Garmin car gps update. Garmin Map Update Watch: 2024.20

Garmin Map Update Watch: 2024.20

Garmin DriveSmart 5 My other toys: IMac quad-core i3, Mac Mini M1. MacOS: Ventura 13.3.1 The dog’s name is Ginger.

Who knows.

Maybe it’ll be another 204 days like for this update.

Too Long

Seems to me that having very long periods between map updates is discouraging to their customers.

That was quick!

A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love. and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever. And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

disagree

Seems to me that having very long periods between map updates is discouraging to their customers.

I would bet that most people (not us) do not even update the device once as long as they own it. I know of quite a few who can’t be bothered downloading and using Express, they are perfectly happy with the device the way they bought it.

I would love to see Garmin’s statistics on the number of units sold versus the number of map update downloads.

I think.

Those that actively use their Garmin likely update as often as they can. But, I think it’s becoming a dwindling market. Google or Apple or Waze maps on CarPlay do a pretty decent job. I use my Garmin to direct me to new addresses (as a volunteer driver for seniors www.drivehappiness.ca) but if my Garmin can’t find it. a good chance the alternatives can.

Lives in Edmonton AB A volunteer driver for Drive Happiness.ca and now (since June 20 2021) uses a DS65 to find his clients.

I think

Those that actively use their Garmin likely update as often as they can. But, I think it’s becoming a dwindling market. Google or Apple or Waze maps on CarPlay do a pretty decent job. I use my Garmin to direct me to new addresses (as a volunteer driver for seniors www.drivehappiness.ca) but if my Garmin can’t find it. a good chance the alternatives can.

I don’t think that’s it The Pnd market is still pretty sizable infact now garmin is seeing the RV as growing market. I think 2023 lack of maps was because the last few maps had many errors and it took time to correct the errors, but time will tell.

You might be surprised…

Those that actively use their Garmin likely update as often as they can. But, I think it’s becoming a dwindling market. Google or Apple or Waze maps on CarPlay do a pretty decent job. I use my Garmin to direct me to new addresses (as a volunteer driver for seniors www.drivehappiness.ca) but if my Garmin can’t find it. a good chance the alternatives can.

I have a lot of friends that ask me about updating their GPS devices (Garmin TomTom) that have gone unused for a few years. With apps on cell phones, many people are getting hit by data plans, lack of signal, etc. I have friends vacationing at the moment in New Mexico. They borrowed my “backup” Garmin because there are so many areas where they lack good cellular signal.

The vast majority don’t use Garmin anymore.

I think less updates a year maybe here to stay. I guess we’ll see. I use a Dezl 770 for work and have a Nuvi 2558 but it sits on my computer desk rather than in my personal vehicle. If I’m in my car I use Google Maps. Garmin works for me because I can save a location and where the entrance is which may not be the actual address. I can use it again for next time this stop comes up on my route or add it quickly if I need to go there unexpectedly. In my personal car it’s usually finding a one off place where Google is much better at showing everything nearby and it’s updated much more often. When I retire both my Garmin(s) will probably be dust collecting paper weights.

Garmin vs Google

I’m a fan of Google maps but not so much of Google navigation. For that reason, I continue to use my Garmin devices in my vehicles and keep them up to date. My newest car (a 2017) even has Android Auto with Google navigation and I still prefer my DriveLuxe 51 with Smartphone Link and keep it permanently mounted and plugged in.

If Garmin had not discontinued their Viago app (remember that?) and continued to improve it, I probably would have switched to smartphone navigation. But as it stands now, I’ll keep using my dedicated Garmin devices.

Alan. Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

Know

Updating know. I’ll let you hardworkers know how it goes! Have an awesome week.

July

July but June or May would be good too.

I have a brother who falls into this category

Seems to me that having very long periods between map updates is discouraging to their customers.

I would bet that most people (not us) do not even update the device once as long as they own it. I know of quite a few who can’t be bothered downloading and using Express, they are perfectly happy with the device the way they bought it.

I would love to see Garmin’s statistics on the number of units sold versus the number of map update downloads.

He doesn’t have a clue as to how to update his Garmin’s and he has two. I have asked him about updating them and he just shrugs it off.

qu’est-ce que c’est

Those that actively use their Garmin likely update as often as they can. But, I think it’s becoming a dwindling market. Google or Apple or Waze maps on CarPlay do a pretty decent job. I use my Garmin to direct me to new addresses (as a volunteer driver for seniors www.drivehappiness.ca) but if my Garmin can’t find it. a good chance the alternatives can.

I don’t think that’s it The Pnd market is still pretty sizable infact now garmin is seeing the RV as growing market. I think 2023 lack of maps was because the last few maps had many errors and it took time to correct the errors, but time will tell.

paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea? Philanthropy News Digest? post-nasal drip?

Personal Navigation Device.

Not sure if your post was a question or sarcasm.

