Compare GPS Prices to Find the Best Model For You

The best way to find the best GPS device for you is to compare GPS prices so you know what you're getting. You can buy a workable GPS unit for slightly over $150 or you can spend as much as $600 for a unit with all the bells and whistles. That's quite a price range!

The first step in sorting through this is to understand what features these units offer. Which are "standard" and which are upgrades. Then you can decide how much money you want to spend and get the most for your dollar.

Let's look at their standard features first.

Now, just so you know, I'm talking strictly about after-market, automotive GPS devices. The kind you mount on your dash. Not the ones you take hiking. That's a different deal altogether.

Also, I'm focusing on the three top manufacturers, Garmin, Tom Tom, and Magellan. Sure, there are other companies that make these things, I just tend to stick with industry leaders.

So, having said all of that, let's start to understand their features.

All GPS devices do exactly the same thing. They show you where you are and tell you how to get to where you want to go.

As far as showing you where you are, this is done on an electronic map via a touchscreen. The touchscreen doubles as your input into the device. If you want to tell the device the name of a certain street, then you enter this in via the touchscreen.

All of these devices actually tell you where to turn. (Some older models don't, but if you stick to the more popular models, you won't find any of these.)

They also have a database of places you might want to go to, such as hospitals, gas stations, and stores.

You can also usually choose between a 2d view and a 3d view. 2d is like looking at a printed map. 3d tries to be more like "reality". Actually, it ends up looking like a vintage computer game, but it's still very useful to have this view sometimes.

All GPS devices automatically calculate the best route to get you where you want to go. And all come pre-loaded with maps of at least the lower 48 states.

If this is all you want, you're in luck! You can get this for about $150!

There are more features you might want to consider, though, as you compare GPS prices.

A few of the bigger ones are Bluetooth technology, so you can make and receive hands-free calls while you drive, wider screens, more maps, and real-time traffic and weather fed directly to your device.

To get these features, you'll have to spend more. Right now, the top prices are around $600, which a deal for all of that computing power!

What's your next step? Next you need to get on a few websites to further compare GPS prices and the individual units you might want to buy.