Quick Summary:
- Delete old pairings, then restart both car system and phones.
- Pair the primary driver first, set media and calls to manual.
- Use USB for CarPlay, disable auto-join to stop hijacking.
- Before return, remove phones from car and forget vehicle on phones.
Sharing a rental in Los Angeles is common, two drivers, two phones, one head unit. The problems are also common, calls interrupting the wrong person, music switching mid-journey, CarPlay refusing to launch, or a previous renter’s phone appearing on the screen. A safe switch between two phones on CarPlay and Bluetooth comes down to three ideas, start clean, control what connects automatically, and remove everything before you hand the keys back.
This guide is written for car hire situations where you want quick, repeatable steps. It covers a practical reset-and-pair checklist, how to stop “hijacking” of calls and audio, and how to wipe devices before return. If your rental is collected around LAX, these tips are especially useful because busy pick-ups often mean you skip setup until you are already on the road.
If you are comparing options for a Los Angeles car hire that suits families or groups, vehicle type can influence how the infotainment behaves. Larger screens and newer models typically offer clearer device management menus. For reference, Hola Car Rentals provides information pages for common rental choices at LAX, including SUV rental at Los Angeles LAX and Alamo car rental in California LAX.
Why switching phones gets messy in a rental
Most issues come from auto-connect logic. Modern cars remember multiple phones and then pick one based on what connected last, signal strength, or manufacturer priority rules. Add CarPlay, which can run over USB or wireless, plus Bluetooth for calls, and you can end up with one phone running maps while the other phone steals incoming calls.
In a car hire, the head unit may also be carrying baggage from previous renters. Even if you never see their details, the car may still be trying to connect to devices stored in memory. Your goal is to make the car only aware of the phones you intend to use, and to make each phone connect only when you want it to.
The safe reset-and-pair checklist for two drivers
Use this checklist when you first get the vehicle, or whenever switching becomes unpredictable. Ideally, do it while parked before you leave the rental area.
Step 1, park safely and gather the essentials. Have both phones unlocked, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi available. If you use CarPlay, have a known-good USB cable. Avoid pairing while driving, even if the prompts appear simple.
Step 2, clear the car’s saved devices. On the car screen, go to Settings, Phone, Bluetooth, Connected devices, or similar. Delete every phone you do not recognise, and remove both of your phones if you have already paired them incorrectly. Some vehicles also have a CarPlay or Smartphone section where you can remove CarPlay profiles separately. If you see an option like “Delete all devices”, it is usually the quickest clean slate.
Step 3, forget the car on both phones. On iPhone, go to Settings, Bluetooth, tap the car name, then Forget This Device. Also check Settings, General, CarPlay, and remove the vehicle if listed. On Android, go to Settings, Connected devices, Bluetooth, tap the gear beside the car name, then Forget. This two-sided wipe prevents the car and phone from automatically re-connecting using stale credentials.
Step 4, restart to flush cached connections. Power the car infotainment off and on if possible, or turn the car off, open the driver’s door, wait 30 seconds, then restart. Reboot both phones as well. This step sounds basic, but it clears half-finished pairings that can cause random “device unavailable” errors.
Step 5, pair Driver A first, with intention. Decide who is the primary driver for the day. Pair their phone first, then set it as the preferred phone for calls and media if the car offers that option. Many systems show separate toggles for Phone audio and Media audio, turn on only what you want. If Driver A wants maps and music but prefers calls on the other phone, set that now rather than later.
Step 6, add Driver B as a secondary device. Pair the second phone, then adjust priorities. Some vehicles allow one “active” phone and one “secondary” phone. Others allow both simultaneously but you choose which handles calls. If there is a “connect for calls” switch, set it so only one device can take calls at a time.
Step 7, test with a controlled call and audio switch. Place a test call from each phone while parked, and confirm which microphone and speakers are used. Then play audio from each phone and note how to switch sources. It is better to learn the car’s behaviour now than on the 405.
How to stop calls and music hijacking
Hijacking usually happens when both phones are allowed to auto-connect for the same function. Use these practical controls to keep it predictable.
Turn off “Auto-join” or “Auto-connect” on the secondary phone. If the car supports it, set the secondary device to connect only when selected. If the car does not offer that setting, do it from the phone side by toggling Bluetooth off on the secondary phone until needed.
Prefer USB CarPlay for the current driver. USB tends to win priority and is more stable than wireless in busy radio environments, which is common in Los Angeles. If two iPhones both have wireless CarPlay enabled, the car may connect to whichever wakes up first, not the one you expected. Using USB for Driver A while keeping Driver B on Bluetooth only can prevent surprise takeovers.
Separate roles, one phone for calls, one for media, only if the car supports it. Some systems let you select the phone for calls independently of the media device. If available, use that feature rather than letting both devices do both jobs.
Disable notifications that trigger audio focus. Messaging apps can grab audio focus and pause music. On iPhone, consider enabling Focus mode for driving. On Android, use Do Not Disturb while driving. This reduces the sense that audio is “jumping” between devices.
