Simply remove your existing USB media hub and install the replacement for full Apple CarPlay compatibility.
And if you have an older car, whose system can no longer be readily updated, take solace in knowing that the touch screen can be a great place to suction-cup-mount a new portable GPS device.
Plus, upgrading maps for a family member can be a kind gift, as they not be familiar with how to do it. If you’re road tripping for the holidays this year, you probably don’t want to risk heading out with a map that’s more than a few years old. During the holiday season, we've seen discounts offered on maps from several brands. But, if you routinely use a built-in navigator and/or count on it for periodic travel, best budget for at least one, if not two, map updates during your ownership period. At over $100 a pop, updating maps at that frequency is hard to justify for most drivers. Having a professional handle the installation costs extra, of course.Ī Navteq spokesperson explained that maps are updated for each automaker every 12 to 18 months. The updated map software comes either on a DVD or an SD card, depending on what your car requires.
Others make you enter the year and model of your car and may take you to your automaker’s website, where you can download the software or make an appointment at a local dealer to have your maps updated. Some updates can be downloaded directly from Navteq and installed yourself. We suggest starting with Navteq’s website, where the electronic mapmaker posts links to updates for more than 30 automotive brands. So it pays to have the latest maps in your car, and the holidays are a good time to think about getting an update. Navteq says more than 230,000 points of interest may be added to their database in a year. Navigating to a point of interest, such as a restaurant? Be prepared to improvise. Unless you have updated your maps recently, you could be relying on really old maps. (Check out the Garmin Nuvi 58LMT, for example.)Īccording to navigation-system maker TomTom, 18 percent of roads in maps need updating every year. For that much money, you could buy a very nice portable GPS unit with lifetime map and traffic updates. Plus, there can be an extra charge for installation. Instead, updates must be purchased at a cost of $129 to $299, either through the automaker, dealership, or online. Nor do they offer periodic one-click updates like leading navigation apps.
Unlike Google Maps on your phone, most built-in systems don’t continually update themselves over the air with new roads, lanes, interchanges, and businesses, or even traffic laws, such as speed limits and left-turn restrictions. But keeping those maps up to date can be much more expensive and take more work than updating a portable unit or a smartphone. They work seamlessly with the entertainment system, respond to voice commands, and can readily access your smartphone’s contact list. (Some systems now cost as little as $500.) Compared with portable GPS, factory-installed systems are well-integrated into your car’s operation and controls. Built-in navigation systems have improved in recent years, and they now offer more features for less money.