Your trusty Arduino microcontroller board, small though it might be, is capable of accomplishing big tasks, even projects related to your car. There are quite a few Arduino auto projects out there that are worth your while to explore, and with the selection so vast, narrowing it down is something we’re here to help with.
We’ve compiled a list of varied projects that can be implemented with an Arduino or Arduino-compatible microcontroller. There’s a bit of something for everyone, with projects related to driving, car safety, anti-theft assistance, and more. The projects are also mixed in terms of level and experience, whether you’ve been using an Arduino for years or are relatively new to the microcontroller world.
Further, these projects are fully replicable and have well-written, detailed guidance that often includes video tutorials. So, rev up your engines for these awesome Arduino car projects, and let’s dive in!
Anti-Theft
If you’re concerned about car theft, this Arduino project is here to allay your fears. The finished anti-theft system provides an indefinite “honk” picked up by GPS if a thief attempts to move the car. In fact, it’ll continue to honk till you, the owner, act!
With extremely thorough instructions, code, and needed materials, the project offers a creative and practical solution to deter car theft. If you’re an experienced user, you can even upgrade the project as desired.
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Designer: Pantopush
- Project page: Instructables
- Key components: Arduino Uno, GPS module and breakout, 9-V battery and battery snap connector, 5-V relay
Windshield Display
Here’s a clever solution involving your Arduino Nano that displays your car’s speed on the windshield. It’s large enough that it can be readily seen with the briefest glance.
An added bonus about this particular project is that the creator has continued to update it, and if you have any concerns, they’re very responsive to comments. As a somewhat sophisticated display, it’s also a good challenge for more advanced Arduino users with a highly useful result.
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Designer: marcozonca
- Project page: Arduino Project Hub
- Key components: Arduino Nano, 5161AS 7- segment displays, Beitian BN-220 serial TTL GPS, buttons, resistors, LEDs, capacitors, 145111 BCD decoders and latch, USB, strip line male pins
Biometric Car Entry
An innovative project, this biometric entry system uses an Arduino Uno for keyless car entry and was tested on a Toyota car. The project utilizes a fingerprint sensor module for added security.
The instructions include a video tutorial. It’s fairly light on additional components, so you don’t need a ton of stuff to make this project come to life.
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Designer: Rajeev Velikaal
- Project page: Arduino Project Hub
- Key components: Arduino Uno, CAN-BUS shield, fingerprint sensor
Interior Car Lighting
Want to jazz up your car’s interior? In this fun project, you’ll learn how to create innovative and soothing mood lighting for your car’s interior. It’s perfect for a nighttime road trip or just for waiting in the parking lot and relaxing!
This project also provides instructions for making your own circuit, if you so desire. The site additionally provides schematics, video, written instructions, and code, so all the necessities are right at your fingertips.
- Difficulty: Advanced intermediate
- Designer: Ardumotive
- Project page: Ardumotive
- Key components: Arduino Uno, Neopixel sticks, Bluetooth module, transistors, resistors
GPS Data Logger
Although this compact GPS data logger was technically intended for use in a small plane, it would work well as a car project, too. Ideally, it can be a low-budget alternative to a commercial GPS logger, which can be pricey.
The data logger was tested out in a car, so it’s guaranteed to work in one! And it actually doesn’t require all that much in the way of materials, so you really can save money here.
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Designer: yvesmorele
- Project page: Arduino Project Hub
- Key components: Arduino Uno, GPS module, Arduino proto shield, 1.8-in LCD screen
Garage Stoplight
Check out this super-useful project for garage and auto safety! With the use of an ultrasonic sensor, this Arduino project alerts drivers to the amount of space around them in the garage, so they can park without crashing into things. This project contains detailed instructions plus a YouTube demonstration of how the stoplight functions.
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Designer: Stuart Mace
- Project page: Arduino Project Hub
- Key components: Arduino Uno, distance sensor, relay module, multi-turn precision potentiometer
Display Control
In this project, you’ll get to make physical switches to control volume and navigate display menu options, all operated with your trusty Arduino microcontroller. The project’s creator provides tons of information, including all the necessary code and schematics. There’s also a YouTube tutorial if you’d prefer to follow along in real time!
- Difficulty: Advanced intermediate
- Designer: SetNFix
- Project page: Arduino Project Hub, SetNFix
- Key components: Arduino Uno, resistors, Atmega microchip, capacitors, linear regulator, high voltage diode, multi-turn precision potentiometer
Lego Breathalyzer
Driving while drunk is against the law and can lead to tragic consequences, so this is a potentially life-saving project. Not to mention, it’s also pretty fun to create, as it involves Legos. And who doesn’t love a good Lego Arduino project?
On the project page and via a YouTube video, the creator walks you through the steps, including how to calibrate the breathalyzer.
- Difficulty: All levels
- Designer: leon-anavi
- Project page: Instructables
- Key components: Lego, ANAVI gas detector, mini OLED display, MQ-3 analog sensor module
Car Display
It can be annoying when you need to reference basic car stats while driving. It’s too hard to see the numbers quickly on the dashboard, and in some car models, not everything is displayed. This Arduino-compatible project displays basic data at an easy glance, including battery voltage and cabin temperature.
You’ll find this to be an extremely detailed project, as the instructions include all necessary code, schematics, and a video. Note that the project creator uses a Teensy board, which is Arduino compatible and can be programmed with Arduino IDE.
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Designer: RyanM415
- Project page: Instructables
- Key components: Teensy 3.6, OBD-II UART adapter, backup sensors, LCD display, display driver board, level shifter, tristate buffer, capacitors, resistors
Steering Wheel Buttons
Here is an ideal project if you have replaced your car stereo but still want the CAN steering wheel buttons to function in conjunction with the new stereo. This is an Arduino-compatible project that involves an Atmega microchip, the same one used for Arduino microcontroller boards, so all of the programming can be done in the Arduino IDE. Alternatively, you could use an Arduino board and a CAN shield, but the creator warns this could shorten the life of the Arduino.
This project’s ideal for advanced users and worth the challenge. The instructions are well written, and the creator provides lots of links for the parts as well.
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Designer: Ronny Hagerman
- Project page: Instructables
- Key components: Atmega 328 microchip, capacitors, resistors, CAN transceiver, CAN controller
License: The text of "Arduino Projects for the Car: 10 Projects for the Road" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.