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.

Tip: This feature isn't available in all languages and countries/regions.

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 .
You may find up to two suggested destinations. Tap on these to navigate to or search for your destination.
Start or stop navigation:
- Other routes will be shown as gray lines on the map. Tap the gray lines to change your route selection.
- To start navigation, tap Start .
- To stop navigation, tap Close .

Tip: Some cars have an activity toggle button on the steering wheel that can display Maps on your driver dashboard.

Customize your route in Google Maps

Add a stop along the route

On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
At the bottom, tap Explore 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 . Use voice to search for your stop.
Tap Add stop Confirm . The chosen stop will be added as your next stop.

Search by category along the route

On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
At the bottom, tap Search .
Select a category, like a restaurant or 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 Confirm .

Avoid tolls, highways, or ferries

On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
Tap Route overview Route options .
Tap an option Back .

Turn traffic layers on and off

On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
At the bottom, tap Settings .
Turn Traffic on and off.

Report traffic incidents

Add a report

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 .
To start navigation, tap Start.
On the right, tap Report .
On the “Add a report” screen, select the type of incident you want to report.
- Crash
- Slowdown
- Mobile speed camera
- Police
- Construction
- Lane closure
- Object on road
- Flooded road
- Low visibility
- Unplowed road

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 .
On the right, tap Report .
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.

Turn traffic incident alerts on or off

On your car’s home screen, open the Google Maps app .
Tap Settings .
Turn Alert options on or off.

More navigation features

Mute, unmute, or hear traffic alerts only

On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
At the bottom, tap Settings Mute settings.
Choose one of the following:
- Mute : Mutes voice directions during navigation.
- Sound : Unmutes voice directions during navigation.
- Traffic alerts only : Hear alerts from traffic, construction, and crashes.

Navigate to home or work

To navigate to your labeled home or work addresses:

On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
Tap the search bar 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 .
Tap Settings Edit home or work.
Tap Home or Work Edit .

Use the compass or recenter the map

To switch the map between pointing in the direction you’re traveling and pointing North, tap Compass .
To recenter the map to your current location, tap Your location .

Find speed limits

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.

Navigate offline

If you have a poor internet connection, offline maps will be used to guide you to your destination.

Learn how to download offline maps.

Find battery on arrival and out of range alerts

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.

Related resources

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