When I lived outside of the city and had a car, the commute into work was always close to unbearable. I couldn't reach anything in the backseat, I always made a mess of my breakfast and worst of all, I couldn't touch my phone.

Over time, I learned some tricks to make the car ride more bearable. I put my phone in the sun visor for hands free calling, used straws in my coffee so not to spill, and played the radio once in a while for variety from my Spotify playlist. I also learned that smart devices and apps made all the difference — here's six to help you too.

Raven

GearBrain

Raven is a security device for your car — and a great option for those who park their vehicles on the street, or even in a secure lot. You can track your car's health, location, its performance and get alerts on your smartphone, even while you're in the office or at school with the $299 Raven. There's also navigation built in to the device as well.

Buy Raven on Amazon

GearBrain Road Trip Gadget Guidewww.youtube.com

Owl Car Cam: The Smart Dash Camera That Sends Video to Your Phone — Driving & Parked. Dual HD Cameras, Video Alerts, Live View, History, 2-Way Talk, A.I. Crash Response.

List Price: $349.00

New From: $349.00in Stock