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Garmin Drive App Data Usage

Important:  The Garmin Speak™ app can no longer be installed and has been replaced by the Garmin Drive™ App. To download the Garmin Drive app, visit Google Play for Android or App Store for Apple.

Data usage by Amazon Alexa or the Garmin Drive App will vary depending on the skills enabled and used, such as flash briefings, the music player, games, etc. 

Garmin Drive App compatible devices will use your phone data plan to operate. 

For example, if you stream music through the Amazon Music Skill on a compatible device, the data usage will be listed as Garmin Drive on your phone, not the Amazon Music Skill. 

Streaming music generally requires a download speed of at least 2 Mbps to work consistently. Even if the phone shows a strong signal, it is possible the download speed could still be slow due to a number of external factors. A speed test can be done easily in the phone's browser by doing a Google search for "Speed Test" and using the browser's built-in speed test tool. If issues with streaming music occur, do a speed test while the issue is happening to see if the download speed is below 2 Mbps. 

For compatible devices, mobile data will also be used to show parking, traffic, and weather on the device.  

Garmin Drive App traffic services are generally minimal but vary depending on a variety of factors such as:

  • Time used with the automotive device
  • Amount of reported traffic information

Garmin Vault, a secure online video storage feature for specific Garmin Dash Cam devices, is activated in the Drive App.  Garmin Vault will use mobile data if the Vault Access settings Exported Clips and Allow Mobile Data are turned on.

In most situations, 2 MB of data per hour of active use with an automotive device is a reasonable estimate for data usage. For example, if the device is used 5 days a week on a 30-minute commute each way, the Garmin Drive App would use about 40 MB of data per month.

Other services such as Advanced Weather use less data than traffic. Streaming music will use the most data.

For information on how to check your data usage, refer to your cellular carrier and/or phone's operating manual.

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