Millions of drivers use sat nav tools every day to help them get around, but if you make one mistake with the navigation systems, you could be looking at a fine of up to £1,000
At the end of 2024, there were approximately 41.7 million licensed vehicles in the UK, and while not everyone uses a vehicle to get around, millions of cars, lorries, and motorcycles are still on UK roads every day. Of those 41.7 million vehicles, the vast majority will have access to some sort of satellite navigation (sat nav) system, even if they don’t always use it.
You might not need a sat nav to get you to your local supermarket or to pick up your kids from school, but you might want to use your phone’s map app or a separate sat nav device to navigate your way to a shop you’ve never been to before. Delivery drivers may also regularly use navigation tools to help them find your address.
But did you know that in some cases, using a sat nav – whether it’s on your phone or its own device – could land you a hefty £1,000 fine? Motoring law solicitor Stephen Oldham shared a video on TikTok in which he addressed a common question he gets asked about whether it’s okay to use your phone in your car if you’re using it to access a map.
In short, he said the outcome depends on one very important factor – whether or not the phone is in your hand.
He said: “There are two different scenarios. The first is if you are using the phone in your hand, and the second one is if you’re not using the phone in your hand.
“If you are driving and using a mobile phone as a sat nav, and you are holding the phone in your hand, you commit an offence. In fact, it’s an offence to hold a mobile phone and use it for pretty much any function at all. If you are prosecuted for that, you’ll get six points and a fine. Either as a fixed penalty or a court appearance.
“That’s very clear. You may not use a mobile phone in your hand as a sat nav or for anything else when you’re driving. That includes being stopped at traffic lights or being stuck in traffic. You’re still considered to be driving at that point.”
However, using your phone as a sat nav when it’s propped up or securely in a holder is “not prohibited,” according to Stephen. He insisted that using your phone this way is “normally okay,” but you still must not use your hands to operate the phone’s controls while driving.
He continued: “If the phone has been set up before you start your journey, or you operate it by voice control, or if you use some sort of screen on your car, that’s normally okay.
“It’s very unlikely you’ll be prosecuted for anything if you’re using your phone in that way. But there are a couple of things you have to watch out for. Even if you’re using the sat nav, you always have to watch out for the way you’re driving.
“If looking at the sat nav means you’re not paying proper attention to the road and something goes wrong, you can be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention. You could even be prosecuted for not being in proper control of the vehicle. But the general rule is, as long as you’ve not got the phone in your hand, it’s okay to use it as a sat nav.”
What does the law say about using a sat nav while driving?
The law is the same whether you’re using your phone as a navigation device or have a separate satellite navigation tool. It is illegal to hold and use a phone, satellite navigation, tablet, or any device that can send or receive data while driving or riding a motorcycle.
The law still applies if you’re stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic, supervising a learner driver, driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving, or holding and using a device that’s in offline or flight mode.
The exceptions to this law only apply if you need to make a 999 or 112 call in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop, if you’re safely parked, if you’re making a contactless payment in a vehicle that’s not moving (for example: at a drive-through restaurant), or if you’re using the device to park your vehicle remotely.
You can use devices with hands-free access as long as you do not hold them at any time during usage. These include devices activated by Bluetooth headsets, voice commands, and windscreen mounts.
Failing to follow this law can result in six penalty points on your licence, as well as a fine of £200. If you are taken to court over the offence, you could be banned from driving and receive a maximum fine of £1,000, or £2,500 if you’re driving a lorry or a bus.