TikTok rumour spreads fear that GPS smartphone apps will be banned in the UK

A video posted on the platform TikTok earlier this week (23^rd July) made claims that the UK’s Department for Transport is planning to make using smartphone GPS apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze illegal, from 2026 with a penalty fine of £200 and six points on their driving licence.  

The post has been shared over 10,000 times with many commenting that they rely on their phones to help them navigate roads and directions.  

To get to the bottom of this rumour, we contacted the Department of Transport to clarify the law on GPS mobile apps and any planned changes. The Department for Transport confirmed:

"While it is illegal to hold or use your phone whilst driving, you can use devices with hands-free access, as long as you do not hold them at any time. There has been no change of rules around this, as suggested by this online video."

- The Department for Transport

So, thankfully this rumour has turned out to be just a rumour, but these videos are still being shared and causing upset online.

Whilst the Department of Transport has not announced any changes to the law regarding the use of GPS navigation apps on smartphones whilst driving, existing laws on smartphone use while driving remain strict.

Alicia Hempsted
Insurance Expert

Be careful of online rumours

As car insurance experts, we’re committed to helping drivers make safe, informed and legally sound decisions behind the wheel. Incorrect information can spread quickly on social media, so fact checking what you hear - particularly about important topics like road safety - is crucial.

We’ve worked with the Department of Transport to clarify there are no plans to change the rules for sat nav use. This means that you can use your phone as a sat nav, but it must be secured in a fixed mount, and you must not touch it any point while driving. Also, the mount you use for your phone must not block the driver’s view of the road ahead.

Current Rules and Regulations For Sat Nav Use

• No device handling: Since March 2022, it is illegal to hold or touch a mobile phone, tablet, sat nav or smart device whilst driving or supervising a learner – even when stationary at traffic lights or in traffic. 

• Small interactions still count as ‘handling’:  Even if you’re holding your phone for brief interactions such as checking notifications, scrolling, taking photos or entering directions it can still be classed as an offence. 

• Hands-free only: You may only use a smart phone as a sat nav if it is secured in a fixed mount and you do not touch it at any point while driving. 

• Mount placement matters: Mountings must not block the driver’s view of the road ahead. 

• Legal consequences: If a mount obstructs vision or affects control you can be penalised under Rule 150 of the Highway Code – ‘driving without due care and attention’.  

For accurate updates on road laws, visit https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law