Today’s GPS units are not only affordable but also provide you with the newest technology and mapping software that can get you from point “A" to point “B", warn you about traffic or weather, and more.



There are a variety of navigation systems available for your choosing. Within those varieties are the portable or in-dash units.

The portable units are mainly made to suction to your windshield and are powered from your vehicle’s DC outlet. These units are versatile and can easily unplug and be moved from vehicle to vehicle. Some even have built-in batteries to provide you with navigation without an external power source.

The downside of the portable units is the screen size, which is around 4 inches.

The in-dash navigation units usually include a Touch-Screen Monitor, which puts entering destination addresses at your fingertip. These systems replace your factory radio, and provide control over your entire audio system. With systems designed to fit both Standard and Oversized Radios it’s possible to find a system for any vehicle. Options such as Bluetooth, IPod Integration, Satellite Radio and TV tuners also allows you to completely outfit your vehicle.

When looking for the perfect GPS unit for your vehicle, ask yourself the following questions:

1. How often do you intend to use the system? Inexpensive units simply plug in to your car's cigarette lighter and are small enough to store in your glove compartment, but they're not as user-friendly.

2. Consider the layout of your car. Some systems come with a monitor that displays a map. The monitor is commonly installed on the dashboard or on a pedestal extending from the dashboard. In some cars, such an installation may block air vents or make it somewhat uncomfortable for a passenger to enter or exit the vehicle or sit in the passenger seat.

3. Select a system that features multiple ways of getting to your destination. This can include by address, by intersection, by a personal address book or via a location selected directly from the map.

4. Look for a system that gives you vocal as well as graphical directions. The systems that use a map and monitor include arrows that show you the direction of a turn and also indicate where your car is on the map in relation to the destination. Other systems use the head unit or radio to display the name of the street on which you are to make a turn or on which you are traveling. Both of these systems also give you verbal directions as you approach a turn.

5. Select a system that includes point of interest data. Most GPS systems include locations of airports and other transportation services, ATMs and banks, restaurants, hotels and a host of other sites.

6. Choose a system that offers updates of the point-of-interest data.

7. Consider installation time if you are working on a tight budget. Systems that rely on maps displayed on monitors are more complicated and take longer to install than other types of systems.

If you take the time to pick out your unit, you won’t be disappointed.