How to add Bluetooth to your car

These days, Bluetooth is pretty much standard in every new car – letting you wirelessly connect your smartphone to the car's entertainment system.

It's something that most people take for granted when they get behind the wheel, but of course it hasn't always been that way. 

RELATED: How to update your car's navigation system
RELATED: How to retrofit Apple CarPlay to your car

Don't despair if your current car lacks built-in Bluetooth, as you've got a few options depending on how much you want to spend and the capabilities of your car's existing infotainment system.

Even the cheapest aftermarket car infotainment head unit should feature built-in Bluetooth. If you're prepared to spend a bit more, you should consider a head unit that also supports Apple CarPlay and/or Android Auto.

Bluetooth head units start at around $100 from traditional retailers, although you’ll find some very cheap and nasty ones online.

If you're feeling confident you might install the new head unit yourself, perhaps with a little help from online video tutorials. Be warned, it can get complicated when it comes to pulling apart the console so you can slide out the old head unit and slot in the new one. You might also need a new wiring harness and adapter, if the new head unit has different connectors on the back to your old head unit.

If you're unsure, it might be better to buy your new head unit from a retailer that also offers installation. 

When shopping around for Bluetooth gear for the car, you'll also come across wireless smart screens designed to sit on the dashboard. For some, their primary job is to act as a wireless dash/reversing camera. For others, they're primarily a screen for running Apple CarPlay or Android Auto without the need to upgrade your head unit. They tend to start at around $300.

Some wireless smart screens also support Bluetooth for connecting to your smartphone, along with a line-out or FM transmitter for sending audio to your car stereo. This way you can use them for hands-free calls and streaming music.

Rather than completely replace the head unit, you can install a Bluetooth car kit that lets you make hands-free calls and perhaps stream music to your car's sound system. There are plenty of aftermarket options, but it's also possible that a vehicle-specific Bluetooth adapter is sold for your car.

Bluetooth car kits are less common these days, because few cars need them and adapters are cheap. Again, they seem to start at around $100.

Depending on how the Bluetooth car kit connects to the head unit, you might consider a retailer that also offers installation – particularly if you're looking to hide the microphone cable under the trim panels so it's out of sight.

Rather than connect to your head unit, some Bluetooth car kits are standalone devices – with a built-in speaker and microphone – that clip to your sun visor or mount on the dash. They're handy for making calls but don't send music to your car's sound system. They also tend to be battery-powered, so they'll need regular recharging.

Bluetooth car kits were popular before the days of smartphones, back when people only wanted to make hands-free calls in the car and weren't looking to play music from their phone. These days, it's generally easier to plug in a Bluetooth adapter that does both.

The upside is that you don't need to pay for installation and it's easy to move the Bluetooth adapter between cars. The downside is that it's not hidden away out of sight, and it probably relies on the car's cigarette socket or a USB port for power.

Bluetooth adapters start at around $50 from traditional retailers, although again you’ll find some very cheap and nasty ones online.

The other complication is that you need a way to connect the Bluetooth adapter to your car's infotainment or sound system. You might be able to do this via a 3.5mm auxiliary input on the front of the car stereo head unit, or perhaps an auxiliary input on the back of the head unit. 

If your head unit doesn't feature an auxiliary input, another option is to go for a Bluetooth adapter that is also an FM transmitter. Once your phone is connected to the Bluetooth adapter via Bluetooth, you can tune your car radio to the frequency of the FM transmitter and hear the music coming from your phone.