At almost every rental counter, you'll be offered a GPS for a daily fee. Ten years ago that was a reasonable add-on. Today, most travelers carry a better navigation system in their pocket, and many rental cars connect to it through the dashboard screen. For most trips, the GPS add-on is one of the easiest extras to say no to — as long as you've sorted two things before you drive away.
The short answer
Skip the rental GPS for most trips. Your phone, with Google Maps or Apple Maps, gives you live traffic, up-to-date roads, and search for restaurants and fuel stations — things many rental units handle poorly. What you do need is a data plan or offline maps and a legal way to mount the phone.
What the GPS add-on actually costs
Rental GPS units are usually charged per day, often around $10 to $15 or the local equivalent, and the charge applies to every day of the rental, not just the days you drive. On a one-week rental, that can easily come to $70 to $100 — several times the price of a week of travel data. It's one of the add-ons we flag in our guide to rental car fees nobody mentions.
Rental GPS vs your phone
| Rental GPS | Your phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Daily fee for the whole rental | Free app; you pay only for data |
| Live traffic | Often limited or none | Yes, updated constantly |
| Map updates | Depends on the unit — can be out of date | Always current |
| Search (fuel, food, parking) | Basic, often awkward | Full search, reviews, opening hours |
| Works without signal | Yes | Yes, if you download offline maps |
| Language | Usually selectable | Your phone's language |
What to sort out before you skip the GPS
1. Data, or offline maps
Navigation itself uses very little data — usually just a few megabytes an hour — so even a small travel data plan covers a road trip. If you're driving through areas with weak signal, such as mountains or remote coastline, download offline maps for the region on Wi-Fi before you leave. Google Maps and Apple Maps both support this. Our guide on how much eSIM data you need covers sizing a plan.
2. A legal way to mount your phone
In most countries it's illegal to hold your phone while driving, and fines can be steep. Use the car's screen if it supports Apple CarPlay or Android Auto — most rental cars built in the last few years do — or bring a small vent or windscreen mount from home. Don't place it where it blocks your view of the road or sits over an airbag. And set the route before you start driving.
3. A charging cable
Navigation drains your battery quickly. Pack a cable that fits both your phone and a car USB port (USB-A and USB-C are both common), since rental cars rarely come with one.
Want a car that works with your phone? Compare rental cars for your destination and check what's included before you get to the counter.
Compare rental carsWhen a rental GPS still makes sense
- You won't have data and can't download maps — for example, an older phone that can't use an eSIM and very limited storage.
- You're driving somewhere with very poor coverage for days at a time and would rather not rely on offline maps alone.
- Your phone needs to stay free for calls or work while someone else drives, and there's no second phone in the car.
- It's included at no extra cost — some higher rental categories come with built-in navigation, in which case there's nothing to decide.
One rule to know: speed camera alerts
Some countries restrict apps or devices that warn you about speed cameras. Radar detectors are illegal in many places, and in a few countries even app alerts must be limited or switched off. If your navigation app offers camera warnings, check the local rules for the country you're driving in.
Planning a road trip? Compare cars, insurance, and what's included for your dates — and skip the extras you don't need.
See available rental carsNeed data for navigation? Browse travel eSIM plans.
Related reading
The short version
For most trips, skip the rental GPS and use your phone. Make sure you have data or offline maps, bring a mount and a charging cable, and check whether the car supports CarPlay or Android Auto. Save the GPS add-on for the rare trip where your phone genuinely can't do the job.