In the past, we told you how to "iPod your car, " which meant adding some sort of adapter to play music from an iPod through a car's speakers. With iPhones, you can not only play music, but also make hands-free phone calls and use navigation. In this guide, we will show you how to connect your iPhone to your car for sound, which could be music, turn-by-turn navigation, or a phone call. Of course, these solutions can also apply to iPads and iPods.

If you use an Android phone, check out . To make any phone more visible and accessible in a car, while keeping your hands on the wheel, check out this .

Native support
If you are looking to buy a new car, or have bought a car recently, check out our Tech Car Buying Guide. Most new cars come with Bluetooth hands-free calling systems and USB ports that work with your iOS devices for phone calls and music. In the guide, we cover the different options and how they work. Ford's Sync system is one of our favorites, as it demonstrates excellent compatibility and capabilities, while being offered in a wide range of affordable cars. It includes advanced voice control for music playback and phone calls, while also supporting integration with some apps.

We have found that iPhones can be finicky about sending an audio signal out through Bluetooth or the cabled connection to a USB port. For example, if you first plug the iPhone into a car's USB port, then turn on the car, the ensuing Bluetooth connection will take over the audio. If you switch the car's audio source to iPhone, no sound comes through the speakers, but you will get sound over the Bluetooth connection. The workaround is to unplug the iPhone's cable, then plug it back in.

Stereo replacement
We refer to the in-dash stereo in a car as the head unit, as it is the component that sends audio signals to the amp and speakers. This may come as a surprise, but often the most affordable and effective way to add iPhone and iPod support to a car with only a CD or cassette player is to replace its head unit.