Air Vent Car Mounts

A phone holder on the air vent

An air vent holder clips onto one of the slats of the car's air vent and holds the phone at about the height of the dashboard. It is the most common kind of car holder, because it fits most cars, goes on and comes off in seconds and leaves nothing stuck to the dashboard or the windscreen. It suits a hire or company car, and anyone who moves a holder between cars.

The kinds of vent holder here

• Hook clips with a lock. A steel hook reaches behind the slat and a turning lock tightens it, so the holder cannot slide off on a bumpy road. The one here has a silicone pad behind the phone and non-slip lining in the arms.
• Plain clips. A spring clip pinches the slat. It is the simplest and lightest kind, and fine for a smaller phone on firm slats.
• Gravity clamps. The side arms close as the weight of the phone presses down on the base, and open again as you lift it out, so it goes in and out with one hand.

Most of the vent holders here turn round, so the phone can sit upright or on its side for a wider map.

How to choose an air vent holder

Look at your vents first. Round vents, very thin slats and upright slats suit some clips and not others, and in some cars the only good vent sits behind the steering wheel or too low to glance at. Pick a vent near the middle of the car, where the phone is in sight without leaning.

Then think about weight. Vent slats are thin plastic, and a large phone in a heavy case can pull a weak slat down. A hook clip spreads the load better than a plain clip. If your phone is big and heavy, a dashboard holder may suit it better.

Each holder states the phone sizes it takes. Most give the screen size in inches, some give the width the arms open to, and a thick case adds to both, so measure your phone in its case before you choose.

Questions people ask about air vent holders

Will the heater harm my phone?

In winter the vent blows hot air onto the back of the phone, and a phone running maps and charging is warm already. Apple says an iPhone is made for use between 0 and 35°C. Close that vent, or turn its flow away, while the phone is on it.

Is a vent holder legal?

Yes, if you do not hold the phone and it does not block your view of the road. It is illegal to hold and use a phone while driving, even at traffic lights. The guide to car phone holders and the law sets out the rules.

Can I charge the phone on a vent holder?

Yes, by cable from a car charger. A short cable keeps the wire away from the gear lever.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• Dashboard car mounts
• Windscreen car mounts
• Magnetic car mounts
• All car phone holders
• Car chargers
• Guide: Car phone holders: vent, dashboard or windscreen, and the law