Alan. Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

I’m glad someone asked

Personal Navigation Device. Not sure if your post was a question or sarcasm.

PND

Every college kid knows it means Party Next Door. geez

I Had No Clue

Every college kid knows it means Party Next Door. geez

It’s been 60 years since I was a college kid. I worked a full-time job while I went to school full-time. Who knew? Partying was not an endeavor in which I participated.

PND

PND was a pretty common term in the early forum days, so I guess knowing what it is dates me. Just put PND in the POI Factory search bar and see how many hits you get

Alan. Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

it’s obvious to me

PND was a pretty common term in the early forum days, so I guess knowing what it is dates me. Just put PND in the POI Factory search bar and see how many hits you get

Perhaps that’s true. I didn’t check that. I did check duckduckgo (a search engine) and found what I did display.

The it’s obvious to me, it should be to everyone view strikes me as a communications problem. I’m not sure how often I don’t finish reading because I just don’t feel like looking up something that I might not find and I might find uninteresting.

I think that the message board would be better if folks like me didn’t have to look up things to learn e.g. that stinger, in lower case, which doesn’t sound like a car, is a car. So. I honestly wish that we had fewer (what are to me) obscure references. And yes, asking what is it? in French was sarcasm.

Super Easy GPS Map Update

How many of us have old GPS units (Garmin) that we don’t want to pay additional hundreds of dollars to support and make useful. I know that I have 3 of them laying around the house. 🙁

Fear not! There are a lot of Smart folks out there operating under the Open Data Commons Open Database License. Thanks to all of them, and good for all of us, however, navigating wikipedia to find a single source of updates (at least to me) is a challenge. The Wiki sites show every possible site, multiple tools, for Windows, linux, and mac OS. It can be downright overwhelming.

I spend a couple hours navigating all the open source tools, and HUZZA, it worked. I love it when that happens!

Supplies

MacBook Pro (this is drafted using a mac)

Step 1: Prepare the Maps

I am working on a MacBook pro, and the website that I found http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl, (photo 1)allows you to highlight the tiles of the maps that you want. I travel between Washington DC, Florida, California, Utah, and the east coast of Australia. I selected the routable maps at the top, Then i checked the box that stated: Perhaps you’d like to add some additional tiles?Enable manual tile selection:. then use the map below to add and remove tiles to the selection. Once this checkbox was selected, I was able to highlight the areas that I wanted to capture. (photo 2)

When I had the maps that I wanted, I submitted my email address, and hit the button Build my Map. When you hit the button, you will get a series of two emails. The first one says hey, we’ve got it, you are number X in line, it will be xx minutes until your map is ready. The second email will say here is your stuff. (photo 3) Download the gmapsupp.zip file (photo 4)

Step 2: Where the Magic Happens!

The next step is to download the Garmin Map Install application and go through the set up. (photo 1) When it is downloaded, click on the app in the downloads and follow all the prompts (with defaults) and it will be read to go.

When you get the second email and you have downloaded your maps, you are ready to go. Plug in your gps via USB.

Open the MapInstall application, and select the GPS unit you want to upload. (photo 2).

Now you have to select the maps that you have downloaded. Use your mouse to select all the new maps. You will see the size of the maps build on the memory bar at the bottom. (photo 3).

When you hit the send maps button, it will start sending the maps (photo 4), and you will see the magic happen!

Good luck, and hopefully this helps revive an old GPS into a usable unit!

Be the First to Share

Did you make this project? Share it with us!

Colors of the Rainbow Contest

Project-Based Learning Contest

Комментарии и мнения владельцев

Hi, I’m wondering what the outcome will look like on my Garmin eTrex. Will I be able to add waypoints and go to them? Or will I just be able to scroll around on the downloaded maps? I assume it will show my position on the map. but will the coordinates be there?Thanks!

I don’t see map uploaded on Garmin Etrex Vista C. Master reset won’t help. Map name looks correct, but i don’t see streets etc.

Can i use it in my toyota prius 2012

I am not sure what the system is in the Prius. I did find this https://itstillruns.com/update-prius-gps-5786027.html. If it does work please leave a note.

I have an old Garmin HCx pro at home i didnt take out for a long time and propably is dead in terms of maps. Will give this a try! :)Thanks for the input!

The Best Car GPS

After testing the latest models, the Garmin DriveSmart 55 is our new top pick and the Garmin Drive 52 is our budget pick. Our also-great pick for world travelers is still the TomTom Go 520.

You could just use your phone for driving directions, but a dedicated GPS device makes navigating easier, works where you don’t have coverage, and frees up the phone for other uses. The Garmin DriveSmart 55 stands out because it combines best-in-class directions, points-of-interest data, driver alerts, and free map updates with the best multi-touch display we’ve seen on any GPS unit.

The best car GPS

Best-in-class directions, driver alerts, points of interest, and free map updates—combined with the best screen we’ve seen on any GPS unit—set the DriveSmart 55 apart from the pack.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 180.

