Consumer Watch: Apps to make your holiday drive easier

photo Ellen Phillips

The advent of November means Thanksgiving, the most heavily traveled holiday of the year, is fast approaching. Last year, more than 43 million folks traveled at least 50 miles, and 90 percent of them were in automobiles, according to the AAA. Whether your trip is a short hop to a nearby city or a long haul "over the river and through the woods," it's important to know locations for cheap gas stops, the best eateries, dependable and reasonable mechanics, and so forth. New apps can be a driver's best friend, especially during road trips and especially if they're freebies, as are most of the following.

• GasBuddy: An oldie but goodie, GasBuddy allows you to sort stations by price or distance. The app lists prices for all kinds of fuel, from regular to diesel, and has current updates. Helping with turn-by-turn directions, GasBuddy is truly a "buddy" with more than 100,000 stations in the United States and Canada. It works on Android, iPhone and Windows.

• BringFido: For anyone who can't leave a beloved pet behind, this app is the best to help find pet-friendly hotels and restaurants, as well as pet groomers, dog parks and other roadside assistance. Too bad BringFido is available only on iPhone.

• IWrecked: A fender bender or worse doesn't make for a calm situation. However, IWrecked is perfect for letting you know what to do in case of emergency, including taking photos and getting insurance and contact information from the other driver. It also locates the nearest police station, taxi service and towing company. Works on Android and iPhone.

• MyCarLocator: Made for folks like me who can't ever find their car after shopping, this app is so easy. Once you park and exit the vehicle, push a button; the phone's built in GPS guides you back to Old Nellie. One catch, though: if you park anywhere that prevents a call phone signal (i.e. the bottom levels of a parking garage), the app doesn't work. This is an Android app, though iPhone users can look for similar ones.

• RepairPal: Raise your hand if you've ever dealt with an unscrupulous mechanic. When you need car repairs while on the road, this app gives you estimates of just about everything that can go wrong with your vehicle, as well as names of reputable repair businesses. It can even help you find a reliable tow truck. And if you're super organized, RepairPal keeps records and offers service reminders. The app works on both Android and iPhone.

• RoadsideAmerica: Though this app is not free, it's definitely worth it. Listing more than 100,000 nationwide attractions, it can guide you straight to the fun on your trip. It even offers themed trips, such as ghost towns out West or towns where U.S. presidents were born and grew up. It's available for iPhone only.

• Waze: A wonderful navigation app, Waze includes (and helps navigate) traffic jams. The app constantly updates so you can always be sure the info is reliable. It lists local gas prices, gives speed-trap alerts and can be used for Android, iPhone, and Windows.

• Yelp: Readers may have seen this app before in Consumer Watch columns. Originally for restaurant reviews, Yelp, is now a jack of all trades with categories for auto repair, medical care, nightlife and big time shopping. Even better, with more than 61 million reviews, it's a search engine extraordinaire.

Ellen Phillips is a retired English teacher who has written two consumer-oriented books.

Contact her at consumer watch@timesfreepress.com.

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