Car Games New and Old

Whether you're on a road trip across the country or just taking a leisure drive with your friends and/or family for an afternoon, one thing that always helps pass the time is playing games in the car. And just think - should you pass a defensive driving course and earn a lower insurance premium, perhaps you can turn that money you save into more trips to your favorite destinations. Unfortunately, group car games aren't as common as they once were, thanks to the likes of personal electronics like iPods, video games and tablets. Let's change that this summer. Instead of passing time in the car as individuals, why not work to pass it together? We'll get you started with some of the best car games - both old and new - that you can do it with this summer. Here's a look:

Old Classics

I Spy

Here's an old favorite that's fun for the whole family, the classic game of I Spy. It's super simple to play, all you need to do is appoint a person to pick out objects that they see along the way, and have the other occupants in the car try to guess what they're looking at. The player who guesses the object correctly is next to select their own object that the other passengers have to guess. It's important to note that participants of this game have to think fast, as the object that is being "spied" will likely only be in view for a few minutes at most.

20 Questions

This game is similar to I Spy, except a player doesn't have to pick something or someone that they see along the route - they can choose anything that comes into their head. Then, it's up to the other passengers to figure out what they've selected by asking 20 questions or less to gain more clues and information.

License Plate Game

Here's a favorite for longer road trips that's easy and fun to play. Print out a map of all 50 states before you leave and then color in each state as you spot license plates on the road accordingly. See how many license plates you can spot!

New Games

Fictional Families

Here's a fun one that takes some imagination to play, but it can be a ton of fun. Keep your eyes open on the road for interesting families in the cars that you pass along the way. Once you spot one, work to create your own back story for the family (i.e., what they do for work, where they live, hobbies, etc.). The more creative and ridiculous you get with the back stories, the more fun the game becomes.

Finish the Song

Have a bunch of music fans in the car? Play a version of "Finish That Song." There are a few different versions you can play. Our favorite is the one where a passenger picks a song, sings a line from it and challenges the other passengers to finish that line. You can even incorporate your iPod with this one and actually play the song to check your work. You can also play a version where other passengers have to sing a different song that picks up from the last word of the other one.

Cards Against Humanity

For the adult crowd, this hilarious game can also be adapted for the car - all you need is the deck of cards and a great imagination. We'd just advise that the driver of the car always be the judge, while the other passengers handle the duties of reading the drawn cards to others in the vehicle. Just because it's worth repeating, this game can get raunchy and dirty - so make sure that no kids are in the vehicle if you decide to play this.

Top Driving Games To Play In The Car

It can get boring sitting in the car on a long road trip. And your passengers, whether they be children, your significant other, or friends, can start to get on your nerves. Instead of fighting over what radio station to listen to or hearing them repeat the same stories over and over, this time can be used to play games. Not only does this keep your mind alert and awake while you are driving, but it can help you to enjoy the company of others on your trip and keep you all from driving each other crazy. Here are a few of the top driving games to play in the car while taking a road trip.   The Car Spotting Game If you are traveling with one or more adults, the car spotting game can be a fun and exciting game to play. The rules are really simple. You look out your window and try to identify the make and model of cars that are heading your way. The person who can has the correct answer from the farthest away gets a point. You can play this game for a set period of time, such as 30 to 60 minutes, and the person with the most points at the end of the time period wins. Or you can play to a set point amount, such as the first to ten wins. This is a great way to pass the time while testing your car knowledge. Just make sure you the game is not distracting you from driving safely! We do not want you to get a traffic ticket and then take a defensive driving course to assist with the points!   Eye Spy Eye spy is the perfect car game to play with both children and adults. You start out by saying eye spy and then you give clues as to what you see. You may spy something green that is tall. When children look out their window, they may figure out that what you spy is a tree. If you are playing with adults, the clues can be made much more challenging. This is a game that makes you aware of your surroundings by really focusing on what it is that the other person sees. The only downside to this game is that by the time the clue is given, the item that you spy may be long gone. As such, if you are playing with young kids, try to spy items in the car so they have time to figure it out. With adults, this quickness as which the answer must be solved only adds to the challenge of the game.   The Alphabet Game Another fun game that is perfect for groups of all ages is the alphabet game. As you are driving, you try to find the letters of the alphabet in order. You may see the letters on a roadway sign, license plate or a gas store or fast food restaurant you can see from the side of the road. You start with the letter A. Once that letter is found, you move onto the letter B. There are a couple of different ways this game can be played. Each person can write down their answers as they find them and the first person to find Z wins, but you are on the honor system as far as cheating. Another variation is to call out when you see the letter and then award that person a point. The person who has the most points at the end of the game wins.   Don’t Play Too Competitively Playing games in the car can be a fun way to pass the time while taking a road trip. However, if you do decide to play games, don't let your competitive nature distract you from your driving. If you find yourself getting distracted, you may want to opt out of the game and let the other's play while you enjoy listening to them engage. Or you simply may have to conceed that as the driver, you won't win, but you can simply play along for fun. This helps ensure everyone has a fun time on the trip while still remaining safe.