Is Your Car's Touchscreen A Legal Liability?

Touchscreens have replaced many of the buttons and dials drivers once used without looking. Changing the heating, selecting music, or entering a destination can now mean working through several menus whilst the car is moving.

With distraction-detection technology and AI-assisted roadside enforcements becoming common in 2026, where does the law draw the line?  This guide explains how UK laws apply to built-in touchscreens, CarPlay, mounted phones and video playback, as well as the latest changes drivers need to know about.

Is it illegal to touch the screen in your car?

It is not automatically illegal to touch a built-in car touchscreen, but you must stay in control and keep your attention on the road.

While simply touching or tapping an integrated display isn’t a specific offence, Rule 150 of the Highway Code warns drivers about distraction from navigation, multimedia and vehicle management systems.

A quick temperature adjustment may require little attention. Searching for an address, scrolling through music or working through several menus is more likely to draw your eyes away from the road and could lead to prosecution if it affects your control or standard of driving.

If a task needs more than a brief glance, wait until you have parked somewhere safe. Just because a function is available when the car is moving does not necessarily mean it is safe to use.

Are CarPlay screens legal in the UK?

Yes. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and other dashboard interfaces are all legal when used safely.

CarPlay itself does not have its own set of specific driving laws. The same rules apply to any car touchscreen display: it must not block your view, and using it must not prevent you from maintaining proper control of the vehicle.

The interface of a system like CarPlay can make apps easier to access. However, it can still become distracting if you start reading messages, searching through playlists, or entering a new destination while moving.

Using voice or steering-wheel controls where possible, and leave longer tasks until you are safely parked.

Can you touch your phone in the cradle while driving?

Touching a securely mounted phone is not automatically a breach of the handheld-device ban. But you can still be prosecuted if it distracts you or affects your driving.

The law bans holding and using a handheld phone, sat nav, tablet or another device capable of sending or receiving data while driving. This also applies while you are stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic.

A device fixed in a cradle is not being held. However, police can still take action if repeated tapping, scrolling or typing leaves you without proper control of the car.

For a fuller breakdown of mounted devices, hands-free calls and phone use at traffic lights, read our guide to UK mobile phone driving laws.

Is it illegal to have video playing in a car?

Yes. It is illegal to drive while a film, programme, social media clip or other  entertainment video is visible from the driver’s seat,

This applies whether the video is playing on a phone, portable screen or built-in display, and whether the driver can see it directly or in a reflection. 

Under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, screens showing information that supports the driving task are permitted, including:

• Sat nav directions
• Vehicle information and settings
• Reversing and parking-camera footage
• Displays showing the road around the vehicle 

A passenger can watch entertainment content, provided the screen cannot be seen by the driver directly or in a reflection. If you are listening to a video or podcast, keep the screen outside the driver’s view and use the audio only.

What penalties can touchscreen distraction lead to? 

The penalty depends on what you were doing and how your use of the screen affected your control or standard of driving.

A driver will not automatically receive the most serious charge because they touched a display. Police and courts will consider how long their attention was diverted, whether control was affected and whether their driving fell below the required standard.

New drivers should be particularly careful. Receiving six or more points within two years of passing a first driving test will normally result in the licence being revoked.

What are the latest updates on distracted driving?

The rules for drivers remain broadly the same, but 2026 has brought wider use of technology designed to detect and reduce roadside distraction.

Holding and using a phone while driving still carries a £200 fixed penalty and six points. Using a touchscreen or mounted device can lead to prosecution if it affects your control, blocks your view or causes your driving to fall below the required standard. 

The main developments include:

• Advanced Driver Distraction Warning: Under the EU’s General Safety Regulation, or GSR2, new vehicles registered in Northern Ireland must feature Advanced Driver Distraction Warning systems. These monitor where the driver is looking and issue an alert when their attention remains away from the road.
• Future requirements in Great Britain: Following its 2026 Road Safety Strategy and consultation, the UK Government confirmed plans to introduce distraction-warning technology through the Great Britain vehicle type-approval system once the necessary legislation is in place.
• More AI-assisted roadside enforcement: Police forces are increasingly using high-definition cameras to identify suspected handheld phone use and seatbelt offences. Images flagged by the technology are reviewed by trained staff before enforcement action is considered.
• Greater focus on physical controls: Euro NCAP’s updated safety testing gives more credit to cars with accessible buttons or dials for important functions, rather than placing every control within a touchscreen menu

These updates do not create a separate offence for touching a built-in car display. They do make distraction easier to detect and place greater pressure on manufacturers to design safer in-car systems. 

How can you use your car touchscreen safely?

Set up anything that requires sustained attention before moving, and keep adjustments brief once you are on the road.

Useful habits include:

• Entering your destination before setting off
• Choosing music or a podcast in advance
• Using voice commands or steering-wheel controls
• Keeping commonly used functions on the main menu
• Switching off unnecessary notifications
• Asking a passenger to make changes
• Pulling over safely before typing or searching through menus

If you are fitting an aftermarket touchscreen for your car, mount it securely and make sure it is not obstructing your view of the road.

It’s worth remembering that driving distractions are not limited to digital devices. Eating, changing controls, looking at passengers and even becoming too absorbed in audio content can all affect your concentration behind the wheel.

How you can stay focused and road-ready

Car touchscreens now make our journeys easier, but any task that takes your attention away from the road should wait until you’re safely parked. 

Safe driving also depends on keeping your vehicle in good condition. If your car is due an MOT or service, book an appointment at your local Kwik Fit centre. Our Kwik Fit technicians can inspect essential components and help keep your vehicle safe, reliable and road-ready.

For more advice on driving laws, vehicle technology and maintenance, keep up with the latest articles on the Kwik Fit blog.