FAQ Section > Car Hire Frequently Asked Questions >

Will I get a Sat Nav with my hire car?

The last thing you want is to be lost in a foreign country, so can you assume your hire car will come with a sat nav?

Not normally unless it's named in the agreement, or is part of your car hire package. Although many cars come with a built-in satnav they are normally deactivated so don't presume it will be working in your vehicle. Most larger car hire firms will offer them as an added extra - but be careful with them - they are frequently omitted from the insurance agreements - just because you are on holiday doesn't mean car thieves are as well!

If you need to hire a car with a sat nav it is a good idea to compare car hire prices including the sat nav as an extra. This will give you a truer comparison for your car hire costs.

You increase your chances of getting one included if you book a car towards the top of the range, mainly as most cars bought to supply this market now have them built in automatically. However sometimes they are turned off until you have paid the sat nav charge! Always check this with your car hire company.

Also be aware that sat navs which detect radar speed traps are illegal in many European countries, and even those which use a map based system to remind you of upcoming speed cameras are illegal in some - so don't expect that functionality everywhere. Check the situation with the car hire firm.

As well as hiring a sat nav with your car or taking your own with you, there are specialist firms who offer sat nav hire at a fraction of the cost of units rented from car hire firms. Some smartphones can also do the job of a satnav.

Can I use my own GPS or mobile phone?

Sat navs can be very useful when travelling on unknown roads. As well as route guidance they can sometimes also show upcoming service stations and indicate toll roads. Do bear in mind that satnavs are not always up to date so a smartphone can be a handy back-up and even work better.

There are many apps that provide route guidance such as:

• Googlemaps

• Waze

• MAPS.ME

With all these options you can save routes or maps. So if you find yourself with no internet connection you can still get to your destination by using the maps offline.

You can take your own satnav but always make sure that it abides by the laws of the country you are driving in - for example with regards to identifying the location of speed cameras.

Compare car hire insurance prices with MoneyMaxim

If you have any queries do call a member of the MoneyMaxim car hire insurance team.

This content was last reviewed on 09/10/2023

Image courtesy of: Usien

Similar Questions

General Car Hire Queries Answered

• Can you tell me if my car hire company will be in the airport or if I will need to get a shuttle bus?
• Should I choose unlimited mileage with my car hire? And how do I?
• Can you provide me a quote for car hire and car hire excess insurance even if I have a pre-existing medical condition?
• Can I be charged a fee for cleaning my hire car?
• Do I have to use a credit card to hire a car?
• Can I take my hire car cross border from one country to another and how much will it cost me?
• Can I hire a car if I don't have my driving licence?
• Do I need an International driving permit to hire a car abroad?
• How do I Find the Best Deals for Cheap Car Hire?
• What happens if I forget my driving licence?
• Which fuel rules apply to hire cars?
• Will I be able to put a roof rack on my hire car?
• If I need a car for less than a week, is it cheaper to hire daily or weekly?
• If I arrive late and want to pick up my vehicle the following day is this OK?
• If I return the hire car late, will I be charged?
• What do car rental companies typically charge if you lose the keys to your rental car?
• What happens if the model I have booked is unavailable?
• Can I pick my car up in one place and return it to another?
• What if I am overcharged or do not get the car group I booked?
• Do hire cars have to be new and well cared for?
• What happens if the car or the boot is not big enough for my party?
• Am I able to accept an upgrade?
• Do car rental companies have spare keys?
• Will I get a Sat Nav with my hire car?
• I booked snow chains, a roof rack or a roof box - what happens if they are not there when I arrive?
• What happens if the car rental company do not have the car I booked?

Driver and Passenger Related Car Hire Queries Answered

• Does it cost more for additional drivers?
• Young Drivers (under 25 years old)?
• Am I too old to hire a car?
• If I want an additional driver on my hire car, will I have to pay more?
• What's the maximum number of passengers I can take in my hire car?