Documentation

How to use every part of DriveHub.

Step-by-step instructions for setup, diagnostics, navigation, safety, and every feature in between — for iOS and Android. If you get stuck, our support team is one form away.

🚀 Getting Started 🛠️ Diagnostics 🤖 AI Copilot 🗺️ Navigation ⚙️ CarPlay & Android Auto 🏆 Trip Scoring 🚨 Safety & Emergency 🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection 🧩 Smarter Tools 👤 Account & Subscription 🔧 Troubleshooting
01 — GETTING STARTED

From install to your first drive.

DriveHub works with any car, truck, or motorcycle that has an OBD-II port (every vehicle sold in the US since 1996, and most globally since the early 2000s) and a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi ELM327-compatible adapter.

📲Install & open the app

  1. Download DriveHubFrom the App Store on iPhone, or Google Play on Android.
  2. Grant permissions when askedBluetooth (to talk to your adapter), Location (for navigation, trip tracking & crash location sharing), and Notifications (for alerts). You can skip any of these and grant them later in Settings.
  3. Sign in or skipA DriveHub account is optional — it only exists to sync your vehicle list across devices. Everything works fully signed out, on-device.

🔌Connect your OBD-II adapter

  1. Get a compatible adapterAny ELM327-compatible Bluetooth or Wi-Fi dongle — OBDLink, Veepeak, Vgate, BlueDriver, FIXD and generic clones all work. $15–30 online.
  2. Plug it into your OBD-II portUsually under the dashboard on the driver's side; often under the seat or a side panel on motorcycles — check DriveHub's vehicle-type note when you add your vehicle.
  3. Turn on your vehicle's ignitionThe adapter needs power from the OBD port to broadcast — most only power on once the ignition is at least in the "accessory" position.
  4. Open Diagnostics → ConnectDriveHub scans for nearby adapters automatically. Tap yours in the list once it appears — first-time pairing may prompt a Bluetooth pairing confirmation from your phone's OS.

🚗Add your first vehicle

  1. Go to Settings → Vehicles → Add VehicleEnter make, model, year, and vehicle type (car, truck, van, or motorcycle) — this tailors checklists, maintenance intervals and tyre pressure defaults to your specific vehicle.
  2. Set it activeYour active vehicle is what every screen — Dashboard, Trips, Maintenance — reflects. Free tier includes one vehicle; DriveHub Pro unlocks unlimited.
Note: DriveHub never needs the adapter connected to use navigation, AI chat, or trip history browsing — only live diagnostics and OBD-driven features need it plugged in.
02 — DIAGNOSTICS

Reading & clearing fault codes.

Once your adapter is connected, the Diagnostics tab is your live instrument cluster and code reader.

📊View live data

  1. Open the Diagnostics tabSpeed, RPM, coolant temperature, fuel level, battery voltage and more update continuously while connected.
  2. Tap any gauge for its historySee an interactive chart of that reading over days, weeks, or months.

🔧Read & clear a check engine light

  1. Open Diagnostics → Fault CodesDriveHub reads Active, Pending, and Permanent codes and shows a plain-English description for each.
  2. Tap a code for detailSee likely causes and an estimated repair cost range.
  3. Tap Clear Codes to resetA confirmation step prevents accidental clears. Only clear codes after the underlying issue is actually fixed — clearing doesn't fix anything on its own, and the light will return if the fault persists.

✅Check emissions readiness

  1. Open Diagnostics → Readiness MonitorsSee Catalyst, EVAP, O2 Sensor, EGR and other SAE J1979 monitor statuses at a glance.
  2. All monitors "Ready"?You're set to pass a state emissions inspection. Any "Not Ready" monitor means more driving is needed before testing — DriveHub explains which one and why.
03 — AI COPILOT

Ask it anything about your car.

💬Start a conversation

  1. Open the AI tabSuggested quick prompts change based on what's actually happening — a new fault code, low fuel, or an unusual reading.
  2. Type or tap the mic to speakVoice input works hands-free, so your eyes stay on the road.
  3. Ask follow-up questionsThe AI remembers the conversation and your vehicle's live context, so "what should I check first?" works without repeating yourself.
Free tier: 5 AI messages per day. DriveHub Pro removes the daily limit.
04 — NAVIGATION

Getting where you're going.

