How (and how much) to upgrade your GPS maps

First the good news: most GPS units today let you connect to a computer (via its USB cord) and download map updates over a high-speed connection — or in many cases you can add a different region, such as Europe. The bad news? It's usually not free.

While it's cheaper than buying a whole new GPS unit (starting at about $150 for a decent one), Garmin, for example, charges $69.99 to update maps for your device. Or if you opt for Garmin's nuMaps feature, you can pay one fee to download maps up to four times a year for the entire life of the device; this will set you back $119.99 for North American maps, $139.99 for European maps and $149.99 for transatlantic maps. Garmin's website has additional map details.

To update TomTom GPS models, on the other hand, it will cost between $99.99 and $129.99 (depending on the map and device; tomtom.com for more). Maps are updated approximately four times a year.
You can, however, download free — but user-generated — content called MapShare, where TomTom GPS owners can make alterations to maps as they spot changes in the roads or other suggested improvements and share this with other GPS users. Or you can update your own map by tapping on “Map Correction” on the TomTom device, indicating the change from a series of options and the map will be corrected instantly.

If your GPS is from a different manufacturer — such as Magellan, LG, Sony, Navigon or Mio — visit the company's website or call their customer support line to inquire about map updates.

Regardless of the company that makes your GPS unit, the update process usually involves installing update software from the manufacturer's website (see here for an example) and then connecting the device to the PC via a USB cable. In some cases you can connect the GPS andd tap a button on the unit's screen that says something like "update."