Cheap GPS Navigation Systems For Cars

Buy here for low prices and free shipping on a variety of GPS systems. The GPS market has also never been more crowded, so to help you in your buying decision. Standalone GPS devices are slowly being displaced by smartphones and apps, but here are a few things that you'll need to know when shopping for a portable navigation device. There are still a number of good reasons to choose a standalone GPS device. So if you're interested, here are our top picks.
             
             
             

Tips for choosing the right GPS device

1. Screen size matters. You may be tempted to save a buck by opting for a device with a tiny 3.5-inch screen, but a larger screen is helpful for being able to view the maps and turn-by-turn directions at a glance, which means that you'll potentially end up spending less time scrutinizing the screen and more time scanning the road ahead. However, be careful that you don't go too big for your needs. It's possible to obscure too much of your windshield's real estate with an ill-placed 7-inch unit, reducing visibility and vehicle safety.

2. Traffic data isn't a must, but you should consider it. If the GPS device that you're looking at offers free lifetime traffic data, then this issue becomes a no-brainer. Just know that the free traffic offered on these devices is often of a lower quality when compared with the premium/paid traffic services offered by the same provider.

For those who live in areas where traffic isn't a huge issue (or those who only plan to use their GPS device sparingly), maintaining and paying for a subscription to a premium traffic service is probably not the best idea. However, for drivers in major metropolitan areas where gridlock can be an issue (such as San Francisco, where we do our GPS testing), traffic services like TomTom's HD Traffic can mean the difference between getting home in time for dinner and sitting in a jam caused by a baseball game.

3. Look for lifetime map updates. This is probably the most important thing to look for as your GPS navigator is only as good as the map data that it uses to route your trips. Map updates not only add new roads to the locally stored map, but also fix errors in older maps (street names, traffic directions), and refresh the database of points of interest (POIs), removing dead entries for closed businesses and adding new destinations. Paying for these updates can get expensive over the long run, but paying a bit extra on the front end for lifetime map updates can save you money and dramatically lengthen the lifetime of your GPS device.
             
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