One of the first questions you should ask yourself when renting a car in America is whether you should opt for a navigation system or not. To give you a quick answer: no, there are cheaper and smarter solutions for that.
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A road trip without navigation, that’s going to be difficult
A navigation system in your rental car naturally offers many advantages. Easy route planning and navigation, even in unfamiliar areas. Less chance of getting lost and wasting valuable time. And you have access to real-time traffic information. But does that mean you still need to rent a navigation system? Rental companies charge more than €10 per day quickly. And you already have a phone for that!
Most cars have CarPlay
My experience with rental cars is that you always get a fairly new car. And the advantage: it almost always has CarPlay. You can then connect a navigation app to it such as Google Maps or Maps.me.
It’s wise when renting a rental car in America to carefully check if it has CarPlay. Are you unsure? Just send a message to the rental company. Then you definitely don’t need to purchase navigation for your rental car.
Save on Your Rental Car via Discover Cars
Now that you know you can safely leave that expensive navigation system as it is, you can keep that money in your pocket for other fun things during your road trip. A smart place to start your search for the ideal vehicle is Discover Cars. The great thing about this platform is that they directly compare the prices of all major rental companies with each other, so you often end up much cheaper than when you book directly. Moreover, they are very transparent about the rental conditions and insurances; you can see at a glance what is and isn’t included. This way, you won’t face any surprises at the counter and you’ll capture that savings on navigation double and triple fold right away!
Navigation for on the road: Google Maps and Maps.me and save > €10 per day
Without a doubt, navigation apps are a lifesaver during travel. Google Maps and Maps.me offer offline maps, so you’re not dependent on a constant internet connection. Mark your accommodation, attractions, and restaurants in advance, so you can explore everywhere without getting lost.
Also handy when you do have internet: Google Maps shows the highlights in the area. Useful when you’re on a road trip and looking for a fun stopover.
Download Offline Maps
If you plan to take a road trip in an area with little or no internet connection, it’s wise to download offline maps. This way, you can navigate and find important locations even without an internet connection.
Google Maps
With Google Maps, you can download offline maps for an area of up to 100 kilometers in diameter. To do this, open the Google Maps app and tap on the hamburger menu in the top left corner. Then tap on “Offline areas” and select the area you want to download.
Maps.me
Maps.me is another popular app for downloading offline maps. With Maps.me, you can download maps for an area of up to 1000 kilometers in diameter. To do this, open the Maps.me app and tap on the menu icon in the top left corner. Then tap on “Download maps” and select the area you want to download.
Tips for Downloading Offline Maps
- Download the maps before you go on your trip. This way, you’re sure to have them when you need them.
- Download the maps for the area you’re going to visit. This way, you can use the maps to plan your route and find sights.
- Download the maps for an area with high resolution. This way, you can view the maps well, even when zoomed in.
Need Internet for Your Navigation? There Are Apps for That Too
Don’t want to have to worry about an internet subscription abroad? There are apps for that too! With Airalo and Nomad, you choose an internet subscription and get a temporary e-sim. So you don’t need to visit a random office or sign up for an overpriced subscription at the airport. Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before purchasing one.
Generally, it’s still the cheapest to walk into a local store (like Vodafone, for example) of a provider abroad and sign up for a subscription there.
Additional advantage: you not only have internet for your navigation, but also for everything else you do with your phone.
Renting a car in America can be a fantastic way to explore the country. With a little preparation, you can make a carefree and unforgettable trip. And renting a navigation system in America is definitely not necessary. Every rental company will suggest it, but you can also invest that money in an internet subscription. You’ll get much more enjoyment out of that! Navigation in your rental car in America, don’t do it ;).
