None if your cellular plan supportstethering, but some carriers charge extra.

And even then, it may still be a cost-effective option, especially if youre ready to upgrade anyway.

In any case, the basic idea is that the phone acts as both a modem and a router.

cell phone wi-fi in car

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$0 to $70+ per month depending on the service provider and plan you choose.

Another easy way to get Wi-Fi in your car is to use a dedicated mobile hotspot.

There are two main types of dedicated mobile hotspots: dongles and self-contained devices.

Four examples of Wi-Fi in an automobile

Elise Degarmo / Lifewire

Depends on the carrier.

Other devices are hard-wired though, in which case they are only as portable as your vehicle itself.

The other benefit is that some permanently-installed automotive modem/router combos include USB or ethernet ports.

OBD2 wi-fi connection in car

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There are also some providers that offer a free data plan with a limited amount of data.

Data cost essentially just means how much the available data plans cost versus how much bandwidth they provide.

Some providers advertise very large networks, but the fastest data speeds are only available in specific markets.

autonet car router

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Other providers have relatively large high-speed networks but have huge holes where no service is available.

As long as your car is on (i.e.

using power), you might continue to use Wi-Fi even when the engine isn’t running.

connected car wi-fi-network

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There is no way to officially add Wi-Fi service to your car for free.

woman using laptop in car with wifi

Paul Bradbury / Getty Images