The DriveSmart 55’s super-crisp 1200×720-pixel capacitive display is much sharper and easier to read than the 480×272 screen common on most similarly sized models. And its multi-touch control is much easier for zooming in or out on a map than the typical GPS screen’s controls. While the 5.5-inch screen is larger than on typical models—which have 5-inch screens—the overall unit is slightly smaller thanks to the 55’s sleek bezel-less design. Like the best GPS models, the 55 can also connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth, which lets you send destinations to the device, get incoming messages on-screen, and receive extra trip and traffic info. The DriveSmart’s extensive points-of-interest database helps guide you to an area’s best sites and businesses, with integrated TripAdvisor ratings, Foursquare listings, History Network sites, and US National Park directories, which other brands’ models don’t offer. The 55 also provides helpful traffic info in many metro areas, responds to voice commands as well as the best GPS units, and like other top models includes free lifetime map updates—a contrast to the pricey updates you buy for many cars’ built-in nav systems.

Better GPS for world travelers

You get more free maps for more countries than with Garmin models, but the TomTom Go 520’s display isn’t as sharp and the device isn’t as easy to use as the DriveSmart 55.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 200.

The TomTom Go 520 is a good alternative to take along if you frequently travel outside North America because it offers free downloadable world maps, which are separate, expensive purchases for Garmin models. TomTom’s handy magnetic mount is also a nice bonus.

While the Go 520 provides many of the same features as the Garmin DriveSmart 55, we prefer the 55 for US use because it gives more specific directions and clearer lane guidance, it has a sharper display, its menu system is easier to use, its voice controls are more extensive, and it offers more driver alerts.

If you want a basic navigator with fewer features

Like the DriveSmart 55, this budget model gives you a best-in-class user interface and points-of-interest database, and top-notch directions, but it lacks its high-resolution display, Bluetooth connectivity, voice commands, and Wi-Fi updating.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 100.

If you want a less expensive GPS navigator, without some of the handy features of the DriveSmart 55, we recommend the Garmin Drive 52. Although it’s the least expensive model in Garmin’s current line, it gives you the same great directions, user interface, points-of-interest database, and driver alerts as the DriveSmart 55, and includes free lifetime map updates. The Drive 52 is missing the 55’s handy Bluetooth connectivity, voice command system, and Wi-Fi updating. In addition, its 480×272 resistive touchscreen isn’t as sharp and doesn’t allow multi-touch input.

The best car GPS

Best-in-class directions, driver alerts, points of interest, and free map updates—combined with the best screen we’ve seen on any GPS unit—set the DriveSmart 55 apart from the pack.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 180.

Better GPS for world travelers

You get more free maps for more countries than with Garmin models, but the TomTom Go 520’s display isn’t as sharp and the device isn’t as easy to use as the DriveSmart 55.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 200.

If you want a basic navigator with fewer features

Like the DriveSmart 55, this budget model gives you a best-in-class user interface and points-of-interest database, and top-notch directions, but it lacks its high-resolution display, Bluetooth connectivity, voice commands, and Wi-Fi updating.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 100.

Why you should trust us

Rik Paul is Wirecutter’s autos editor and was previously the automotive editor for Consumer Reports, where he edited the publication’s car reviews and auto accessory tests, including GPS navigators. Prior to that, he was the senior feature editor for Motor Trend, where in 1996 he organized and wrote the publication’s (and possibly the industry’s) first comparison test of in-car GPS systems. He still proudly shows off the first “affordable” add-on car-nav system in the US—the 3,000 Sony NVX-F160—which came out in 1994. It was about the size of a small desktop computer and could track your car on a digital map, but it left it up to you to plot your own route.

Who should get this

For day-to-day, around-town navigation, a smartphone works great, especially if you have a phone mount that holds it in a place that’s easy to see. But if you tend to drive in rural areas or off the beaten path, where data coverage is sketchy, you may have found that you were unable to get directions through your phone, perhaps forcing you to resort to a paper map or, gasp, even stop and ask for directions. Similarly, on long road trips, you may have found that navigating with your phone depleted its battery—or your data plan—too quickly. And it’s frustrating—not to mention potentially dangerous—when your phone’s screen switches from the nav display to an incoming call just as you’re reaching a tricky interchange (and, yes, we missed our turn).

A standalone GPS unit can be better than a smartphone for many trips, especially longer excursions and trips off the beaten path.

A GPS device gets around a phone’s connectivity limitations (or avoids the hassle of downloading maps to your phone) by storing all the navigation and points-of-interest data onboard. The best ones also make navigating easier than with a smartphone app thanks to more-natural, landmark-specific voice directions (such as “turn right at the traffic light” instead of “turn right on Main Street”) and displays that clearly show highway signs and what lane to be in at interchanges. They also typically show the speed limit for the road you’re on, and the best models include a variety of locally based driver and safety alerts that you don’t get with a phone.

