Is it legal to mount a phone on the windscreen in the UK?

This page summarises official guidance and legislation. It is not legal advice. If you face a charge, speak to a solicitor.

The hand-held phone law

GOV.UK states that it is illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any device that can send or receive data while driving or riding a motorcycle. That applies whether the device is online or offline, and also when you are stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic, or supervising a learner.

The rule was tightened by the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022, made on 26 January 2022 and in force from 25 March 2022. They widened regulation 110 of the Construction and Use Regulations so that "using" a hand-held device includes, among other things, lighting up the screen, checking the time or notifications, unlocking it, taking photos or video, and accessing an app or the internet. They also added an exemption for contactless payments made while the vehicle is stationary.

Highway Code rule 149 says you must not use a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device capable of interactive communication, for any purpose when driving or supervising a learner driver.

Mounting the phone: the "full view" requirement

Hands-free use is allowed as long as you do not hold the device. GOV.UK lists a dashboard holder or mat, a windscreen mount, a Bluetooth headset, voice command and a built-in sat nav as hands-free options, with one condition: the device must not block your view of the road and traffic ahead.

That condition has legal weight. Regulation 104 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 makes it an offence to drive in a position where you cannot keep proper control or have a full view of the road and traffic ahead. GOV.UK says you can get 3 penalty points if you do not have a full view of the road and traffic ahead. Regulation 30 of the same regulations requires glass to be kept in a condition that does not obscure the driver's vision. Highway Code rule 229, on preparing a car in bad weather, cites regulation 30 when it says you must be able to see, clearing all snow and ice from all your windows.

The MOT and the swept area

The MOT inspection manual is the clearest guide to where not to put anything. It defines zone A as the part of the windscreen's swept area that is 290 mm wide and centred on the steering wheel. An obstruction in the swept area that significantly affects the driver's view of the road is a major defect, and testers can remove items such as a sat nav that obstruct the view.

Where to put a windscreen mount

• Outside the area directly in front of the steering wheel, never in your line of sight to the road ahead.
• Low enough that it does not hide junctions, cyclists or pedestrians on your side of the car.
• Where you can see the screen without leaning or stretching, so you never feel the need to pick it up.
• If you cannot find such a spot, use a dashboard or vent mount instead.

Common mistakes

• Mounting the phone in the middle of the driver's side of the screen, inside zone A.
• Taking the phone out of the mount to change a song or reply to a message at the lights.
• Assuming that a phone in flight mode or offline is exempt. It is not.
• Setting the sat nav route while driving.

Related reading

• Phone mount attachment types
• Why does my phone holder keep falling off the vent?
• Choosing a dash cam mount for your windscreen
• Our phone mount picks

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my phone as a sat nav in a windscreen mount?

Yes, hands-free. GOV.UK lists a windscreen mount as a hands-free option, as long as you do not hold the phone and it does not block your view of the road and traffic ahead. Highway Code rule 150 adds that you must have full control over in-vehicle systems such as sat navs at all times. Set the route before you set off.

Can I touch the phone while it is in the holder?

GOV.UK says hands-free devices are allowed as long as you do not hold them at any time during usage. It also says you must stay in full control of the vehicle, and police can stop you if you appear distracted. Highway Code rule 149 warns that using hands-free equipment is also likely to distract your attention from the road.

Can I use my phone at traffic lights or in a queue?

Not hand-held. GOV.UK says the law still applies when you are stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic. The exceptions are calling 999 or 112 in an emergency when it is unsafe or impractical to stop, being safely parked, making a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving, and using the phone to park the car remotely.

What are the penalties?

For holding and using a phone: 6 penalty points and a £200 fine, according to GOV.UK, and you lose your licence if you passed your test in the last 2 years. You can get 3 penalty points if you do not have a full view of the road and traffic ahead. If the case goes to court, you can be banned and fined up to £1,000, or £2,500 for a lorry or bus driver.

Will a windscreen phone mount fail the MOT?

It can count against the car if it blocks the view. The MOT inspection manual says testers can remove items such as a sat nav that obstruct the driver's view of the road, and an obstruction in the swept area that significantly affects the driver's view is a major defect. Taking the mount off before the test avoids the question.