Choosing a GPS System for Your Car

Remember to good old days when navigating by car meant following directions you scribbled on a piece of paper or unfolding one of those monster maps that obscured your vision through the windshield. And more often then not you got lost anyway and if you were male you just drove aimlessly around while convincing everyone in the car you knew where you were going.

Those days are over because GPS car navigation systems have taken the guess work out of finding your way in unfamiliar places. In fact many newer cars, trucks, and SUVs come with GPS systems installed as optional features. But even if your car doesn’t have a pre-installed system you can purchase a portable unit that will do everything a factory model will.

The first thing you’ll want to find out when considering a car based GPS system is how easy is it to use. Buying the most expensive model is not always the best idea because all those extra features may make it more difficult to use.

What you are looking for is ease of use so that you can quickly program it even while driving. Taking your eyes off the road while fumbling with your GPS is never a good idea. Find a system that is easily used and can be programmed with just a few touches of the buttons. You’ll also want a big display that’s easy to see and understand.

Another thing you want to check into is the ability of the GPS unit you are interested in to receive regular updates. This includes firmware updates which will keep your unit updated with the latest fixes and tweaks as well as software updates to ensure that you have the latest map data for accurate directions.

You can buy GPS systems just about anywhere; electronic stores, specialty shops, and online is the most well known places. There is a good chance that by shopping around you’ll be able to find the system you are interested in at a good price. Be sure to ask questions and see what types of features or accessories are available with that particular model.

Choosing a GPS system for your car is not that hard. Just take the time to research your purchase thoroughly and before you know it your GPS unit will be telling you how to get to wherever you want to go.