This guide walks through practical, tech-focused adjustments you can make in the car you already own. No dealership visits required—just a bit of time, your owner’s manual, and a willingness to poke around the settings menu.
Dial In Your Driver Assistance Features (Instead of Leaving Them on Default)
Most cars ship with driver assistance features set to “one-size-fits-all,” which often means they’re too sensitive, too intrusive, or not tuned to how you actually drive. That’s why so many people end up turning them off entirely.
Start with adaptive cruise control and lane keeping. In many vehicles, you can adjust following distance, steering assist strength, and alert volume. If your lane-keeping keeps nudging you too aggressively, try stepping down to a less intrusive mode rather than disabling it altogether. A slightly longer following distance on adaptive cruise can decrease constant braking and reduce fatigue on the highway.
Look for forward collision warning and blind spot monitoring settings, too. You can usually fine-tune when alerts trigger (early vs. late), and how loudly they sound. Set alerts slightly earlier if you drive in heavy traffic or aren’t always fully focused, and slightly later if you’re a very attentive driver who finds constant warnings annoying. The goal is to shape the tech so it’s a trusted co-driver, not a nag.
Optimize Your Infotainment for Fewer Distractions
Your infotainment system can either streamline your drive or hijack your attention. A one-time setup session can make it the former.
Start by cleaning up the home screen: remove or hide apps you never use (like built-in services you’ve replaced with smartphone apps) and keep navigation, audio, and phone access front and center. If your car supports Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, ensure they’re set to auto-connect and that your primary navigation and music apps are pinned or favorited.
Next, adjust notification settings. Many systems let you limit how and when text messages are read out or displayed. Choose audio read-outs over on-screen pop-ups where possible, and disable non-essential notifications that tempt you to glance at the screen. Pair your phone once, confirm contacts and favorites sync correctly, and then stop fiddling while driving—if the system is set up well, you should rarely need to touch your phone at all.
Finally, explore voice commands. Spend 10 minutes parked experimenting with phrases for navigation (“Take me home”), calling contacts, and changing audio sources. Voice control accuracy has improved a lot; the more you use it, the less time your eyes spend off the road.
Make Your Navigation Smarter Than Just “Shortest Route”
Navigation is more powerful than just getting you from A to B. A few adjustments can make it a strategic tool that saves time, fuel, and stress.
First, ensure real-time traffic is enabled, whether via your built-in system or phone-based apps. Many OEM systems default to basic routing; traffic avoidance may need to be toggled on. Set your preferred routing strategy: “fastest” is usually best, but if you hate highways or tolls, make sure your system knows that. That small change can eliminate recurring frustration on daily routes.
Save key locations—home, work, fuel stations you trust, and frequently visited places like your child’s school or gym. Most navigation apps and systems let you customize favorites and organize them for quick access. This matters when you’re stressed or in a hurry; you want a single tap or voice command, not endless typing.
If your vehicle shows live EV or fuel range, turn on range-aware routing if available. EV drivers can enable automatic charging stop suggestions based on your battery level and speed; gasoline drivers can usually see low-fuel alerts tied into navigation to quickly locate nearby stations. Keeping this data visible while driving lets you make informed decisions without guessing how far you can push your tank or battery.
Use Built-In Vehicle Data to Drive and Maintain Smarter
Modern cars constantly collect useful data—you just need to surface it. That information can help you reduce running costs and catch small issues before they get expensive.
Begin by customizing your instrument cluster or driver display. Many cars let you choose what’s shown: real-time fuel economy, tire pressures, oil life, battery voltage, or driver-assist status. For daily driving, displaying average and instant fuel economy can subtly coach you into smoother acceleration and more efficient cruising. EV owners should prioritize consumption metrics (e.g., kWh/100 km or mi/kWh) and range estimation to understand how speed and climate settings affect efficiency.
Next, learn your car’s maintenance reminder system. Note where upcoming service alerts appear and what each icon means—oil change, brake service, tire rotation, etc. If your vehicle offers a companion app, enable notifications so you see reminders on your phone as well as in the dash. Use that data to schedule service on your terms rather than waiting for warning lights when you’re already busy.
If your car offers downloadable or over-the-air (OTA) updates, check periodically for new firmware. Some updates improve transmission behavior, charging performance, or driver assistance tuning—not just infotainment. Just make sure you perform these updates when the car can sit safely parked for the required time, and review release notes to understand what changed.
Configure Lighting, Cameras, and Parking Aids for Real-World Conditions
Visibility and parking are where tech can make your car feel instantly more expensive and easier to live with—if you take a moment to set things up.
Start with your exterior lighting settings. Enable automatic headlights if your car has them, and confirm that automatic high beams are turned on if you drive regularly on dark, low-traffic roads. If your car supports adjustable daytime running light brightness or welcome/exit lighting, set them so you can approach and leave the car in the dark more confidently without blinding others.
Next, adjust your rearview camera and parking sensor behavior. Many cars let you choose gridline style, brightness, contrast, and whether the camera remains on briefly after shifting out of reverse. Take a few minutes in an empty parking lot to test and tune these settings so you can clearly see curbs, parking lines, and obstacles in your typical driving conditions (daylight, night, rain if possible).
If your vehicle has a 360-degree or “surround view” camera system, learn how to switch among views—front, side, trailer, curbside—and where the shortcut buttons are located. Use it proactively when pulling into tight spots or around pillars, not just when the car automatically enables it. Pair this with properly calibrated parking sensors and you’ll reduce risk of low-speed scrapes and make tight city parking feel much less stressful.
Conclusion
You don’t need a new car to get more from automotive tech—you just need to tame the systems you already have. Tuning driver assistance, infotainment, navigation, vehicle data, and visibility tools to your preferences turns them from generic features into a customized driving toolkit.
Spend an hour parked in your driveway walking through these settings with your owner’s manual or on-screen help. The payoff is a daily drive that’s calmer, safer, and more efficient, with tech working in the background instead of fighting for your attention.
Sources
- [U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Advanced Driver Assistance Systems](https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/driver-assistance-technologies) - Overview of common driver assistance features and how they improve safety
- [AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety – Vehicle Technology & Automation Research](https://aaafoundation.org/technology-and-automation/) - Research on how drivers interact with in-vehicle technologies and best practices for use
- [Consumer Reports – Guide to Car Safety Features](https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-safety-features-guide-a1067221369/) - Detailed explanations of modern safety and driver-assist systems and their real-world value
- [Edmunds – How to Use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto](https://www.edmunds.com/car-technology/how-to-use-apple-carplay-and-android-auto.html) - Practical setup and usage tips for smartphone integration in vehicles
- [U.S. Department of Energy – Fuel-Efficient Driving Tips](https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.jsp) - Explains how driving behavior and simple adjustments can improve fuel economy