Where to Place your Sat-Nav in your Car

Last updated on February 27th, 2024What does this mean?

Sat-nav devices have now become an essential for most vehicles, with drivers doing away with traditional maps in favour of a smaller, more direct visual aid.

What many people seem to have forgotten however, is that you’re not supposed to have anything blocking your view of the road or your mirrors according to the Highway Code. This is not something you’re likely to get pulled over for if you’re sensible, but it’s worth putting more consideration into where to place your sat-nav in your car.

Where to Place Your Sat-Nav

• Always make sure that you are parked before positioning your sat-nav in your car, we don’t want you to have any accidents whilst driving.

Every vehicle differs in terms of seat height, window size and dashboard shape, so there isn’t a definitive answer to suit everyone. The best thing to do is find a device which mounts to your dashboard, away from your windscreen. What you have to keep in mind when sticking a device to your windscreen, is how your view is affected by the placement.

Where is the best position to put my sat-nav in the car?

Ideally, the sat nav should be placed in the bottom right corner of the car windscreen so that you can see most of the road. If this is not possible, place the sat nav as the lowest point in the windscreen. 

In general try and follow the points below:

• Keep it low down: By placing your sat-nav at the very bottom of your windscreen you keep the vast majority of your view unimpeded.
• Keep it to the side: If you can keep it down to your right- or left-hand side, out of your general view, do so. Placing the device directly in front of you is a big no-no, you can however place it in the centre of your windscreen as long as it is low down.
• Don’t trail the wire: If you have to keep your device plugged in, make sure the wire doesn’t hang across the driver.

There is some advice online which claims one of the best places to stick your sat-nav is on the side window, but considering you’re required to have a clear view of your side mirrors, it is not advisable to place your device here.

Can I Use My Mobile Phone for Sat Nav While Driving?

You can use your mobile phone for sat nav whilst driving but only if your phone is in a hands-free position. The phone must be mounted in a place that does not affect the driver’s view of the road, and the driver is not allowed to press any buttons on the device whilst driving.

Rules 149 and 150 of the Highway Code dictate that a driver must always be in control of a vehicle – fiddling with your phone could put you in breach of these rules. This applies to being stopped at traffic lights, too – make sure to set your route before you begin your journey.

Is it Legal to Put a Sat-nav on Your Windscreen?

Technically, you can be pulled over for having a sat-nav on your windscreen, but barring a ridiculous placement of the device, you’re unlikely to be stopped. So, while the letter of the law makes it illegal to place a sat-nav on the windscreen, you can stay on the right side of the law by following advice on the appropriate placement for your vehicle.

Other Tips for Sat-nav Use in Your Car

If you need to use a sat-nav, it’s best to place it on your dashboard. Many smartphones now come with a sat-nav app built in, so you can now keep on the right side of the law when it comes to phone usage too.

When your sat-nav is not in use, take it off the windscreen or dashboard and store it somewhere out of sight. You’re more likely to have your vehicle broken into if you leave such a valuable item in plain view.

Damage to Your Windscreen

If your windscreen has suffered damage it could be impacting your view of the road, putting you and other road users at risk. For windscreen repairs or replacements, look no further than The Windscreen Company. We provide a mobile service, coming to your aid at the roadside or at your commercial premises.

Contact our professional team on 0800 998 1068 for more details or to book a visit.

The Windscreen Company

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The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.

The Windscreen Company's, help-and-advice pages offer valuable tips and guidance on maintaining vehicle safety through quality windscreen care, while also featuring updated industry realted content.

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