Modern car radios, including those already installed on new cars, are equipped with an integrated Bluetooth receiver, very useful for making hands-free calls and listening to music saved in the device's internal memory or streaming from services such as Spotify, YouTube Music and the like. In fact, Bluetooth has become one of the most used functions on all new cars, given that more and more apps are able to integrate with the on-board computer, bringing the mobile experience also inside the car (always in maximum safety), also thanks to the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay operating systems. However, if we have a car radio from a few years ago that does not have a Bluetooth receiver, we can take advantage of some innovative and inexpensive systems to add Bluetooth
in any car, without having to change the whole car! The recommended methods will allow you to integrate Bluetooth and to be able to connect any smartphone wirelessly, so as to answer calls without touching the phone and listen to streaming music at the highest quality.
How to add Bluetooth in the car
Based on the type of car radio and car in our possession, we have collected below all the methods that we can use to add Bluetooth in the car, while spending very low figures in most cases.Bluetooth AUX receivers
The simplest Bluetooth receivers that we can use have an AUX socket, so that they can be connected to the AUX input on the car radio or on the dashboard of the car.
The smaller models have an internal rechargeable battery (via USB cable and cigarette lighter) and can be positioned directly on the AUX socket, so as to reduce the overall dimensions to a minimum. Once connected, you can connect up to two phones with Bluetooth technology to the receiver, so that you can send the audio of calls and music apps to the speakers of our car.
The best models of Bluetooth AUX receivers are available below:
- Bluetooth receiver, Wireless Audio Adapter with 3.5mm Aux output (7 €)
- Alfort Bluetooth 4.1 Receiver, Wireless Bluetooth Mini Receiver Adapter (8 €)
- Bluetooth Receiver / Car Kit, WisFox (8 €)
- TaoTronics A2DP Bluetooth Receiver, Wireless Adapter (12 €)
- Mpow Bluetooth 5.0 A2DP Receiver (14 €)
Bluetooth FM receivers
If our car radio or car is too old to have an AUX input, we can use Bluetooth FM receivers to bring the technology even to cars older than the 2000s.
These small receivers connect to the cigarette lighter socket for electricity and transmit on FM frequency (the same as radio stations); to use them, simply choose a free frequency with the integrated selector, tune the car radio to the same frequency and finally connect our Bluetooth smartphone to the receiver. From now on the audio of the calls and the audio of the music apps of the phone will be transmitted on the assigned FM frequency, so as to be audible also on the old car radio. In addition to transmitting sound, these small devices also offer charging outlets for your cell phone, so you can recharge while listening to music or making calls.
The best models of Bluetooth FM receivers are available below:
- Bovon Wireless FM Car Bluetooth Transmitter (16 €)
- Car Bluetooth 4.2 FM Transmitter with QC 3.0 Bluetooth Radio (€ 16)
- Mpow Bluetooth FM Transmitter, FM Car Radio Transmitter (17 €)
- Car Bluetooth FM Transmitter, Radio Adapter (17 €)
- Nulaxy Bluetooth FM transmitter with screen (19 €)
Portable Bluetooth hands-free kit
A very practical high method to add Bluetooth in the car involves the use of portable Bluetooth speakers, adapted to be fixed in a particular point of the car (Bluetooth hands-free kit).
These devices are positioned on the sun visor on the driver's side and allow you to integrate Bluetooth for calls from your smartphone or to launch voice commands from Google or Siri. They are less practical for listening to music, since the audio would only come from the driver's side without spreading throughout the interior.
The best models of portable Bluetooth handsfree kits are available below:
- Smake Bluetooth 4.1 Car Handsfree with Voice Control (18 €)
- AGPTEK Bluetooth 4.2 Car Handsfree with Voice Command (19 €)
- Besign BK02 Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit (19 €)
- Aigoss Bluetooth 4.2 Handsfree for Car with Siri and Google Assistant (19 €)
- Avantree CK11 Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit (29 €)
New Bluetooth car radio
If our car allows you to change the car radio, we can choose a new car radio with an integrated Bluetooth receiver, so as not to have to use any new external devices.
We will only have to remove the old car radio and place the new one, taking care to reconnect all the cables (we can be helped by an electrician in this type of work). Once the new car radio is positioned, simply connect the smartphone to it via Bluetooth and start playing the desired music; modern car radios are also capable of handling incoming calls, so that you can answer and stop music without having to take your hands off the wheel.
The best Bluetooth car radios that we can buy for our car are available below:
- Majestic SD 249 BT RDS USB AX - Bluetooth car radio (33 €)
- Sony DSX-A410BT Car Radio without CD Player, Dual Bluetooth (69 €)
- Pioneer S300 0bt multifunctional CD car radio with Bluetooth (76 €)
- Kenwood KMM-BT304 Digital Car Radio (76 €)
- JVC KD-T702BT - Car radio with double Bluetooth handsfree (99 €)
Conclusions
With a very small expense, we can add Bluetooth to any car, so you can listen to streaming music without limits using the car speakers. If we don't like having too many devices connected in the dashboard and the car radio is replaceable, the most comfortable way is surely the replacement of the car radio with a newer one with Bluetooth support.In another guide we showed you how to connect your smartphone in the car: support, music, speakerphone and charger .
If Bluetooth does not work, just read the advice in our guide on What to do if Bluetooth does not connect .
Do we have a desktop PC without a Bluetooth connection? In this case, we advise you to read our article on How to Add Bluetooth to your PC with an adapter .
