Update maps manually

Contact Garmin directly---I have seen this many times on several brands, it means they are available but may not end up being free.

Hi Steve,

The Street Pilot line was one of the first automotive GPS devices from Garmin, and has got to be 8+ years old. Garmin contracts with Navteq for map software. At one point, Garmin needed to have Navteq compress their new maps so that they wouldn't need to increase the amount of memory in the GPS units and still be able to include all the way points, and new features such as junction view, traffic receivers, text to speech voices, etc. These new maps have an "NT" descriptor in the title. "NT "stands for "New Technology". Non-NT maps are no longer produced.

The new Garmin GPS hardware had to included the ability to decompress maps "on the fly" for display on the screen. As a result, the NT maps will not work in the older Garmin devices.

Your best bet is to either use the Street Pilot - knowing that the routes may no longer provide accurate information, or purchase a New, Refurbished or Used GPS. Garmin offers "Lifetime Maps" as an option for nearly all NT capable GPS units either as a subscription after GPS purchase, or "in the box" when buying a Garmin GPS. You'll get FREE map updates for that GPS up to 4 times per year. This assures you of always having the most recent maps available in your GPS. Look for a model that has "LM" in it (ie: nuvi 1490LM). If it has a "T" in the model name (ie: nuvi 1490T), it has Lifetime Traffic. If it is listed as "LMT" (nuvi 1490LMT) it has both Lifetime Maps and Lifetime Traffic.

I hope helps!

For maps that came with a Garmin GPS - a map can be updated for free within 60 days after purchase. The purchase date is recorded after registering the device at MyGarmin.com or when the GPS detects movement above a certain speed. If the GPS is purchased with lifetime updates - it will be free throughout the lifetime of the Garmin GPS.

Just see what happens when registering the device at MyGarmin.com. A map update will show when there's one available for your Map version.

If you're happy with the satnav you have it's cheaper to update. You have the option of buying a once off map update or a lifetime update. That is for the lifetime of the satnav not your life. With a lifetime update, which costs around 120 euros, you get 4 updates each year. This is the cheapest option. However the only problem with this method is that the maps get bigger each time you update and the space on your satnav stays the same. I started off with a full map of Europe and now I'm only able to store Western Europe on my garmin nuvi 760. You can use memory cards to hold some of the map but older garmin satnavs have a problem recognising the maps on memory cards. If you need the full map you might be better buying a new satnav every few years. If you only use part of the map a lifetime update might be the best option.

If you decide to go for a new satnav I would suggest that you go for one with the biggest storage space possible and then get a lifetime update or get a model that comes with lifetime updates like the 3790LMT. You can judge the storage size by the amount of maps it comes with. The 3790 model has the complete USA + Canada and Mexico or the 2370LT comes with maps of Europe and USA, lifetime traffic updates but not lifetime maps.

It does not auto update the maps. You can find details of how to update your maps at http://www.fixya.com/support/r5628920-update_garmin_satnav_maps. Even with free lifetime maps you still have to click on GET UPDATE. The only difference between getting the lifetime maps and the maps you have to pay for is that when you click to get the update you're taken to the download page for the free maps and to the payments page if you have to pay. With the lmt version you won't have to pay.

If you are willing to spend $89.00 you can purchase a lifetime maps update/upgrade through the Garmin website. All you have to do is log into their website - www.garmin.com - connect your Garmin to your computer with the USB cable and purchase the upgrade. You might want to consider purchasing a new Garmin that comes with lifetime maps as your 200 is an older unit and its life may be short. A new unit, like a 1300LM, runs $139.99 at Best B**, as of 01/30/11, will come with a new fresh battery and the newest maps pre-loaded and it will allow you to update those maps FREE for the life of the unit. These ideas might help you wayward travels. GOOD LUCK

There are no lifetime maps for your Garmin nuvi. Garmin updates their maps over time, so there are no lifetime maps available for the device. There are free maps and you can buy maps from Garmins website.

You can purchase map updates online from Garmin. Here's the link I use: https://my.garmin.com/maps/chooseDeviceType.htm

You'll need to connect your Garmin to your computer with a USB cable. Then go to the Garmin web site and follow their directions. You can buy a single update, or buy a "lifetime" (of the device) subscription to map updates.

Hi Vicki, unless your nuvi was first activated and acquired satellite lock in the last 60 days (unlikely as yours was discontinued a long while ago) then you cannot get free map updates, sorry.

For models activated within the last 60 days Garmin offer a free update to the latest maps if the maps already on the product when it was purchased are an older version. After that, all updats must be paid for.

You simply won't find free map updates legally. Accurate maps cost a fortune to produce and update so nobody gives them away, even the few illegal downloads tend not to work and if they do work are likely to be out of date anyway.

The way that Garmin price their map updates, it's often better to simply buy a new Garmin with the maps pre-installed, although I appreciate that's not the answer you hoped for. If you do buy Garmin updates then you can either go for a one-off update, or for additional cost can buy a lifetime update, but it's limited to the lifetime of the device which is only designed to last three years anyway so may be poor value if you buy the lifetime update and your machine then dies of wear or old age.