That said, it’s not strictly an either/or choice. The best GPS devices can pair with a phone via Bluetooth to get up-to-date traffic and weather info, display text messages and calendar reminders, and allow you to conduct hands-free calls. You can also send destinations and routes from your phone or computer to your GPS device, which can be more convenient than inputting them while sitting in your car.

Thinking of buying a new car? You can save a lot of money by forgoing a built-in navigation system and getting a portable device instead—in-dash systems are often available only on higher-priced trim levels, or as part of option packages that can add 1,000 to 5,000 to a vehicle’s price. A portable GPS unit also provides free lifetime map updates, which can cost as much as 200 for a built-in system and require going to a dealership.

How we picked

All car GPS devices have a common suite of features. You use the device’s touchscreen to enter an address or search for a point of interest (gas station, ATM, parking lot, or market, for example); the device draws from its built-in database to plot a route to that destination and give you turn-by-turn directions, both by voice and on the screen. If you miss a turn, it automatically recalculates the route. Most models include digital mapping of the US and Canada, and virtually all of them provide free lifetime map updates, which you download either via Wi-Fi or by plugging the device into a computer, depending on the model. Most have a 5-inch display (measured diagonally), although larger 5.5-, 6-, and 7-inch versions are also available. All plug into your car’s 12-volt accessory outlet (aka cigarette lighter) for power but also have an internal lithium-ion battery that typically lets you use the device for up to an hour when not plugged in.

In addition, while scouring the specs and features of all current models, we looked for the following options, which can make a device easier to use or more useful:

• Voice control: A good voice-control system can make it quicker and easier to input a destination, control volume and screen illumination, get traffic and weather updates, and cancel a route by speaking a command. The systems of GPS devices, however, depend on saying specific commands, so they aren’t as conversational as Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa.
• Traffic alerts: When navigating along the major highways of metro areas, most GPS devices can give you alerts about traffic delays along your route and ask if you want to reroute. But none of them match the breadth of the traffic info in the Google Maps, Waze, or Apple Maps phone apps.
• Wi-Fi updating: This handy feature lets you download and install map and software updates to your device over a Wi-Fi network, without removing it from the car, instead of having to plug the device into a computer and manually download the data.
• Multi-touch display: As with smartphones, the better GPS navigators have a convenient capacitive display, which lets you use multi-touch inputs. This is particularly helpful for quickly zooming in or out of a map. Many GPS devices use a resistive display, which recognizes only one touch point at a time. We’ve found those fine for most uses, such as tapping on-screen buttons, but zooming requires that you use the plus and minus buttons on the screen, which is a little clunkier.
• Bluetooth connectivity: Many models can connect with your smartphone via Bluetooth so you can use the company’s app to get more timely traffic alerts and weather updates and to receive destinations and routes from your phone. Some also let you use the GPS device’s speaker to conduct hands-free phone calls, and they’ll display text messages on-screen and read them to you, if desired.

How we tested

Each of the devices we’ve tested will get you to your destination by providing accurate turn-by-turn directions, and most of the better units include all of the options listed above. The differences often come down to the way you interact with the device: The best models make it easier to navigate by offering more precise visual and verbal directions, clearer lane guidance through tricky intersections, a more driver-friendly screen layout, and easier methods for inputting destinations. So for each update to this guide, we sought out the latest models from the major brands, set up each in a car, and put them through their paces in environments ranging from rural countrysides to the urban depths of New York City.

We surveyed each unit’s features and assessed its overall ease of use. We evaluated the driver-friendliness of the screen layout, the accessibility of the menus, and how quickly we could input a destination and get a route—both by entering it on the screen and, when possible, by using voice commands. We tinkered with the settings, evaluated the routing, assessed how easy it is to update the map and POI data, and judged the sturdiness of the included mount and simplicity of installation and removal of the device. We also paired each unit to a smartphone, when possible, to see what advantages that provided.

Our pick: Garmin DriveSmart 55

The best car GPS

Best-in-class directions, driver alerts, points of interest, and free map updates—combined with the best screen we’ve seen on any GPS unit—set the DriveSmart 55 apart from the pack.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 180.

Combined with Garmin’s best-in-class directions, user interface, points-of-interest database, and driver alerts, the DriveSmart 55 has the best display we’ve seen in this segment plus a sleek bezel-less design. This latter feature results in a larger, 5.5-inch screen than its direct competitors with yet a slightly smaller body. Like other high-end navigators, the 55 also lets you use voice commands for common functions, connect with your smartphone via Bluetooth, and update its maps and software over a Wi-Fi connection, so you don’t have to plug it into a computer.