🗺️Start turn-by-turn navigation

  1. Open the Navigate tabTap the search bar and type a destination, or pick a Recent/Saved place.
  2. Review the route previewSee ETA, distance, estimated toll cost, and any toll-free alternatives before you commit.
  3. Tap StartTurn-by-turn guidance begins, mirrored to CarPlay or Android Auto automatically if connected.

📍Set a custom starting point

  1. Tap the "From" fieldDefaults to your current GPS location — tap it to search a different starting address instead, useful for planning a route before you're actually there.
  2. Pick a resultThe route recalculates from that point; your live location is used again automatically once you actually start driving.

🏠Save Home & Work shortcuts

  1. Search and route to an address onceThen tap Save on the route preview screen.
  2. Choose Home or WorkFrom then on, tap the Home or Work shortcut on the Navigate tab for a one-tap route.
05 — CARPLAY & ANDROID AUTO

Getting it on your head unit.

🍎Apple CarPlay

  1. Connect your iPhoneVia USB cable or CarPlay wireless, same as any other CarPlay app.
  2. Find DriveHub on your head unit's home screenTap it to open the live diagnostics cluster.
  3. Use SOS or view recent tripsBoth are one tap away directly from the CarPlay screen — no need to touch your phone.
Requires iOS 14+

🤖Android Auto

  1. Connect your Android phoneVia USB cable, or wirelessly if your head unit supports it.
  2. Open DriveHub from the Android Auto launcherShows live OBD gauges when idle, and switches automatically to turn-by-turn navigation templates once you start a route.
  3. Start or stop a trip manuallyOr let auto-detection handle it — DriveHub starts recording once you're moving and saves automatically when you stop.
Requires Android 8.0+
06 — TRIP SCORING

Understanding your driving score.

🏆Reading a trip report

  1. Open the Trips tabEvery completed trip is listed with its overall score (0–100) and letter grade.
  2. Tap a trip for the breakdownSafety (hard braking/cornering/speeding), Efficiency (throttle smoothness, idle time) and Smoothness are each scored separately.
  3. Watch the route playbackAn animated replay of exactly where you drove, synced to your actual speed at each point.

⏺️Manual trip control

  1. Trips start automaticallyOnce your GPS speed passes ~5 km/h for a sustained period — no action needed.
  2. Override manually if neededUse the Start/Stop Trip button on the Dashboard if you want to record a trip that doesn't involve driving in the usual pattern, or stop recording early.
07 — SAFETY & EMERGENCY

Setting up crash detection & SOS.

🆘Add emergency contacts

  1. Go to Settings → EmergencyAdd one or more contacts who should be alerted in a crash or when you trigger SOS.
  2. Confirm each contact's phone numberThey'll receive an SMS with a tappable link to your exact live location, not just coordinates.

🚨How crash detection works

  1. Nothing to turn onMotion and sensor-fusion crash detection runs automatically in the background whenever a trip is active.
  2. After a detected impactDriveHub shows a countdown to cancel a false alarm, then automatically alerts your emergency contacts if you don't respond.
  3. Manual SOS anytimeTap the SOS button on the Dashboard or CarPlay screen to trigger the same alert flow on demand, with a confirmation step to prevent accidental taps.
08 — PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION

Running a used-vehicle inspection.

Bring your phone, an OBD-II adapter, and (ideally) the seller's cooperation for a short test drive.

🔍Start an inspection

  1. Open Inspect a Vehicle from the DashboardConnect your OBD-II adapter to the vehicle you're considering buying — it doesn't need to be added as one of your saved vehicles first.
  2. Step 1–3: Idle checksDriveHub scans fault codes, checks emissions readiness monitors, and captures an idle baseline (coolant temp, RPM, fuel trims, battery voltage) — takes a few minutes with the engine idling.
  3. Step 4: Visual & mechanical checklistWalk through a checklist tailored to the vehicle type you select — different items for a car, truck, van, or motorcycle.
  4. Step 5: Optional test driveTap "Start Test Drive" and drive for a few minutes if the seller allows it. If not, tap "Skip" — the AI verdict will say plainly that no test drive was performed rather than guessing.
  5. Step 6: Review your AI verdictBuy, Negotiate, Caution, or Walk Away, with a plain-English summary and a full findings list, including any odometer mismatch red flag.
  6. Step 7: Share the PDFTap Share Report to export a branded PDF — send it to yourself, a mechanic, or keep it for records.

