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.

• Learn how to navigate on other platforms.
• Learn how to use Maps features without a data plan.

Start or stop navigation

You can search on Maps using voice commands or the car's center screen:

1. On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
2. You may find up to two suggested destinations. Tap on these to navigate to or search for your destination.
3. 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

1. On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
2. Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
3. At the bottom, tap Explore   Add stop .
4. 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.
5. ​Tap Add stop   Confirm . The chosen stop will be added as your next stop.

Search by category along the route

1. On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
2. Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
3. At the bottom, tap Search .
4. 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.
5. Tap the location you want to add to your route.
6. Tap Add stop   Confirm .

Avoid tolls, highways, or ferries

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

Turn traffic layers on and off

1. On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
2. At the bottom, tap Settings .
3. 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.

1. On your car’s home screen, open the Google Maps app .
2. To start navigation, tap Start.
3. On the right, tap Report .
4. 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

1. On your car’s home screen, open the Google Maps app .
2. On the right, tap Report .
3. 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

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

More navigation features

Mute, unmute, or hear traffic alerts only

1. On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
2. At the bottom, tap Settings   Mute settings.
3. 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:

1. On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
2. Tap the search bar  Personal.
3. Tap Home or Work.

You can label or edit your home and work addresses directly from your car:

1. On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
2. Tap Settings   Edit home or work.
3. 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.

Get enhanced live lane guidance

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:

1. On your car's home screen, open the Google Maps app .
2. When you get the “Get live lane guidance” notification on your car display, tap Go to camera settings.
3. 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:

1. On your car display, tap the App launcher Settings Apps.
   • Tip: In some vehicles, you need to tap System Applications.
2. Tap Google Maps camera extension.
   • Tip: If you can’t find it:
     1. Tap View all # apps.
     2. Scroll down until you do.
3. Tap Permissions Camera.
4. Select Don’t allow.

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  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

• Use Google Assistant built into your car to navigate
• Use Google Maps on CarPlay
• Use navigation in Google Maps