Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This is well near a brilliant plan for owners of Garmin GPS's. Pay one time, get up to four updates to your core GPS map software per year, for the life of your device. I've actually paid more than the price of this subscription to update one of my GPS's. So this was a no brainer for me.
First step - go to the Garmin Website and verify that the exact model of GPS you own is listed. Don't assume your model is listed - go to the website and verify it is really listed first. The list is huge, long, major long. My Nuvi 765T and 670 were both listed as compatible.
Second Step - order this "gift card" from Amazon. This is by far the most incredible deal compared to a purchase chez Garmin. With a Prime account, no sales tax, no shipping, and you've got this lovely little credit card in around 2 days.
Third Step - Like most gift cards, you scrape off the product key cover on the back of the card.
Fourth Step - make sure you know your MyGarmin user name and password - if not create an account. If you've had a GPS for longer than 1 year, you should have an account.
Fifth Step - Plug your GPS into your computer with a USB cable. Go to the website listed on the back of the card and follow the instruction.
Now the automatic stuff happens. You log into your account, it validates the product key, and then starts the download process. First it checks your computer, then checks for your device, then checks for compatibility, and then launches a download manager. You will see a pop up and you'll have to give permissions like 10 times before the manager installs, and starts the download.
Don't be afraid of the download manager. It's simple and only works with Garmin's website. It won't trash your computer.
Now the part to be afraid of - my first update to my Nuvi 765T is 1.92Gb. So you darn well better have a very fast internet connection (my comcast connection did that download in around 20 minutes) or you'll need to start this up before you go to bed at night and just let it run.
Last step, once the download manager has downloaded the whole file (you can check a box that says "close when done" and "launch when done"), click on Launch on the download manager box. The file will extract to the destination folder you set up in the early steps of download. Once extracted, the update program will run. The prompts there are simple and straightforward. I'm not sure what the update speed depends on, but they warn you it can take up to 2 hours. Mine updated in around 10 minutes.
An important caveat that you cannot miss. This is for ONE GPS. ONLY ONE GPS. You cannot use this same code to update other Garmin GPS's. You have to purchase a second card to update more units.
The other downside at Amazon, the combo North American and Europe card is not available through Amazon at this writing. So you must go to the Garmin website for that download.
Honestly, if you buy two updates to your GPS, this card pays for itself. I really love the "no questions asked" quarterly updates to my GPS.
July 8, 2009 Update - type nuvi tips and tricks into your favorite search engine. The first hit is a resource on how to better use your Nuvi. It's a fantastic site with hundreds of tips.
December 13, 2009 update - that North American / European lifetime subscription is now available at Amazon, it is here: Garmin nuMaps Lifetime Map Update for North America & Europe [Online Map Code]. This one double requires my instructions above, becuase you purchase nothing physical at all. Amazon sends you the activation code, and no physical card. It doesn't get faster, but you have nothing to show for your money other than a code number.
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Product Description:
Garmin nuMaps Lifetime updates are available for the City Navigator NT street maps on your compatible Garmin device. Pay Once--Update for Life
Know where to go when streets change or new restaurants and other businesses open. With nuMaps Lifetime, you'll get the most up-to-date maps available--for the life of your Garmin GPS. This one-time, single purchase gives you access to the newest map information on streets, highways and points of interest as soon as new content is available. Then, you can download the new data to your device, retrieving up to four updates per year, for the lifetime of your Garmin GPS. It's the most comprehensive update plan you can buy.
Get updated information on street and highway changes, new roads, new points of interest and other features.
Select Your Format
You can purchase your nuMaps Lifetime subscription as a download or a gift card. Purchase the download to update your maps right away. Or, give the gift of new maps with our gift card: it's the perfect present for friends and family who own a Garmin device.
How It Works
To use nuMaps Lifetime, all you need is your Garmin device, your computer and a USB cable. There are no monthly fees or continuing maintenance costs; you pay only once. When you want to update your maps, connect your device to your computer and log into your myGarmin account, where the latest map data is ready to load to your device. We're constantly gathering new map data, and a new update is available up to four times per year. Sign up for our email notification, and we'll email you when the newest data is available.
Purchase as a gift card for a great present for friends and family who own a Garmin device.
Navigate with confidence with nuMaps Lifetime
Coverage includes detailed maps for the United States and Canada, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mexico coverage is not included.
Updates the street maps on your compatible Garmin GPS for the lifetime of the device.
Download the newest data as often as every three months.
Sign up for email notification to receive an email when new data is available.
Get updated information on street and highway changes, new roads, new points of interest and other features.
Pay only once and update for life: no monthly fees or other ongoing costs.
Product Compatibility
This map update can only be used to update the preloaded maps that came installed on your Garmin device. For example, a Garmin GPS device preloaded with North America maps only cannot be updated with a nuMaps Lifetime Europe Map Update, and vice versa.Note:
A nuMaps Lifetime subscription entitles you to receive up to four (4) map data updates per year, when and as such updates are made available on Garmin's website, for one (1) compatible Garmin product until your product's useful life expires or Garmin no longer receives map data from its third party supplier, whichever is shorter. Your nuMaps Lifetime subscription may not be transferred to another person or another Garmin product. A nuMaps Onetime purchase entitles you to receive one (1) map data update for one (1) compatible Garmin product. The update(s) you receive under the nuMaps Lifetime subscription or nuMaps Onetime purchase (as applicable) will be update(s) to the same geographic map data originally included with your Garmin product when originally purchased. In some instances, your Garmin product might not have sufficient memory remaining for you to load an update to the same map data originally included with your Garmin product, in which case you will need to either (a) select reduced map data coverage for your update(s), or (b) purchase separately a microSD card or a SD card (as applicable to your Garmin product) and load all or a portion of the map data coverage for your update(s) to the card and insert the card into the SD card or microSD card slot contained in your Garmin product.
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