The DriveSmart 55 has a super-crisp 1200×720 capacitive display, which is much sharper and easier to read than the screens in similarly sized “5-inch” models, including the 480×272 screen in our previous top pick, the DriveSmart 51 LMT-S. As with your smartphone, the 55 allows multi-touch gestures, such as pinching or spreading for easier zooming on a map. This is a clear step up from the resistive displays of less expensive units, which allow only single-finger gestures and require you to tap on the plus and minus buttons to zoom in or out.

The Garmin DriveSmart 55’s sleek, bezel-less design (right) leaves more room for the actual screen yet is smaller overall than the typical 5-inch GPS devices. Photo: Rik Paul

Garmin’s nav screen provides the essential information in a clear way. The latest map software now includes topographical shading (shown to the right of the road) to indicate mountains—a nice addition. Photo: Rik Paul

The Garmin DriveSmart 55’s sleek, bezel-less design (right) leaves more room for the actual screen yet is smaller overall than the typical 5-inch GPS devices. Photo: Rik Paul

Compared with models from other brands, Garmin’s visual and audible directions are more precise. Once you’ve entered your destination, the DriveSmart 55 presents its directions clearly on the screen and speaks them as well. We like that Garmin’s voice directions—called Real Directions—are more specific about landmarks than other navigators: In our testing, instead of just saying “Turn ahead” or to turn at a specific road, it often told us to “Turn at the traffic light,” “the stop sign,” or even “the red building.” Updated three times a year, these Real Directions help make up for those times you can’t easily see a street sign.

Like some TomTom models, the DriveSmart 55 (and its larger sibling, the DriveSmart 65) also now include 3D mapping; in some major cities, it shows familiar buildings and landmarks as recognizable 3D images, which can help you more easily orient yourself with your surroundings in an unfamiliar area.

Like all of the models we tested, the Garmin displays the speed limit for the road you’re driving on (highlighted in red if you’re exceeding it). But a new feature that we found really helpful has the display turn yellow and emit a soft beep as you’re approaching a speed-limit change. This made us more aware of those unexpected changes where police often like to park themselves with radar guns.

Similarly, all current Garmin GPS devices provide a suite of driver alerts that give you a heads-up for such things as an upcoming school zone, a sharp curve, a railroad or animal crossing, and more; it will even tell you if you’re going the wrong way on a one-way street. Each alert is accompanied by a small icon, which pops up in the lower left corner of the screen, and a soft chime, which you can turn off individually for each type of alert. Models from other brands can give you warnings about upcoming red-light and speed cameras but don’t provide nearly the same range of alerts as Garmin.

The start screen is reflective of Garmin’s overall interface: simple, nicely designed, and easy to access. Having the Settings button one tap away is a welcome touch. Photo: Rik Paul

As part of the company’s points-of-interest database, all of Garmin’s latest navigators include TripAdvisor ratings, Foursquare listings, and US National Park directories. Photo: Rik Paul

In addition to the usual POIs—gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, shopping centers—new Garmin models include millions of Foursquare-sourced destinations, TripAdvisor ratings, and History Network historic sites, for exploring an area’s past. Photo: Rik Paul

The National Park directories include information on visitor centers, landmarks, campgrounds, picnic areas, and other popular areas. Photo: Rik Paul

The start screen is reflective of Garmin’s overall interface: simple, nicely designed, and easy to access. Having the Settings button one tap away is a welcome touch. Photo: Rik Paul

Garmin’s voice-command system works well overall and is much easier to use than TomTom’s (the only other brand that offers it). You do have to use basic commands (which are prompted on the screen), but after activating the system with a chosen trigger word, we could usually plot new routes quickly by simply saying, “Find place,” “Find address,” or a similar phrase, and then speaking the appropriate address or point of interest. The feature is particularly convenient while driving, because, by default to reduce driver distraction, Garmin blocks you from inputting destinations or changing settings on the screen while the car is moving. That said, the system isn’t nearly as seamless or conversational as the voice command systems in a good smartphone or digital assistant, and several times it simply couldn’t understand the destination we asked for, despite several tries. (Repeating the same destination in Google Maps resulted in nearly instant directions.)

The DriveSmart 55 lets you use voice control to search for places or input addresses, although its Voice Command system (shown above) isn’t as seamless or as conversational as the digital assistant in a good smartphone. Photo: Rik Paul

Voice searches typically give you a list of results and you choose the one you want by speaking the corresponding number. You can also ask the device to scroll down for more. Photo: Rik Paul

The DriveSmart 55 lets you use voice control to search for places or input addresses, although its Voice Command system (shown above) isn’t as seamless or as conversational as the digital assistant in a good smartphone. Photo: Rik Paul

The DriveSmart 55 provides traffic alerts along your route using data from the Here traffic network, which is updated roughly every five minutes via an FM radio signal. Alerts pop up on the screen and are accompanied by spoken warnings (for example, that traffic is causing a five-minute delay along your route). However, traffic alerts are available only on interstates and other major highways near major metro areas.

