If Your Car's 12V Port Is Charging Your Devices Slowly, This Might Be Why We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Unless you're in a bind, it's highly advisable to avoid using public-facing USB ports, but the good news is that you shouldn't need to do so very often these days thanks to all the other options we have. In addition to portable power banks, most modern are equipped with more than one type of charging option, including the classic, reliable 12-volt DC port. Once reserved for cigarette lighters, this connection often includes a flip-top cover, and some vehicles even have more than one. Your vehicle's 12V port gets power from the car's battery (either with the key on or off), but you need an adapter to convert that power for your phone or device. There are hundreds of 12V-port charging adapters on the market, but if you've noticed that your 12V port is doing a bad job at charging your mobile tech, the issue may have more to do with the adapter you're using than the port itself. Most 12V ports are rated between 10 and 20 amps, but an older (or cheaper) DC adapter may be capped at 10 amps or less. For best results, you'll want to invest in an adapter that will deliver the power you need and comes from a reliable manufacturer. Fortunately, top-shelf brands like Anker and Ugreen have numerous 12V adapters to choose from, many of which include both USB-C and USB-A connections. Give your car (and your phone) the charging tech it deserves Let's not forget that any type of USB adapter is only as good as the USB cable you're plugging into it. Generally speaking, the thin, short USB wires that are hanging around in your junk drawer