If you use your phone for maps, music, or calls, a phone holder is one of the safest ways to keep things hands-free. But where you mount it matters. In Australia, the rules and enforcement focus on distraction, touching the phone while driving, and whether your view of the road is obstructed.
This guide is practical and written for everyday drivers. For fines and licence conditions, always check your state or territory road authority for the latest wording.
In most places, a safe and generally accepted setup looks like this:
These placements are usually the safest choices because they reduce obstruction and keep your eyes closer to the road.
If you use a windscreen mount, keep it as low as practical, near the dashboard line. The higher it sits, the more likely it is to obstruct your view and draw unwanted attention.
Good examples:
A low dashboard mount is often a solid option because it is stable and less likely to block your forward vision compared to a high windscreen mount.
Good examples:
Vent mounts can be practical, especially in smaller cars where dashboard space is limited. The key is that the phone must be securely mounted and should not wobble or slip out on bumpy roads.
Caution:
Avoid mounting your phone holder:
Even if the phone is legal to use hands-free, a mount that blocks your view or interferes with safety systems is a bad idea.
Many drivers assume a holder makes phone use legal. That is not always true.
In several states and territories, learner and provisional drivers have very strict restrictions, and in some cases must not use a phone at all while driving, even if it is in a holder and even if it is hands-free. Full licence drivers often have more flexibility, but rules still limit when you can touch the phone.
If you are on L plates or P plates, treat phone interaction as a high risk activity and follow your local rules closely.
A phone holder reduces the risk of holding the phone, but it does not automatically make it legal to tap and scroll.
A safer habit, regardless of state:
Use this before you stick anything onto your car.
If you want the simplest, lowest risk option for most drivers:
Mount the phone low, keep it out of airbag zones, and use it mainly as a display for navigation. Set everything up before you move, and avoid touching it while driving unless your local rules clearly allow it.