Spotify, Android and Bluetooth

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Changed my phone recently to a Pixel 4a. I use Spotify and on previous phones I'm sure the app used to open when I got in the car and the phone paired with the bluetooth in the car. That often doesn't happen with this phone, unless I've been using Spotify very recently (i.e. within an hour or so) I have to get the phone out of my pocket and go into the app, then the car will begin playing wherever it left off. The phone does connect to the bluetooth in the car, just doesn't automatically begin playback

I've been through the phone settings, bluetooth settings and Spotify settings and can't find anything that looks like it will help. My wife's iPhone just connects to either of our cars and starts playing from whatever was last to play and I'm certain my previous Android devices did the same...