Car Chargers

Charging a phone in the car

A car charger plugs into the car's power socket, the round one once used for cigarette lighters, and turns the car's 12-volt supply into USB power. It keeps a phone running maps or music charged on a long drive, and it is often far quicker than the USB socket built into the car. Many of those built-in sockets are there mainly to connect the phone to the car's screen and give only a little power, so a phone running directions can charge slowly or not at all. The car's handbook says what each one supplies.

The kinds of car charger here

• Dual-port fast chargers have USB Power Delivery on USB-C, with a second socket so a passenger can charge too. Some come with two USB-C sockets, others with one USB-C and one USB-A for older cables, and they list several fast-charging systems besides PD.
• High-power chargers go up to 100W, enough for a tablet or a laptop that charges over USB-C as well as a phone. The figure is the most the charger gives, shared between its sockets.
• Chargers with a display show the charging status of each socket, so you can see at a glance that both are working.

How to choose a car charger

For fast charging, look for USB PD on a USB-C socket and a wattage that suits the phone: a charger of 20W to 45W covers fast charging on most recent phones, and a bigger one simply holds the rest back. Check the input if you drive a lorry or a large van, as some run on 24 volts rather than 12, and the input printed on the charger says which it takes. The charger should sit firmly in the socket, because a loose one loses contact over bumps, and a poor contact gets warm.

Then think about the cable. It needs to reach the phone's holder without being stretched across the controls or catching on the gear lever and handbrake. Short cables and right-angle cables help, and a USB-C to USB-C cable carries the fast charge. Car chargers sit under the general UK rule that every product sold to the public must be safe; the guide to choosing a safe phone charger covers what to look for.

Questions people ask about car chargers

Should I leave the charger plugged in?

In some cars the socket stays live when the engine is off. Unplug the charger when you leave the car, so it cannot drain the battery, and do not leave a charger or a phone in a parked car in hot sun.

Can I use my phone for directions while it charges?

Yes, if it sits in a holder that does not block your view of the road and you do not hold it. It is illegal to hold and use a phone while driving, even stopped at traffic lights. See car phone holders, wireless charging car mounts that charge as they hold, and the guide to car phone holders and the law.

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

• Car phone holders
• Wireless charging car mounts
• For drivers
• Short cables
• Right-angle cables
• Wall chargers
• Guide: Which charging cable does my phone need?
• Guide: Car phone holders: vent, dashboard or windscreen, and the law