Garmin introduces lifetime map update program

Before you get your knickers in a knot, Garmin's program is only currently available for North American and European maps.

Anyone who's ever purchased, or contemplated purchasing, a map update will tell you, it's not a cheap exercise. Garmin though is hoping to offer its customers living in North America and Europe a better deal with its new nüMaps Lifetime Map Update Program.

For a one-time fee, you'll be able to download, up to four times a year, new points of interest, streets and addresses to your Garmin for the life of that unit. Subscribers will be alerted when new updates arrive via email and maps will be downloaded directly to your computer to be transferred to the GPS via USB cable. There are some restrictions in that you must have said maps first and you can't transfer the subscription to another Garmin GPS or if you eventually sell your unit.

There are three different combos available: North America only (AU$190), Europe only (AU$225), and both North America and Europe (AU$240). Not a bad deal when you consider a single map update costs US$70 (AU$98). If you have any of the above maps and regularly travel overseas with your GPS — we know it's not a huge market — the lifetime map update scheme will be available starting 21 January.