⚡Vehicle Electronics Report

  1. Open it from the Diagnostics tabWorks on any connected vehicle, not just during a Pre-Purchase Inspection.
  2. Review by subsystemABS/Traction Control, transmission, body electronics and more — grouped instead of one fault code at a time.

📖Revisit a past inspection

  1. Open Inspection HistoryFrom the Dashboard or the clock icon on the Inspection screen — every past report is saved and browsable.
Free tier: your first inspection is free. Unlimited inspections are a DriveHub Pro benefit.
09 — SMARTER TOOLS

Drive Profiles, offline maps & more.

👤Set up Drive Profiles

  1. Go to Settings → Drive ProfilesChoose Eco, Sport, or create a Custom profile.
  2. Adjust scoring weights & speed thresholdsCustom profiles let you decide what matters most — e.g. weight efficiency higher if you're chasing fuel economy.
  3. Switch anytimeChange your active profile before a trip to grade that drive against different criteria.

📥Download offline maps

  1. Go to Navigate → Offline MapsSearch for the region you want (city or wider area).
  2. Tap DownloadOnce downloaded, turn-by-turn navigation keeps working in that region even with no signal.

🧩Add a Home Screen widget (iOS)

  1. Long-press your iOS Home ScreenTap the + in the top corner, then search for DriveHub.
  2. Pick a sizeSmall (speed & status), Medium (trip summary), or Large (full dashboard).
iOS · DriveHub Pro

📤Export your data

  1. Go to Settings → Export DataChoose trips, OBD readings, or fuel logs.
  2. Share or save the CSVVia your phone's normal share sheet — email it, save to Files/Drive, or open in a spreadsheet app.
10 — ACCOUNT & SUBSCRIPTION

Syncing devices & managing Pro.

🔄 How do I sync my vehicles across two phones?

Create a free DriveHub account (Settings → Account → Sign Up) on both devices using the same email. Your vehicle list syncs automatically whenever you're signed in — iOS additionally syncs trip data privately via iCloud on each individual device.

⭐ How do I upgrade to DriveHub Pro?

Go to Settings → Upgrade to Pro, or tap any lock icon next to a Pro feature. Choose Monthly, Yearly, or Lifetime — payment is handled entirely by the App Store or Google Play, DriveHub never sees your card details.

↩️ I bought Pro on one device — how do I get it on my other one?

Sign in with the same App Store or Google account on the new device, then tap Settings → Restore Purchases.

❌ How do I cancel my subscription?

DriveHub can't cancel it for you — subscriptions are managed entirely by Apple/Google. On iPhone: Settings app → your name → Subscriptions. On Android: Google Play Store → Menu → Subscriptions.

11 — TROUBLESHOOTING

Common issues & fixes.

🔌 My OBD adapter won't connect

Confirm your vehicle's ignition is on (most adapters power off completely with the ignition off). Toggle your phone's Bluetooth off and back on. If the adapter was previously paired to another app, forget it in your phone's Bluetooth settings first, then reconnect from inside DriveHub. Wi-Fi adapters need your phone joined to the adapter's own Wi-Fi network, not your home/mobile network.

📍 Navigation isn't tracking my location correctly

Check Settings → Privacy → Location Services (iOS) or App Permissions (Android) and confirm DriveHub has "Always" or "While Using" access. For background trip tracking and crash detection while the app isn't open, "Always" is required.

🔔 I'm not receiving notifications

Check your phone's system notification settings for DriveHub specifically — the app requests permission on first launch, but it's easy to accidentally deny it. On Android 13+, this is a separate permission from other app permissions.

⚠️ Live data looks frozen or wrong

Some adapters silently drop the Bluetooth connection under interference. Pull down to refresh on the Diagnostics tab, or disconnect and reconnect from the adapter picker if a reading looks stuck.

🤷 Still stuck?

Reach out on the Support page with your device model, app version, and what you were trying to do — we read every message.

Still need a hand?

We read every support message ourselves.

Contact Support → Full Feature Guide