If you have a car with Bluetooth, but it doesn’t work for audio, there are a few ways to use it. One way is to use the car’s audio system to listen to music from your phone. Another way is to use the car’s hands-free system to listen to music from your phone.

Don’t Forget About USB Cable Adapters

The auxiliary jack in your car or car radio is slowly dying out because of the popularity of Bluetooth. This technology is replacing the old phone jack, and it’s making it easier for you to connect with other devices in your car.

The bad news is that you can’t get that functionality back by using a USB (or Lightning for iPhones) to 3.5mm jack converter.

Some phones don’t have a built-in DAC or digital to analogue converter, so you’ll need to buy an adapter that has one. These are pricier, so do some Googling to determine if your phone needs a DAC-enabled converter or not.

This is a cheaper, more reliable Bluetooth solution that is less elegant and comes with all the hassle of working with cables.

If you’re an iPhone user, we recommend purchasing the Apple original adapter. This dongle is guaranteed to work and can be used to charge your phone while using it. However, the only downside is that you can’t use it to charge your phone while it’s connected to the wall.

If you have a phone like the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+, which lacks a digital-to-analog converter, then an adapter like the WKWZY adapter is a good choice. It has a built-in DAC and so doesn’t depend on the phone’s hardware to produce sound, which makes it a safe bet. ..

Bluetooth To Auxiliary Adapters 

If your car doesn’t have Bluetooth, but has an auxiliary jack, you can still add Bluetooth functionality to it by using a Bluetooth headphone adapter. These devices are designed to let you turn any set of headphones into a Bluetooth-enabled pair, but they work just as well directly connected to your car instead.

The headphones are great for long trips because they require no power and can last for hours. However, they may not work if you need to charge them.

The first product is the JBLLink Bluetooth Receiver for Cars, which has been reviewed by over 50,000 people and has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. The second product is the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Bluetooth Receiver, which has been reviewed by over 100,000 people and has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Mpow’s new Bluetooth 5.0 receiver is said to provide high-quality streaming with no stutter. It also features a small status screen that lets you see what’s connected and how good the signal is. The receiver is claimed to have a 40-foot range. ..

The TaoTronics Bluetooth Receiver is a great option for those who don’t want a screen on their receiver, as it can also act as a Bluetooth transmitter. This makes it versatile and perfect for use outside of your car.

Bluetooth FM Transmitters

If your radio doesn’t have an auxiliary jack, there are a few options available. You can use an FM Bluetooth receiver to merge the old and new technology. These receivers usually run off of your car’s 12V lighter socket. ..

You can use your smartphone to connect to your car’s audio system the same way you would connect to a Bluetooth device. Once that connection is working, simply tune your car radio to the FM frequency the device is broadcasting on. You may even be able to change the broadcast frequency.

FM transmitters are great for getting bluetooth for your car, but you should only use them as a last resort. The audio quality is poor and can be interfered with by other sources of radio waves on the same frequency.

If you want Bluetooth audio in your older vehicle, this is the best solution. However, if you have other options, we would suggest trying them first. ..

The IMDEN FM transmitter is a great option for those who want an easy way to listen to the radio and make hands-free calls. It plugs right into your lighter socket and offers pass-through charging, so you can use it while you’re charging your phone. Plus, it has a USB-C Power Delivery port so you can use it with the latest phones. ..

The Zeeporte is a budget-friendly alternative to the more expensive Apple Watch Series 3. It has the same features as the more expensive Apple Watch, but it has a different design and offers 27W of charge instead of 18.

Buy a Bluetooth-Enabled Radio

Many modern cars have factory-fitted radios that are integrated into a non-removable facade. In older cars, it’s usually pretty easy to replace the entire radio head unit. If you’re lucky enough to have such a car and don’t mind spending a little money for a new radio, then getting Bluetooth audio is actually fairly painless.

Bluetooth has become a standard feature in most entry level cars, and once it’s installed, it will be like having your old junker into the 21st century. Well, at least when it comes to listening to music and podcasts.

The BOSS Audio Systems 616UAB Multimedia Car Stereo is a budget-friendly option that should fit most cars. It’s a single DIN unit, and doesn’t play CDs or cassettes, but it does offer digital audio playback.

If you’re looking for a Bluetooth-enabled car stereo with all the bells and whistles, the Pioneer FH-X730BS Double-Din is a good option. ..

Connecting To a Modern Car’s Bluetooth

To connect your car’s Bluetooth system, first make sure that the Bluetooth is turned on. To do this, open the car’s menu and select “Bluetooth.” If the Bluetooth is already on, you will see a message saying so. Once the Bluetooth is turned on, you will need to find your car’s Bluetooth address. This can be found by looking for a small symbol near the gear shifter or in the center console. The address will look something like “0000.” Next, open a compatible app on your phone and search for “Bluetooth Car Connection.” Once you find it, click on it to open up the app. Now, click on the “Add Device” button and select your car from the list of devices that appears. You will now need to enter its unique Bluetooth address again ( 0000 in our example). After entering this information, click on “Connect.” Your phone should now start searching for any devices connected to your car’s Bluetooth system and should show a list of devices once it has found them. Select your car from this list and press “OK” to connect to it. ..

To pair your car with a Bluetooth device, open your Bluetooth settings on your phone and look for the car’s name in the list of available Bluetooth devices. Tap the car’s name to start pairing. Your car and phone should now be paired. You may have to choose whether calls, media or both are handled by the car’s system.

That’s all there is to it. Some cars have special phone compatibilities, such as Apple Carplay, but in general it’s no different from any other Bluetooth connection.