Portable Car GPS Systems Keep You on Track

Portable Car GPS Systems Keep You on Track

Article by Michael Taite

Ever since the Model T Ford became popular and available to the masses, people started going on road trips. It became an American tradition, as well as getting lost; missed turns or bad directions have plagued drivers ever since. But not any more as there are many choices for car GPS systems that are available from under 0.

Possibly, a portable car GPS system could even save your marriage! How many times have you ended up shouting at your spouse because they didn’t know how to read a map or give directions? Or blaming each other for getting totally lost in the middle of nowhere? Now there is no excuse because you can have a co-pilot that knows where they are going – and most of them will even talk to you as well!

The Rise in Popularity of Car GPS Systems

It all started when many luxury cars became equipped with the car GPS technology built into the dashboard. Manufacturers soon realized that most people can’t afford a luxury car with GPS but they still wanted a GPS system – so the portable PGS system was born. Suddenly accurate directions, exact positioning, and even weather and traffic updates were available at the push of a button.

Benefits of a Portable Car GPS

Nowadays, gone are the days of juggling maps, trying to understand scribbled directions, and wondering how to get out off the city and onto the highway are becoming a thing of the past. Those little portable car GPS systems can make you feel safer and a bit more confidant on the road. Unlike the car GPS systems that are built-in to the dash of a new car, the portable car GPS system can go practically anywhere that you go. Another benefit of a portable unit is that they can be taken out the car or hidden from view – thieves that once stole car radios are now into GPS units.

Features of a Portable Car GPS

There are many brands available, like the ever poplar Garmin, TomTom, and Magellan GPS systems. Common sizes range from 3.5 to 4.7 inches; it all depends whether you plan to use them mainly in your car or for taking in your pocket on a hiking trip as well.

With the Garmin nuvi 700 series for example, drivers can display with a tap of the screen, their exact location with latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest gas stations, hospitals, and police stations. One of the neatest features is to help drivers find their car when they parked in an unfamiliar spot or in a huge parking lot – the nuvi 700 series will automatically mark the position of your car when they are removed from their mount.

Another great feature is called “destination routing.” If you have to go from your home to school to the dry cleaners to work to your home, the nuvi 700 series will plot the fastest route. You can then store up to 10 different routes which is handy for regular errands, deliveries and sales calls.

The list goes on and on for features depending on the brand and the price you are willing to pay. Most portable car GPS systems are available with maps for the continental US and Hawaii and others also include Canada, Alaska and Puerto Rico, but there are only a few that have maps of Europe.