How to pick a GPS

There are many factors that need to be considered when choosing a GPS. The reliability, features, and price are the most important factors to keep in mind.



 The reliability of the GPS is crucial because a GPS failing while in use is annoying and can distract the driver. There are many GPS brands available on the market but there are two that stand out - Garmin and TomTom. These two companies have been in the business since the beginning and have been trusted by millions. A good starting point in the search of a GPS would be to look at the available models from the two brands and reading reviews from real-world users to see if it is a good choice. If the GPS has positive reviews and is from Garmin or TomTom, chances are that they will be reliable. The next step would be looking at the features. Some features include spoken street names, lane guidance, and traffic updates. Spoken street names help when navigating foreign streets by saying the street name which allows the driver to keep their eyes on the road. Lane guidance helps on unfamiliar multi-lane roads by telling the driver which lane they should be in with a graphic. Some new GPS's have a traffic feature which can tell you if there is traffic ahead and even change your route based on traffic conditions. Some GPS's can be used as a Bluetooth handsfree or as media players too. The most important feature is lifetime map updates. This feature allows the unit to be more accurate by including new roads and road changes. If a GPS does not include free updates, you may have to pay a hefty price for the updates in the future, sometimes even more than half of the price of the device itself! This feature saves money and gives a peace of mind that there will not be a road that does not exist anymore and that your route can take advantage of new roads. Finally, the price is what makes or breaks a GPS. Prices of GPS’s have never been lower giving the consumer more choice and more bang for their buck. Even with the lower prices, there are still large price differences between similar units. Get the best deal by shopping around and sticking with the features you truly need