Keep only one phone connected to Wi-Fi if using wireless CarPlay. Wireless CarPlay uses Wi-Fi Direct. If both phones are set to auto-join the car’s Wi-Fi, the car may switch sessions. The simplest control is, only the active CarPlay phone should have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth ready to connect.
Fast switching between two phones mid-trip
Sometimes you genuinely need to switch during a journey, for example, Driver B takes over navigation or wants to make a hands-free call. Do it with minimal distraction.
Use the car’s “Phone” or “Devices” menu rather than re-pairing. Most systems have a connected devices list with a connect button. Pull over, then select the other phone and choose Connect for calls or Connect for media. Avoid deleting and re-adding devices unless the system is stuck.
For CarPlay, unplug and replug with the intended phone. If CarPlay is over USB, disconnect the current phone, wait a few seconds, then connect the other phone. Keep only one phone plugged in at a time. If the car supports multiple USB ports, still use one port consistently to reduce confusion.
For wireless CarPlay, temporarily disable Bluetooth on the phone you do not want active. This prevents the car from seeing it. Once the other phone is connected, you can turn Bluetooth back on if you need it for other uses, but remember you may reintroduce hijacking.
If CarPlay or Bluetooth will not connect
Rental vehicles can have different trims and model years, and some are finicky. Use these escalation steps in order.
Check permissions. iPhone will ask you to allow CarPlay when the vehicle is detected, and may require Screen Time restrictions to be off for CarPlay. Android Auto similarly needs permissions for phone, contacts, and notifications.
Try a different cable. A charge-only cable can power the phone but will not pass data for CarPlay. If the car has both USB-A and USB-C, try the other port.
Reset network settings on the phone only if necessary. This is a bigger step because it clears Wi-Fi and Bluetooth pairings. Consider it if you have repeated failures across multiple cars.
Look for a head unit reboot shortcut. Some vehicles allow holding the power or volume knob for 10 to 15 seconds to reboot the infotainment. Do this while parked.
Privacy and clean-up before returning your car hire
Removing devices before return is not just tidy, it protects your contacts, recent locations, and messaging previews. Do this a few minutes before you arrive at the drop-off.
On the car screen, remove both phones from Bluetooth and CarPlay lists. Delete each phone profile, and also clear any paired devices list if the menu offers it. If the car stores navigation favourites, clear recent destinations if possible.
On iPhone, remove the vehicle from CarPlay. Go to Settings, General, CarPlay, select the car, then Forget This Car. Also forget it under Bluetooth. This stops your phone trying to connect to the same model you might encounter again at the airport.
On Android, forget the Bluetooth device and remove Android Auto cars. In Android Auto settings, delete previously connected cars. This reduces auto-launch attempts next time you rent.
Check for downloaded contacts and call history. Some cars copy contacts automatically. If you see a setting like “Sync contacts”, consider disabling it during the rental. If already synced, deleting the phone profile typically clears it.
These steps are useful whether you picked up near LAX or further south. Hola Car Rentals also covers nearby airport pick-up areas that many Los Angeles visitors use, such as car hire at Santa Ana Airport (SNA) and minivan rental at Santa Ana SNA. If you are travelling in a group, more passengers often means more phones trying to connect, so doing the clean pairing process early can save time every day.
Driver etiquette for shared rentals in Los Angeles
A few simple habits keep switching smooth. Agree who is “primary” for the day, especially if one person is handling navigation. Keep the secondary phone’s Bluetooth off until needed. When swapping drivers, do a quick parked handover, switch calls and media in the device menu, then set off. In heavy Los Angeles traffic, the safest setup is the one that requires the fewest taps while moving.
If your trip includes LAX pick-up logistics, different fleets may have different infotainment layouts. Knowing where device settings typically live helps, regardless of the badge on the steering wheel. For more context on LAX options, see Enterprise car hire at Los Angeles LAX.
FAQ
Q: Can two phones be connected at the same time in a rental car? A: Usually yes, but the car may limit which phone handles calls and which handles media. For best results, choose one phone for calls, and connect the other for media only, if the system allows separate roles.
Q: Why does the car keep selecting the wrong phone for CarPlay? A: Wireless CarPlay often connects to the last-used or first-awake phone. Disable auto-join on the secondary phone, or use USB CarPlay for the active driver to force priority.
Q: What is the quickest safe way to switch drivers without distractions? A: Pull over, open the car’s Devices or Phone menu, then select the other phone and choose Connect for calls or media. Avoid deleting and re-pairing unless the system is stuck.
Q: Do I need to delete my phone from the car before returning a car hire? A: Yes, it protects your privacy. Remove the phone profile from the car’s Bluetooth and CarPlay lists, then forget the car on your phone so it does not reconnect later.
Q: Will deleting Bluetooth devices also remove my contacts from the car? A: In most vehicles, deleting the phone profile removes synced contacts and recent call data linked to that phone. If the car has a separate contacts cache, clearing all paired devices is the most reliable option.
