Apple CarPlay Explained: What It Is, What It Does and How to Get It

If someone's told you that your car needs Apple CarPlay and you've nodded along without really knowing what they meant, this is the guide for you. No jargon, no assumed knowledge, just what CarPlay and Android Auto actually are, what they do, and how to get them without buying a new car.

So what is Apple CarPlay?

Apple CarPlay puts your iPhone's most useful apps on your car's built-in screen. Connect your phone and your car's display shows a simple, driving-friendly version of the apps you already use every day: maps, music, calls, messages and more. Your phone stays in your pocket or bag, and everything happens on the screen that's already in your dash.

It's made by Apple, it's free to use, and there's nothing to subscribe to. If you have an iPhone, you already own half of what you need. The other half is a car that can talk to it.

And what's Android Auto?

Android Auto is the same idea for Android phones, made by Google. Same concept, same benefits: your phone's maps, music and messages on the car's screen, designed for driving. Most households have a mix of iPhones and Android phones, which is why upgrade kits like ours support both, so whoever is driving, their phone works.

Looking for this on your car?

We have CarPlay solutions for a growing list of vehicles, including the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, Hyundai i30 and Holden VF Commodore.

Browse our full range to find the option made for your car, and if you don't see yours, get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.

What can you actually do with them?

The things people use most, every single drive:

• Navigation. Apple Maps, Google Maps or Waze on your car's screen, with live traffic and turn-by-turn directions. No more phone propped in a cup holder.
• Music and podcasts. Spotify, Apple Music, audiobooks and your favourite shows, controlled from the screen or with your voice.
• Calls and messages. Take calls hands free, and have your texts read aloud and your replies typed for you while your eyes stay on the road.
• Voice control. Press the voice button on your steering wheel and just ask: "take me home", "play my playlist", "text Marcus I'm ten minutes away". That's Siri on an iPhone or Google Assistant on Android.

Why people love it (and why it's safer)

The honest answer is that once you've had CarPlay, driving without it feels like going back in time. But the practical answer is safety and legality. Touching your phone while driving attracts serious fines in every Australian state, and detection cameras are everywhere now. CarPlay and Android Auto move everything to the car's screen and your voice, so you get your maps, music and messages without touching your phone once. Fewer glances away from the road, no fines, no guilty juggling at red lights.

Do I need to buy a new car?

No, and this is the part most people don't know. Plenty of popular cars on Australian roads left the factory without CarPlay, even though adding it now is a well-solved problem. That's exactly what we do: DIY upgrades that bring CarPlay and Android Auto to the car you already own, each one backed by our Successful Install Guarantee and a step-by-step install video.

Driving a Mazda? Most models from 2014 onwards have the Mazda Connect system, and our upgrade kit updates your car's software and swaps one small part behind the scenes. Your factory screen and controls stay exactly as they are, and you gain full CarPlay and Android Auto. Most people finish the install in about an hour. Curious about the details? We've written a full guide to what Mazda Connect is, and a year-by-year breakdown of which Mazdas came with CarPlay and which missed out.

Wired or wireless?

One last bit of vocabulary. Wired CarPlay means you plug your phone in with its normal charging cable, and it charges while you drive. Wireless CarPlay connects automatically every time you start the car, with your phone still in your pocket. Both give you the full experience, and our wireless options do both, so you can plug in for charging on long drives and go cable-free around town.

One Mazda-specific note for Android users: because of Mazda's own software, Android Auto is controlled with the jog wheel between the seats rather than the touchscreen. That's true of every upgrade kit on the market, and since Mazda switches the touchscreen off while you're moving anyway, the jog wheel is how you'd be driving the system regardless. Apple CarPlay is not affected.

Ready to see if your car can get it?

If you drive a Mazda, head straight to our Mazda CarPlay Upgrade Kit page, where the compatibility section will tell you in about ten seconds whether your model fits. For every other make, browse our range or get in touch and we'll match you with the right option for your car. Either way, if you're ever unsure, our team is happy to confirm before you order.