With the Summer period now here the chances are that you might be planning on a driving to see your relations or going to a new place that you haven’t driven in before. If that sounds like you and you use a Garmin Nuvi GPS in order to help you get there then you should consider updating the maps on the product before you go.
Roads Change Meaning Maps are Out of Date
The reason you should do this is because roads can change meaning the maps on the Nuvi will be out of date with old directions. So if new routes appear then it’s possible that you could take a wrong turn, go to the wrong place, or just simply be late for your planned arrival time.
In order to update your Garmin Nuvi GPS maps you have a number of official options available to you – some of which you will need to pay for, but one of which is actually free as part of the Garmin nuMaps Guarantee program.
How to Download Free Garmin GPS Maps
Free Garmin map updates are only available to certain customers, and it can be tricky figuring out if that applies to your product. Thankfully though, Garmin have recently made the whole update process a lot easier so you can now check for free Garmin Nuvi maps by simply connecting the device to your PC and then the myGarmin website – which is where you can register the sat nav and browse all available upgrade options.
Installing Free Garmin Map Updates
If you decide you do want to install new map data then the process should take you no longer than 45 minutes over a standard Internet connection. You can order new Garmin maps on an SD Card, but the download version usually makes more sense given the immediate impact the new routing data can have.
Lifetime Map Updates
Not everyone will be able to download a free map database though, so if you find that’s the case for you then you will typically need to pay anything between $49 and $89 US Dollars for an upgrade.
Some of Garmin’s newer Nuvi GPS models are now coming with Lifetime Map Updates as part of the package though, so it’s also worth checking to see whether buying a new GPS could be more cost-effective over a couple of years of ownership.
Whichever option you decide to choose, you will be able to drive to your Summer destination with renewed confidence and end up having a very happy holiday!
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