Automotive Device Routing Inaccurately or Giving Wrong Directions

Navigation devices create routes by estimating the fastest and most direct way to reach a destination by using major roadways. There may be times when you find that your device takes you out of the way or creates a route that seems wrong to you. 

The Behavior you May Notice on the Device Could Include:

• Recommending a route that is far slower/longer than the optimal route.

• Offering out of the way routes to a destination.

• Making illogical routing choices (e.g. routing off of a highway, and then recommending to re-enter the highway).

• Ignoring Avoidance settings during a route (e.g. recommending an unpaved road, when unpaved roads are avoided).

If you are driving with an active route (you have entered a destination and touched Go!) and decide to take a shortcut, the device will recognize the new path and recalculate the route using that change. It may try to take you back on the original path at first but typically will adjust to your new route as you progress.

Note: Out-of-date maps or software can cause your device to route inappropriately. 

For Instructions to Update Your Device's Maps and Software in the Garmin Express™ software, see  Updating Automotive Maps and Software with Garmin Express

There are Several Navigation Settings on Your Device That can Affect the Way it Calculates Routes:

• Route Preference – Options here can vary by device, but generally include Faster Time, Shorter Distance, Less Fuel, and Off Road. Garmin recommends keeping this set to Faster Time to take advantage of the most efficient and direct roads. The Shorter Distance setting may use secondary roads, such as residential streets or alleys, that may not seem appropriate.

• Avoidances – This setting allows you to tell the device what types of features you want it to avoid when calculating routes, such as ferries, carpool lanes, unpaved roads, or highways. If one of these features is unavoidable on your preferred route, the device could calculate a much longer route than desired. Garmin recommends you review these items when going on long trips or driving in a new area to prevent using unnecessary avoidances.

• Vehicle Type or Usage Mode – The Vehicle Type or Usage Mode refers to different routes the device can create based on your vehicle type (e.g. Automobile, Pedestrian, Motorcycle, etc.). Automobile, which is the most-used setting, will give you turn-by-turn directions based on mapping and road information, whereas other usage modes may create different routes; Scootering and Bicycling, for example, will avoid highways. Pedestrian Mode will use smaller side streets and ignore one-way street directions. Not all devices may have usage modes other than Automobile.

For instructions to adjust the navigation settings on the device, consult the device's Owner's Manual.