What Type of Traffic Does My Automotive Device Use?

Your Garmin automotive device is compatible with two different types of traffic:

• Live Traffic  using an app on a compatible smartphone paired with the device via Bluetooth
• A non-embedded external traffic receiver  built into a vehicle power cable

These devices come in the box with embedded traffic. Use the Garmin Drive App to receive Live Traffic for the best results.

Live Traffic

Note: Your phone must be in a coverage area for your carrier for the Garmin Drive™ App to provide traffic. This coverage varies by the cellular provider.

The device uses Live Traffic. The traffic information is received from the Garmin Drive App on a compatible smartphone, which is paired with the device via Bluetooth. See Traffic Service Differences for North American Automotive Devices.

See Troubleshooting Garmin Drive App Traffic on Automotive Devices for troubleshooting.

Using an External Traffic Receiver

If you prefer to use a traffic receiver cable and the traffic service is not functioning: 

• • See Troubleshooting an Automotive Traffic Issue 
  • You can use a GTM™ 36 external traffic receiver if your device is still unable to acquire a traffic signal after troubleshooting.
  • GTM™ traffic receivers are no longer purchasable through Garmin. See GTM 60 and GTM 36 Cables are Discontinued for more information.  
    • Traffic is supported when powered using a GTM 36 with the addition of the Mini USB to USB-C Adapter.

Your device will not receive traffic information unless the cable is connected to your device and vehicle. Using the GPS device without the vehicle cable, or with a third-party vehicle cable, will result in no traffic information.