How to choose the best Bluetooth handsfree car kit

It’s a decision which has gotten arguably harder, rather than easier, over the years. After all, today there are lots of bluetooth car kits on the market, not least amongst our stock here at Car Communications. Since March 2017, the penalty for drivers being caught phoning or texting without hands free car kits has been brought to six points (double what it was previously) with a £200 fine. That means in order to stay on the right side of the law, you’ve got to make sure your vehicle is properly equipped. Whether you want to ring home or work to say you’ll be delayed, or take an urgent call, or even just listen to music, modern handsfree car kits are essential for safe and easy communication in the car. So, with even thousands of potential choices on the market, how do you make the best decision? Well, that’s where we come in - we’ve got some shortcuts as to what you should consider first! For example, you’ll need to think about:

Sound quality

There’s a couple of good reasons why sound quality tops our list of reasons - it’s important for safety, convenience and ease of access alike. For starters, the sound you hear needs to be of a sufficient quality that you can hear the person you’re talking to - after all, what’s the point of taking the call otherwise? Also, the microphone equally needs to be of a sufficient quality that they can hear what you’re saying back to them. Now, visor based kits and dashboard kits sit at a level where the mic is reasonably near your mouth, eliminating some of the problem (although we’ll come onto talking about placement in just a moment), but even so, the quality of the mic is important.

As for speakers to your ears, most of the handsfree bluetooth car kits we stock route their sound through your existing car stereo speakers, so you can rest easy in the quality of sound they provide. Some models of bluetooth kit will allow you to play your MP3 music from a music player such as an iPod, or straight from your phone. Ideal if you listen to a lot of music in the car, and you’re tired to carrying CDs with you!

Accessibility and ease of use

This is another one that’s so important because it’s largely tied into safety. The controls and displays of your bluetooth kit are vital, because you need to be able to operate it quickly and safely, without taking your eyes off the road. Some people find this easiest with touchscreens, whereas others prefer the buttons. Really it’s just a matter of personal choice, but minimum distraction is definitely a prerequisite. Caller displays are sometimes useful, but can be de-prioritised as they’re not essential in these sorts of circumstances. Meanwhile, items like the Bury CC9068 Bluetooth Car Kit can have voice activation, which can make it even easier, as advanced features like voice control can actually really help you to concentrate on driving.

The placement and position of the system

When on the lookout for bluetooth handsfree car kits, you’ll find there’s no shortage of placement options. You can have temporary clip-on visor ones, or kits that can easily adhere to the ventilation grille. The majority of the ones we stock here at Car Communications are directly installed onto the stereo itself; since the audio from your smartphone is routed directly through your car stereo, it makes a huge difference to its accessibility and its sound quality, both of which are major considerations. We just find it’s easier!

How often will it be used?

The type of bluetooth handsfree car kit you get might well be influenced by how intensively and frequently you intend to use it. For example, if you drive a short distance a couple o times a week, you may have completely different requirements to a sales rep who drives hundreds of miles a day. Investing in better bluetooth handsfree kits will be particularly useful if you spend several hours a day every day in the car, as it can make the journeys a lot easier, faster and more convenient. It can help the time go by when you’ve got some music or audio CDs to help, too!

What’s more, many hands free kits will provide you with the ability to charge your phone or music player while you’re driving, saving you from the worry or hassle of having your battery run out when you’re on the road - especially if you depend heavily on your phone throughout the normal working day!

Thinking about your budget

Although this is obviously going to be fairly high up on your list of concerns, you’ll be glad to hear that it shouldn’t be that much of a problem. Staying safe and legal when you use the phone when you’re driving can be achieved whatever budget you have in mind. That’s partially because we’ve got such a huge range of bluetooth handsfree kits to choose from here at Car Communications, and don’t forget we can fit yours for you, too!

Advanced features (such as synchronisation)

If you share your car with another family member, or it’s a shared company car, then you’ll want to make sure that your handsfree bluetooth car kit allows you to synchronise your own individual phone books too. This ensures that only the numbers associated with that phone are available at any one time. There are multiple additional features for various bluetooth kits, such as voice recognition dialling and last-number redial, which can make life even exceptionally easier.

Aesthetics

While not a consideration that’s quite as crucial as the others, it’s likely still something you’ll be bearing in mind if you’ve spent a lot of money on your car and you spend a lot of time looking after the interior. You may want your handsfree kit to appear as if it came with your car. With a range of car-specific models to choose from here at Car Communications, you’ll be able to choose something that works with your existing car stereo and steering wheel controls, and doesn’t attract unwanted attention from unscrupulous passers-by when you’re not in the vehicle.

Should you fit yours yourself, or get it professionally installed?

That’s really up to you! While some of our makes come with easy DIY instructions, such as our Dension Universal Compact Bluetooth Kit, that doesn’t necessarily mean you absolutely have to fit them yourself. Some also require fitting accessories like stereo adaptor leads/SOT leads. If you’re not confident messing with your car’s electrics, or not keen on drilling into your dashboard, we’re here to help. At Car Communications, we offer a nationwide fitting service so that you don’t have to worry about wiring looms, leads or connectors. We’re happy to come to fit them at your home, or even your workplace.

Quality - guaranteed

It’s worth noting that the leading brands of handsfree bluetooth car kits, such as Parrot and Bury, are not the same as the leading car stereo makes, so the chances are that you might not have heard of them. Happily, you’ll be reassured to know that we only sell the products and brands we trust, so you can be confident we’d recommend it. In fact, we personally evaluate all of the handsfree and car audio we supply, so that you can be reassured if we’re happy with it, you will be too. If you don’t understand the difference between the models or brands, or can’t determine what you really need, we’re happy to help you!

You can shop our wide range of bluetooth handsfree car kits right here, or simply give us a call on 01254 694 537 to speak with one of our friendly experts.