GPS for rental car

Cindy,

Your best bet is to purchase a GPS unit that is supplied with both North American and European maps. I've been using a Garmin Nuvi for several years, and it works well for the most part (although they're not infallable). I'd suggest packing along a Michelin map as well for "backup".

AFAIK, all the Garmin models designed for automotive use are supplied with both a windshield mounting bracket (suction cup) as well as a power cord. YES, they'll work just fine with the cigarette lighter power points in European cars.

The smallest and most compact Garmin model that has European maps is the Nüvi 275T. The compact size will allow use for walking around as well (although the battery life is not "perfect"). These are currently listed on Amazon for around $170.

The Tom Tom GPS units are very popular also, however I'm not familiar with their line of products so can't offer any tips on which models to buy.

One other point to note is that an International Driver's Permit is compulsory for driving in Italy. These can be easily obtained at AAA office, and must be used in conjunction with your home D.L.

Good luck and happy travels!

All you need to do is plug the gps into the cigarette lighter and it should work. Now, they are not infallible. However, they are a big help. I have a Garmin 260w and I bought the Nt European maps sd card. If the European maps are not preloaded on the gps, then you will need to buy them separately. I bought my gps and sd card on Amazon because they were the cheapest and included free shipping. Amazon also includes customer reviews. The cost on the Garmin website was $149 + shipping for the NT sd map card and $112 with free shipping on Amazon. The 260w is now a lot cheaper than what I paid for it.

Just make sure you take the gps with you when you park.

Buon viaggio,

RB

I have a TomTom 910 model that I have used in Europe. It came preloaded with western Europe maps. It has since be replaced by later models, 920 & 930. They introduced a 950 model the latter part of 2009 but I am not sure if it is available in the U.S. TomTom also came out with a cheaper model late in 2009, the XXL 540s world traveler, which includes European maps. Price is around $300 right now but will probably come down. I purchased one and really like it. It has a 5 inch screen which is larger than the 4.3 of my 910 but it is much slimmer and easier for my wife to carry in her purse. I purchased Garmins for my son and daughter for use in the U.S. and they love those models as well.

I have a Tom Tom 920 that I bought after my first driving experience in Italy. Street names are very rarely, if ever, posted and signage on the autostrade wasn't very helpful.

Yes, buy one here and learn to use it before you travel. Tom Tom and Garmin seem to be the brands most highly recommended.

Yes, they plug into the standard power jack in any car here or there.

You will probably also want to purchase maps. It's best to buy them there, they will be cheaper and you will have more selection than purchasing here.

We bought a Garmin with Euro maps for $136 on Amazon or Pricegrabber. Worked great for driving in Italy. It also warned us of speed zones in various small towns.

Currently, AutoEurope is advertising a free GPS with a car rental on their website. Check www.autoeurope.com By the way, if their fees for car rental are higher than a competitor, they will usually match, or beat it. Call them directly to get better rates.

I like my Garmin Nuvi with European maps preinstalled. Purchasing the maps afterwards is expensive. Garmin has a tool on their website to help you select the right device. I wouldn't use a rental car GPS because you will have to learn to use and program it on the run. A rental GPS is more than likely not kept up-to-date either. Purchase your GPS ahead of time and learn to use it and program it before you leave. Also don't forget to update the GPS and maps before you leave.

My husband and I went honeymooning in Europe in November. We rented a car in France and used the good ol' paper maps.... with alot of asking for directions.

When we moved onto Italy we rented a GPS with our rental car because we were tired of getting lost.

If you are renting a car and I bring a GSP, hands down. I wouldn't leave for Europe without one now.

Thank you, everyone! This is REALLY helpful! I am currently looking at a Garmin Nuvi 275T on amazon for $169 with maps pre-loaded for North America and Europe. I appreciate the advice that we should use it here first so we have some clue what we're doing when we get to Italy. What do you mean by having the maps updated? Do you end up installing updated versions from your computer each month?

If you buy and register the Nuvi 275t you can purchase a one time fee, lifetime plan to update the device 4 x's per year with the latest info. I did this with my Nuvi 260w, but only for the USA. Since you will have preloaded USA and Europe maps both updates might be included in the one time fee.

Buon viaggio,

RB

Cindy,

You don't have to update monthly. You can update yearly if you like. I haven't updated mine (TomTom One 3rd Edition) since I got it for Christmas in 2007 and have been fine. I will probably update it the next time I go to Europe. I've used it in Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and Ireland and it was a life saver. I prefer the TomTom over Garmin because I find the Garmin "recalculating" annoying when I am with Garmin users. TomTom doesn't talk to you except when you need to take an exit (or avoid taking one in error). If you miss a turn, it quietly notes that it is searching for a new route and only after it has reconfigured will it tell you what to do next ("turn around when possible" for example). In Italy it will also warn you about speed cameras, if you are exceeding the speed limit and keep you from entering a ZTL by mistake. Best Christmas present I ever got.

We used a Garmin Nuvi last year in Italy & I had to purchase the Italy/Greece SD Card but then I sold it on Ebay after we returned home. I would not want to rent a GPS there because you'll waste a lot of time trying to learn it on the go. Our Nuvi made some minor mistakes but overall it made the experience of driving through Italy more pleasurable.

The only thing I didn't like is that I couldn't program it in the U.S. before leaving home. Since the SD card wouldn't work here, I had to wait until we got to Italy to program all of our destinations/addresses. I think if you get one with the maps already loaded, you should be able to program it before leaving the U.S.