The smartphone market has exploded in recent years and the use of apps to entertain and inform us, and to make us more productive, has seen an associated growth.

Here we list five Android apps that could help you as you drive on the roads of the UK. We’ve ignored the obvious GPS/Map/Navigator type apps because, well, theobvious. These are five apps you might not have thought about before. All are available on Android, and links are provided.

UK driving theory test

Available in both free and paid for versions, this app simply helps you prepare for the driving theory test in the UK. Essential if you have yet to pass your test and probably not a bad idea of you already have a license as a simple reminder of the rules of the road.

DriSMo – Driving Skills Monitor

Ever wondered how good a driver you are, or had a ‘discussion’ with your spouse or a friend about who is more skilful behind the wheel – and we mean regular driving now, not J-turns, wheelies or jumping over busses. Well if you have, this app could provide the answer.

DRiSMo uses your phones GPS and accelerometer to track your journey and analyse how good you are, helping you become a better quality driver. There are a variety of different screens to show you how you’re doing as you drive (the idea being you pick one before you start off and don’t keep flicking between them) and the information can also be saved to a file and transferred to your PC for post-driving analysis. DRiSMo can even be set to interact with SMS and phone calls, automatically providing a reply to the texter or caller saying you are driving and will be in touch later.

Driving Text Answering Machine

Using a mobile phone without a hands free kit is illegal in the UK, which is fine for phone calls but means text messages have to go unanswered. Some people find it very difficult to leave a message unread for a long period of time, and some hate waiting for a response, so if you’re driving they get tetchy. With this easy-to-use app you can set up and automatic response to any text messages you receive, and if you all it GPS access it can automatically detect when you are driving and respond to texts without you having to think about it.

Fuel Friend

Available for free (Lite version, has adverts) or for a small fee (no ads, and more features), this little app helps you keep count of your mileage, fuel economy and the price at the pump. A variety of graphs and charts help you see what you’re spending and how quickly you are suing your fuel. You just need to remember to fill it in.

Car home

A very simple app that is free and built by the Android boffins at Google. When activated it displays a basic and clear set of buttons that gives quick access to navigation, voice actions and other features without the need to navigate loads of menus or swipe through many screens. The app will automatically activate when the phone is placed in a cradle, so there is no fussing around with multiple screens when you need to make a call, use GPS or turn on some music.

NOTE: Please be responsible and remember that the UK has laws that govern the use of a mobile phone while in a car. If you decide to try one of the apps intended for use while driving please be sure to do any activation and calibration before setting off, remember your responsibility to other road users, and only use your device when it is safe and legal to do so.

This article was written by Rob Powell from Confused.com, the student car insurance price comparison website.

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