Cup Holder Car Mounts

A phone holder in the cup holder

A cup holder mount has a base that twists or screws out to grip the inside of the car's cup holder, with a neck that brings the phone up to where you can see it. Nothing is stuck on and nothing touches the dashboard, the vents or the windscreen. That suits a hire car, a lease car, a dashboard you do not want marked, and a car whose vents or glass will not take a holder.

How a cup holder mount works

• The base is a cylinder that widens as you turn it, until it grips the sides of the cup holder. A good base fits a range of cup holder sizes and has rubber where it touches.
• The neck lifts the phone up out of the console. Some are a fixed post, some bend like a gooseneck, and some slide up and down.
• The cradle at the top grips the phone, with arms that clamp or close under its weight, often on a ball joint so the phone turns.

How to choose a cup holder mount

Height is the thing to think about. Most cup holders are low down by the gear lever, so the phone sits further from your line of sight than on the dashboard or a vent, and you look further down to see it. A taller neck helps, as long as it does not get in the way of the gear lever, the handbrake or the heater controls.

Then measure. Check the cup holder's width against the range the base fits, and check that a shaking neck will not let the phone wobble on a rough road: a shorter, stiffer neck shakes less than a long, bendy one. Each holder states the phone sizes it takes, and a thick case adds to the width.

The cup holder is also where a drink goes, so think about whether you need it, and choose a car with a second one if you do.

Questions people ask about cup holder mounts

Will a cup holder mount fit my car?

Most cars have a round cup holder, and the base widens to fit a range of sizes. Shallow, square or folding cup holders may not grip as well, so look at yours before you choose.

Is it legal to use a phone in a cup holder mount?

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

Can I charge the phone in it?

Yes, by cable from a car charger. A short cable keeps the wire tidy and 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
• Air vent car mounts
• All car phone holders
• Car chargers
• Short cables
• Guide: Car phone holders: vent, dashboard or windscreen, and the law