Use navigation in Google Maps built into your car
Important: This article is only for Google Maps built into your car. Feature availability or functionality may depend on your car manufacturer or region and data plan.
For easy and reliable navigation, use the Google Maps app in your car. Maps will guide you with real-time traffic information to find the best route to your destination.
Voice navigation updates you with traffic information, turn-by-turn instructions, which lanes to use, and route updates if a better route becomes available.
Start or stop navigation
You can search on Maps using voice commands or the car's center screen:
- On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - You may find up to two suggested destinations. Tap on these to navigate to or search for your destination.
- Start or stop navigation:
Tip: Some cars have an activity toggle button on the steering wheel that can display Google Maps on your driver dashboard.
Customize your route in Google Maps
- On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
- At the bottom, tap Explore 👁 Explore
👁 and then
Add stop 👁 Add stop
. - Find your stop in either of these ways:
- Select a category. Then tap the location you want to add to your route.
- Tap Search by voice 👁 Voice search
. Use voice to search for your stop.
- Tap Add stop 👁 Add stop
👁 and then
Confirm 👁 Checkmark
. The chosen stop will be added as your next stop.
- On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
- At the bottom, tap Search 👁 Search
. - Select a category, like a restaurant 👁 Restaurant
or grocery store 👁 Grocery store
. You'll find a list of nearby places and the estimated travel time to get there. - Tap the location you want to add to your route.
- Tap Add stop 👁 Add stop
👁 and then
Confirm 👁 Checkmark
.
- On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
- Tap Route overview 👁 Route overview
👁 and then
Route options 👁 Route options
. - Tap an option 👁 and then
Back 👁 Back
.
- On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - At the bottom, tap Settings 👁 Settings
. - Turn Traffic on and off.
Report traffic incidents
Important: Some incidents can only be reported in certain countries.
Add a report during navigation
To help improve Maps, you can share info along your route. Reports may appear on the map where you’re on your route.
- On your car’s home screen, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - To start navigation, tap Start.
- On the right, tap Report 👁 Image
. - On the “Add a report” screen, select the type of incident you want to report.
Trip reports can be retained but won't be associated with your account. Learn more about how your content is used on Maps.
Tip: Only make a report if it's safe to do so.
Add a report outside of navigation
- On your car’s home screen, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - On the right, tap Report 👁 Image
. - On the “Add a report” screen, select the type of incident you want to report.
Find & vote on traffic incidents reported by others
If another user reports on the Maps, you’ll find it on the map as you move closer during navigation. Based on your alert settings, you might also hear an alert.
When you’re near the incident, you’ll find a prompt that asks “Is this still here?” To let other users know if the report is still true, tap Yes or No.
- On your car’s home screen, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - Tap Settings 👁 Settings
. - Turn Alert options on or off.
More navigation features
- On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - At the bottom, tap Settings 👁 Settings
👁 and then
Mute settings. - Choose one of the following:
To navigate to your labeled home or work addresses:
- On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - Tap the search bar 👁 and then
Personal. - Tap Home or Work.
You can label or edit your home and work addresses directly from your car:
- On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - Tap Settings 👁 Settings
👁 and then
Edit home or work. - Tap Home or Work 👁 and then
Edit 👁 Edit
.
- To switch the map between pointing in the direction you’re traveling and pointing North, tap Compass 👁 Compass
. - To recenter the map to your current location, tap Your location 👁 Your location
.
Important: This feature is unavailable in some locations.
You may find speed limit information while using navigation in some areas.
Speed limits shown in Maps are for informational use only. Make sure to confirm speed limits with the posted traffic signs.
Important:
- This feature is only available in certain cars, countries and road sections or segments.
- Understand data privacy for the Google Maps camera extension.
To understand which lane you’re in and get guidance to the correct one during navigation, allow camera access.
Learn about the Google Maps camera extension.
If you’re a new user, during your initial car setup process, turn on Allow camera access for Google Maps features.
If you’re an existing user:
- On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - When you get the “Get live lane guidance” notification on your car display, tap Go to camera settings.
- To allow camera access to the Google Maps camera extension, tap Allow.
Turn off “Allow camera access for Google Maps features”
If you want to turn off live lane guidance, you must turn off camera access:
- On your car display, tap the App launcher 👁 Apps
👁 and then
Settings 👁 Settings
👁 and then
Apps.- Tip: In some vehicles, you need to tap System 👁 and then
Applications.
- Tip: In some vehicles, you need to tap System 👁 and then
- Tap Google Maps camera extension.
- Tip: If you can’t find it:
- Tap View all # apps.
- Scroll down until you do.
- Tip: If you can’t find it:
- Tap Permissions 👁 and then
Camera. - Select Don’t allow.
If you have a poor internet connection, offline maps will be used to guide you to your destination.
When you search for a destination in an electric vehicle, Maps will show your estimated battery remaining on arrival 👁 Battery on arrival
to your destination. If you’ll need to charge your car to reach the destination, compatible charging stations may automatically be added for you.
Learn more about using Google Maps in your electric vehicle.