Most auto GPS units give you several ways to set your home address, as you can see in the image above. But a couple of problems can result from these methods. Addresses are generally interpolated – if your address is 167, your GPS probably estimates that to be 2/3 of the way down the block on a given side of the street. (My home address is 12, but I know from experience that 64 works better for most units.) And with houses in subdivisions being built almost on top of each other, using your current location can result in you being directed down a nearby street, and not the one that your driveway connects to!
So here’s my tip… select the “Use my current location” option, but do this while at the intersection of your driveway and the street you live on, not at your garage. Sure, you know the way home, and this is only a minor annoyance, but now your GPS will know the way too.
About Rich Owings
Well there is a downside to it too, Your car and GPS may be stolen and now the thieves know where you live and that you are not home right now. Same if just the GPS is stolen. So why not leave the home position where the GPS put it, so if stolen and they decide to do a burglary, they can go to my neighbor with the two pit-bulls!
Amir K9CHP
🙂
Having your specific home address in the GPS unit is a potential problem if the GPS is ‘acquired’ by someone else. But if it’s stolen WITH your car? Most likely your registration information is in the car anyways.
That’s true, and it is unlikely you carry your registration on you, but you could always hide it somewhere in your vehicle.
A thief is more likely to try your GPS first as it may be handy, than waste time searching your car for documents. He wants to get out of there!
Likely you have your garage opener in plain sight also or a homelink system.
I have the closest police station set as ‘home’.
Also another reason to have your navi locked if you leave it in your car regularly.
In regards to your GPS being”Acquired” by someone else, I always just put a different house number in “home”. If your already on your block I sure hope you can find your house! But others won’t know which of the houses on the block is yours. A simple fix to an unfortunate problem
Yes, that is definitely a good idea.
Just put in the nearest intersection to your house (at the end of the block, etc.)
I’ve heard this argument many times, but one thing that no one ever seems to remember is tracks. Even if you don’t put your exact address in your unit, unless you clean your tracks every time you use it, guess where all the tracks terminate…