Pairing the 55 with your smartphone via Bluetooth and Garmin’s Drive app (iOS, Android) gets you more frequent and more detailed information through Garmin’s Live Traffic service. Traffic data is updated every minute, includes more specific alerts (such as “stalled car in left lane” instead of just “slow traffic ahead”), and covers a wider range of streets—but it’s not as good as the traffic info you get on Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze.

Connecting the DriveSmart 55 to the Drive app adds features in other areas, as well. We could input a destination on our phone, press Go, and then have the navigator instantly calculate a route to it, which is very convenient. You can conduct hands-free phone calls using the DriveSmart’s speaker and microphone—handy if your car doesn’t have Bluetooth capability—and view your phone’s incoming text and email messages, calendar reminders, and app alerts on its screen. You can also get weather updates, see nearby parking and locations (provided through Parkopedia) in many US cities, and view live traffic-camera images.

Finally, the 55 can double as a display for Garmin’s optional BC 30 Wireless Backup Camera.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

If having comprehensive traffic data is important to you, we recommend using a smartphone instead of a GPS navigator. Although Garmin’s devices provide traffic alerts within major metro areas, if you’re looking for the same kind of clearly marked, color-coded traffic-flow info that you get from Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps—even on less traveled roads—you may be disappointed.

The DriveSmart 55 comes preloaded with street maps of the US, Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean locations (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and Bahamas). You can also download maps of other countries from the Garmin website or order them on SD cards, but they can be pricey. Several areas we looked at in Europe—such as Spain/Portugal and the UK/Ireland—cost 70 each. If you plan on using a GPS device in other areas, the TomTom Go 520 may be a better option.

Better for world travelers: TomTom Go 520

Better GPS for world travelers

You get more free maps for more countries than with Garmin models, but the TomTom Go 520’s display isn’t as sharp and the device isn’t as easy to use as the DriveSmart 55.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 200.

The TomTom Go 520, with free lifetime access to world maps, is a good alternative if you want a GPS device that you can easily use in countries outside of North America. It has a lower-resolution display than the Garmin DriveSmart 55 and isn’t as easy to use, and its audible directions aren’t quite as precise, but like the 55 it gives you a multi-touch display, voice control, Bluetooth capability, 3D displays, and convenient Wi-Fi updating. It also comes with a handy powered magnetic mount that lets you easily attach the TomTom to the windshield and remove it without having to mess with connecting and disconnecting a power cord each time.

Although the Go 520 was a reliable navigator in our testing, the Garmin DriveSmart 55 has a cleaner display layout, more precise directions, better lane guidance at highway intersections, and a menu system that is easier to navigate—features we think are more important for most drivers because they make it easier to get where you’re going. And though the Go 520 will alert you to locations of safety cameras (for speed and red lights), it doesn’t provide the wide range of alerts the Garmin devices do.

We also found TomTom’s voice controls to be more limited than Garmin’s. We could enter an address by voice, but we weren’t able to search for points of interest other than gas stations and parking lots. (TomTom says that you can use Siri and Google Assistant through the Go 520, but when we tried it with our Android test phone our directions came through in Google Maps on our phone.)

But the Go 520 is still a very good navigation unit overall, and if you frequently travel outside North America and want a device you can take with you, TomTom’s free maps will quickly save you a bundle of money compared with buying international maps for a Garmin model.

Budget pick: Garmin Drive 52

If you want a basic navigator with fewer features

Like the DriveSmart 55, this budget model gives you a best-in-class user interface and points-of-interest database, and top-notch directions, but it lacks its high-resolution display, Bluetooth connectivity, voice commands, and Wi-Fi updating.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 100.

If you need only a basic GPS navigator, without some of the DriveSmart 55’s handy features, the Garmin Drive 52 may be a good option for you. It provides the same reliable directions, intuitive user interface, extensive points-of-interest database, and helpful driver alerts for a lower price. What the 52 doesn’t give you is the same super-crisp 5.5-inch display, and its 5-inch, 480×272 resistive touchscreen is notably less sharp than the 55’s 1200×720 screen and doesn’t allow multi-touch input. Nor can you use voice commands for common functions, pair the device with Garmin’s smartphone app via Bluetooth for more information and extra features, or use Wi-Fi to easily update its maps and software; you need to plug the 52 into a computer to perform updates.

The Drive 52 comes with free lifetime map updates, which include the US, Canada, and the same Caribbean locales as the 55, but not Mexico. The 52’s maps also don’t show topographical shading for mountains or 3D buildings in cities.

The base Drive 52 doesn’t include Garmin’s traffic alerts, which you may not need if you don’t frequently drive on the major highways in metro areas or if you use your smartphone to check traffic. But for a few dollars more, you can opt for the Drive 52 Traffic model, which gives you the same traffic alerts as the DriveSmart 55.

