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Easy car upgrades under £200: make an older car feel newer

By Lewis Whitter, wedding & events photographer (11+ years) · How we pick

Easy car upgrades under £200: make an older car feel newer — Photo: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0. Credits

You don't need a new car to get the stuff that makes new cars nice to drive. Most of what people love about a modern dashboard, like maps on a screen, hands-free calls and music from your phone, can be added to an older car for a fraction of the price. Each upgrade here can be done for under £200 if you pick a mid-range model, and most need no tools at all.

Prices move, so check the live price before you buy. For more ideas, see our easy car upgrades page.

1. A CarPlay or Android Auto screen

This is the biggest upgrade for the money. A portable dash screen sits on the dashboard or windscreen, plugs into the 12V socket and mirrors your phone's maps, music and messages using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. No need to rip out your stereo.

What to look for: wireless CarPlay and Android Auto (so your phone can stay in your pocket), a screen bright enough for sunny days, and a way to get sound to your speakers. Most screens send audio over an FM signal or an AUX cable; AUX sounds better if your car has the socket.

If your car already has wired CarPlay, you don't need a screen at all. A small wireless CarPlay adapter plugs into the USB port and lets your phone connect without the cable.

2. A dash cam

A dash cam records the road while you drive. If someone pulls out on you, or claims you hit them, footage can settle the argument quickly. Some insurers ask whether you have one, so it's worth mentioning when you renew.

Front-only is the cheapest way in and covers most accidents.
Front and rear catches people driving into the back of you, which is one of the most common crashes.

Look for a good night picture, a parking mode if you park on the street, and a memory card designed for constant recording. Mount it behind the rear-view mirror so it doesn't block your view.

3. Mount it legally

This one catches people out. GOV.UK says you can use a phone or sat nav hands-free (in a holder, on the dashboard or a windscreen mount), but the device must not block your view of the road and traffic ahead. Holding your phone while driving gets you 6 penalty points and a £200 fine, and you can lose your licence if you passed your test in the last two years. You can also get 3 points if you don't have a full view of the road.

So whichever screen, phone mount or dash cam you buy, put it low on the dash or tucked behind the mirror, set your route before you set off, and don't touch it while you're moving.

4. Bluetooth for an old stereo

If your stereo only has a radio and CD player, a Bluetooth FM transmitter is the cheapest fix. It plugs into the 12V socket, pairs with your phone and plays your music through a spare FM frequency. Most also add USB charging and a button for hands-free calls. Sound quality is fine for podcasts and the radio; it's not audiophile.

5. Better speakers

Factory speakers in older cars are often cheap paper cones that have worn out. Swapping the front door speakers for a decent 6.5-inch pair can make a big difference. It's a weekend job if you're handy: you'll need to take the door card off, and you may need adaptor brackets for your car. Check the speaker size for your exact model first.

6. The small stuff that makes daily driving better

A solid phone mount if you don't want a screen. Vent and dashboard mounts are the usual choices.
A fast USB-C car charger. Old 12V chargers are slow; a modern one can actually charge your phone while it runs maps.

7. Two things for the boot

A portable jump starter: a battery pack that can start a car with a flat battery without needing another car. Keep it charged every few months.
A cordless tyre inflator: check and top up your tyres at home. Correct pressures help grip, braking and fuel use. Your car's pressures are usually on a sticker in the door frame or fuel flap.

Where to start

If you only buy one thing, make it a CarPlay or Android Auto screen if you use your phone for maps, or a dash cam if you do a lot of commuting. Both make an older car feel newer the day you fit them.