A free, open-source app called AARE puts a more flexible car screen on your dash than Android Auto, but it still has one big gap: no Google Maps or Waze.
A free app called AARE can replace Android Auto on your car's screen, and it lets you do things Google's version blocks. A How-To Geek writer tried it in his car and found it easy to set up. It is open source and still an early test version, so it is less steady than Android Auto.
AARE copies the phone side of Android Auto and uses the same method to show up on the car display. The layout feels familiar. Maps fill the main area, media controls sit to the side, and a taskbar can go on the bottom or the side.
The voice assistant runs from the car's voice button and listens through the car's microphone. Some assistants show on the car screen. Others run on the phone.
Messaging apps such as Messages, WhatsApp and Discord work, because AARE reads notifications. Music and podcast apps work if they use standard Android media services. Phone calls go through a built-in app. Mirroring an app that lacks car support is a bit rough, but it works.
The big catch is navigation. AARE does not need Google Play Services, which are Google's background tools on Android phones. Google Maps and Waze need them to show their car screens, so neither runs on the display. If you start navigation on your phone, AARE shows the next direction as a notification.
Download the latest APK file from AARE's GitHub page on your Android phone and install it. Tap "Preview car screen" to see how it looks before changing anything. Then follow the "Finish setting up" checklist, which walks through permissions and car audio.
The reviewer called AARE a proof of concept and said the concept works. If you do not rely on Google Maps or Waze, he saw little downside to using it over Android Auto. If you do, the missing map apps are likely a dealbreaker for now.
AARE gives you more control over your car screen for free, but without Google Maps or Waze and with some rough edges expected.
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