The competition

If you want all of the features of the Garmin DriveSmart 55 or the TomTom Go 520 with a larger display, look for the Garmin DriveSmart 65 (6.95 inches) or TomTom Go 620 (6 inches), respectively. While they display bigger maps, the Garmin DriveSmart 55 provides a sharper screen and a better overall balance; it’s easy to read without taking up too much room on the dash or windshield.

The Garmin Drive 51 LMT-S is a previous top pick that’s still worth considering if you want to save money. It’s very similar to the Garmin Drive 52 Traffic, but without the History Network’s historic sites or US National Park directories. The Drive 51 can pair with a smartphone via Bluetooth to use Garmin’s Smartphone Link app, but it doesn’t let you conduct hands-free phone calls or see incoming text messages and calendar reminders like the DriveSmart 55 does. The similar Drive 51 LM is even less expensive than the Drive 51 LMT-S but lacks traffic alerts or Bluetooth connectivity. (The Drive 61 LMT-S and Drive 61 LM are the same models, respectively, with a 6.95-inch display.)

Our previous upgrade pick, the Garmin DriveAssist 51 LMT-S, has many of the same features as the DriveSmart 55, but includes a dashcam that continuously records what’s happening in front of the vehicle. If the DriveAssist detects a crash it automatically saves the video and can send a text message and map link to a preselected contact. The DriveAssist’s camera also enables visual and audible forward-collision warnings and lane-departure alerts, which can be an extra hedge against distracted or drowsy driving. The dashcam’s video, however, is not up to the quality of today’s best models, and the DriveAssist lacks the 55’s super-crisp display and Garmin’s latest points-of-interest collections. But if you want the functionality of both devices in one body, this is still worth considering.

The TomTom Go 52 is nearly identical to the TomTom Go 520 and is usually priced a little lower. But it doesn’t include free access to world maps or the 520 model’s handy magnetic mount—features that make the Go 520 one of our picks.

The TomTom Via series is a selection of lower-priced navigators with resistive screens; maps of the US, Canada, and Mexico; and free lifetime map updates. The series includes the 5-inch Via 1525M and Via 1525TM, and the 6-inch Via 1625M and Via 1625TM; the TM models give you free lifetime traffic alerts. None provide Bluetooth connectivity, so you can’t pair them with a smartphone. They’re worth considering only if all you want is basic smartphone-free navigation.

At only about 1½ inches in diameter, the Garmin Speak is smaller and more discreet than a typical GPS device. Instead of a map, the Speak relies heavily on Garmin’s clear voice directions while displaying basic visual guidance for upcoming turns and multilane situations. As you approach your next turn, a green perimeter light starts illuminating at the bottom of the display and gradually rises up the sides, completing a circle at the top just as you reach your turn. We found this visual cue to be surprisingly effective, especially in dense areas with lots of streets close together, and we were impressed with the Speak’s navigational capabilities, considering its size and lack of a screen.

However, unlike other units, the Speak needs to be paired with a compatible iPhone or Android smartphone via Bluetooth to function at all. This pairing also allows the Speak to offer Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant, though we haven’t seen the value of having Alexa in a car; if you already need a smartphone to make it work, you can just use Siri or Google Assistant for those type of functions. (Garmin also sells the pricier Speak Plus, which is a version with a dashcam and integrated safety warnings similar to those of the Garmin DriveAssist 51 LMT-S.)

The Klashwerks Raven is a multi-function device that combines a dashcam with navigation, security, and vehicle tracking. But we weren’t impressed with is navigation functions. Destinations need to be input through a Bluetooth-paired smartphone app, and the unit’s display provides only basic visual guidance. (You can see a full map on the phone’s app, but that requires having another device on your dash.) When paired, voice directions can be heard through the car’s speakers, but when we left the Raven’s app to do something else with the phone (such as stream music), the navigation stopped completely.

Update or add new Maps to your Sat Nav / GPS for free

This is the simplest tutorial on how to add or update maps to your Garmin Sat Nav.

Garmin maps are simple img files (files with.img extension). So updating or adding maps is as simple as copying and pasting a file, which has to be named gmapprom.img or gmapsupp.img. In some places, you may find locked files, but there are tools to unlock those.

An additional option (but not free) is to purchase official maps from Garmin’s website. The cost in the UK (Europe map) is £49.99 for a single update or £74.99 for LifeTime update (updates forever). If your GPS has LMT in the description is because LifeTime updates are included already (no extra charge). Once you got this, you install Garmin software from their website and you get the updates whenever you want.

But because we like free stuff, these are the steps:

Step 1. Buy a cable and connect your Sat Nav

The first step is to connect the device to your computer. For this purpose, you need a mini USB cable. If you are an Andriod user you probably have one already, otherwise, you can get one on Amazon for around USD 3 (option 1, option 2, option 3).

Step 2. Find your Map

Open Street Map (OSM) is the most used and globally recognised map source. They are free, created and updated by users and volunteers across the World.

