your car’s controls or buttons. You wouldn’t believe the amount of people who install the kits where the device is not usable!

• Test the placement of your model to make sure it is easy to touch your phone as well as reach around your phone when necessary. Then, you are good to go!

A dash mount or car kit keeps your phone securely in view and prevents you from engaging in unsafe driving practices. Whether you use your phone to take that important call or keep track of your GPS while on the road, your dash mount or car kit ensures that your phone is always in view and safely within reach.