Whatever kind of vehicle you have, a portable GPS navigation system is a cheap way to enhance it. These devices have the latest in technology that will help you find your way without getting lost. And since there are improvements made all the time, a portable GPS navigation system is a lot less expensive than paying for one that comes with the auto upon purchase.

A portable GPS navigation system provides lots of options, besides giving directions. You can use all sorts of items, such as an iPod, cell phone and TV applications. Buying these items as add-ons is really the way to go. These systems provide more than just directions, though. Many of them attach to your windshield and run from the vehicle's battery. A big bonus of these systems is that they can go just about anywhere- just plug them in to the outlet in your car and go!

Some Garmin portable GPS units also have built-in batteries to provide you with navigation even without an external power source. The popular and versatile Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS Navigator comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that will last up to 8 hours on a single charge. Although it has a good size screen it is compact enough to fit easily in a pocket or purse. The Garmin Nuvi 350 Personal Travel Assistant provides much more than directions; it has an Mp3 player, an audio book player and much more.

Another system for navigation is the in-dash. These units often have touch-screen capabilities. Touch screens make it possible to enter your destination with a finger. Often, you can replace your car radio, in order to gain control of the whole radio system.

With systems designed to fit both standard and big radios it is now possible to find a system for any vehicle. Options like Bluetooth, iPod integration, satellite radio and TV tuners let you to outfit your vehicle with all the options at a fraction of the cost that your dealership would charge you.

If more points of interest are loaded into the unit the better the chances of you finding a destination with minimal information. Hard drive maps are actually loaded on your unit; updates are as easy as downloading new maps from your home system and loading them onto your hard drive via SD Card or DVD. Actually maps are loaded onto a DVD which must be inserted into the system. New updated DVDs must be bought as time goes by in order to stay current with the growth of your area.

The newer portable GPS units offer convenience, affordability and more advanced functions than earlier models. They may include such features as internal, rechargeable batteries, pre-loaded North America map databases and real time traffic reporting.

There are portable navigation systems priced to fit every budget. Furthermore, the cost is worth the service and entertainment these systems provide. You will never again find yourself lost in a strange city searching for someone to provide you with clear, accurate directions.