The easiest thing to do is to find the map of your interest ready to use in.img format. So select your map from this link (once you find the one you need, click on the Provider column), only make sure that it says Yes in Routable column. In my case I wanted France so I download the map from the following website. There you click on Europe Maps and then Benelux France.

That’s it! Your browser will start downloading a.zip (if it is compressed) or a.img file. In my case the file is called “Benelux France-IMG-UL.zip“, and it is around 600MB.

Clarification : If you cannot find your map in the link above, follow the following steps:

Go to http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/2. In “Choose a predefined country” select Thailand3. Click “Download map now”4. Select only the file “osm_generic_gmapsupp.zip” to download.5. Unzip the file above6. Copy the unzipped file (gmapsupp.img) to your SD card

[Only for advanced users]: browse the OSM website or other providers to find more specific maps. If your map has.osm extension, use one of these tools to convert it to.img. Mkgmap is a good one.

Step 3. Copy your Map to your Sat Nav

Here you have two options, you can copy the file to your Sat Nav memory, or you can use an external SD card:

Option A: Use your Sat Nav inbuilt memory

You can now just copy and paste your file to your device. Once connected to your computer, it will appear as an additional drive, as shown in the image below.

You may not have enough space on your device, but you can remove some files and replace the existing map. You can always make a backup and copy the files to your computer.

gmapprom.img is the pre-installed map, so you can just replace it. gmapbmap.img is the base map containing only large roads and larger cities, not really suitable for routing. You could delete it but as it is only about 50 MB you wouldn’t gain much space. You can also delete some of the voice files to make room. These probably contain lots of different voices and languages (files with.sum and.vpm extensions) that you never use, so may be taking up quite a bit of space. They should all be in the Garmin\Voice directory. This is also only around 50MB. Another option would be to go to garmin.openstreetmap.nl and select only the files you are interested in and see if the generated map fits on your device.

Option B: Use an external SD card

If you do not want to remove nor touch the original maps (the ones that came when you bought your device), you can play safe and use an external SD card (read more at our “Best Travel Gadgets” post). You only need to create a folder called Garmin and copy your.img file in this directory.

You can get a 4GB SD card for around USD 4: Kingston, SanDisk. You need to format it with FAT32 [Windows, Mac]. Garmin says it will only accept up to a 4GB card for certain models, so check that in advance.

Step 4. Check your new Map in your Sat Nav

To check if the map was copied correctly and is ready to use, follow these steps:

• Disconnect your Sat Nav from the computer
• Turn it on and click on Tools (bottom right corner)
• Click on Settings. then on Map. and then on Map Info.

You should now see your new map, as the image below:

Recommended devices

You can find many Garmin Sat Navs on Amazon at different (from USD 100):

New devices can load multiple “.img” files. If you want to have more maps on your device you can rename the maps file ingmapprom.img (original map/ or renamed new map), gmapsupp.img (2° map), gmapprom1.img (3° map), etc.

Some other recommended Garmin Sat Navs are the ones below. Bear in mind that nowadays most of them come with LifeTime maps from the country you buy them from, so better to buy them with the maps you are most likely to need.

Additional tips and information

• Do not forget to visit our “Best Travel Gadgets” post to find other useful artefacts for your trip!
• I strongly recommend Skyscanner for searching for both cars and flights. I always find the best deals. For cars, local agencies are normally much cheaper than the big names such as Europcar and Hertz.
• Are you still having problems with your maps? Please ask for help here.

Support us

A small donation would help us to keep travelling and providing the best advice we can. Simply use this link from Buy Me A Coffee for that.

15 thoughts on “Update or add new Maps to your Sat Nav / GPS for free”

I have read your post on downloading and installing maps from Openstreetmaps. Thank you very much for all the info. I have attempted to download a street map for Thailand. Have doe the generic for GPS and once downloaded it asks to be burnt onto a CD. This is the only option. I also then downloaded the version for Windows and this one actually opens. I have then followed your instructions and have copied all files to my SD card as well as memory of my GPS but the map does not want to show. If you like i can send you the file with all the.img files. They are all numbers.ing files. There is no specific file stating that it is Thailand map or so. If you could help me with this one I will be greatly appreciate

Hi Harald, There is no need to burn anything to a CD nor open the file or any program in Windows or any other operating system. You should: 1. Go to http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/ 2. In “Choose a predefined country” select Thailand 3. Click “Download map now” 4. Select only the file “osm_generic_gmapsupp.zip” to download. 5. Unzip the file above 6. Copy the unzipped file (gmapsupp.img) to your SD card Cheers

Can I ask for help? I’ve got a garmin deal 560lt, it doesn’t have lifetime maps. I was getting a message saying it couldn’t unlock maps so I started messing about with the files and downloaded a map from openstreetmaps… but it isn’t showing streets? What have I done wrong? Should I replace the original map with the one I downloaded