4 free Android Auto apps that I need for road trips

Libby is a bookworm's best friend

It even supports your local library

There might not be a more uniting cause in all the world than supporting local libraries, and Libby makes it easy to do just that. With just a library card (which can be picked up at your local library for free in many cases), you can access a plethora of e-books and audiobooks to suck up plenty of hours on the road. Libby even has Kindle compatibility for the passenger princess in our lives, which makes the trip easier for everyone involved.

Libby allows libraries to lend more materials than they could with traditional books alone, and also lets libraries know which books currently interest patrons. I've been an Audible user for quite some time, but now, if I'm looking for a new series to start or just a quick read from my anthologies, I check Libby first. The Android Auto app itself works well, and it's become a staple part of my app library.

The Varsity Network is every sports fan's dream

I never miss the big game between either of my favorite teams

TL;DR — I have two degrees from two different universities, both with large athletic departments. That means that my schools play some sport nearly every day, and the Varsity Network app keeps me connected to every part of the action. Truthfully, I can't believe it's free, but it is. Learfield, which owns most of the collegiate radio broadcasts in the country, released this app some time ago and has since added some outstanding functionality. It comes jam-packed with live games, podcasts, and plenty more content from the voices who know your school the best.

All users need to do is pick their favorite teams, and the app will even send push notifications when a game is 30 minutes from start time, so you've got some time to plan your listening venue. As a fan of radio sports broadcasts, this app is one of the most-used on my phone, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Sometimes even your own playlists get boring

Having a real DJ somewhere is something we took for granted

Nobody likes your music taste more than yourself, and that's precisely how it's supposed to be. However, if it's on your own playlist, the chances are you've heard the song before, right? That was the beauty of traditional car radio, and I think we've fallen out of touch with it. Thankfully, RadioTime offers a fantastic solution.

While it might not be jam-packed with your local favorites, it's completely free and streams to some of the largest national radio stations in the country in just about every genre. Personally, there are times when I like not having to pick my own playlists and songs, and a DJ does that for a living. They tend to have pretty good taste.

Knowing the road ahead has never been easier

Scanner lets you hear what's ahead so you can plan accordingly

Just like me, I'm sure you're not worried about your own driving skills, but that of others on the road. I have fond memories of working in a local newsroom that still used a police scanner to let us know what was going on in our immediate area, and the Scanner Radio app lets you do the same thing as a driver.

There is a subscription offering, but it isn't required to access most of the app's content. With Scanner Radio, you can find out what that ambulance that just flew by you is headed towards, or why there's a logjam of traffic 10 miles ahead. Then, you can adjust your route.