Driving with Your GPS System

A GPS unit on your vehicle can turn your boring journeys, into exciting adventures. You can discover and experience new worlds by simply planning your trips online and by downloading various routes, destinations, landscapes and maps into your GPS system. With your own GPS on your dashboard or pocket, you are confident you’ll always be secured when you’re on the road.

However, choosing a GPS system for your car can be overwhelming. To narrow down your choices, you have to consider several things to ensure you make an informed decision. The first thing you have to determine is whether an in-dash GPS unit or a portable add-on model is the most appropriate system for you.

When you’re buying a new car, most vehicle companies offer standard or optional in-dash GPS systems. Fortunately, unlike the earlier systems that used several CDs to feature the entire United States, modern cars are DVD-based, storing all information of an entire country in one disc. In-dash GPS units are usually more expensive compared to portable devices, but expect to have larger screens.

If you were not able to add an optional navigation system when you bought the car, you can easily purchase in-dash models in the market. However, expect to pay for professional installation. Installing GPS systems while your car is on the factory and after market can cost the same.

The benefit of in-dash GPS systems whether you had it installed by a professional or at the factory itself, is how it combines with your car’s interior. Since there are no adaptors, wires, beanbag, adhesive mounts and suction cups, your in-dash system comes out looking professional and clean. The downside of in-dash options is that once installed, you can never take them with you or use in other vehicles, making it prone to theft.

On the other hand, if you would choose portable units, such as high-end models like Garmin GPS StreetPilot or Magellan GPS RoadMate, you can always bring it wherever you are and use it in multiple vehicles. While these kinds of GPS units may not be as sharp looking compared to expensive in-dash systems, the good thing about it is that you can use it anywhere you want.

Most portable GPS systems feature a hard drive that can be stored with nationwide maps. Designed usually with user-friendly interfaces, you would not need to install or download information online. Higher-end portable GPS models provide voice-guided instructions that are ideal for drivers.

Portable navigation devices usually come with a cheaper price. Because of this, some portables can only store one route at a time, while others require you to store information from SD or miniSD cards. All the same, these systems offer an economical solution of providing you with accurate navigation and voice-prompt instructions to several or multiple vehicles.