Help Finding New Maps for a TomTom

Written by:  • Edited by: Rhonda Callow
Updated Sep 16, 2011
• Related Guides: TomTom | Portable Gps Device | Google Maps

TomTom is a popular, portable GPS device that helps you navigate as you drive around in your car. If you are moving to a new area or planning a trip, you might want to download new or update your maps. Learn where to download TomTom USA maps.

TomTom HOME

TomTom Updates
click to enlarge

If you own a TomTom and live in North America, you will be happy to learn that in January 2010, TomTom announced that it will offer lifetime map updates. TomTom's Map Update Service gives you the certainty that your TomTom will make you aware of changes, such as new construction and roads or changes in points of interest. The TomTom Map Update Service pushes out updates four times a year.

In order to use the TomTom Map Update Service, you will need to download TomTom Home. You must live in North America and subscribe to the service, as well, which is not a free subscription. Updates start at $39.80 per year, depending on the TomTom model you are using. However, if you like to download USA maps for TomTom regularly, this is a much more affordable option than downloading individual maps at a much higher cost.

Once you subscribe to this service, it will notify you of any available map updates when you connect your TomTom device to TomTom Home on your computer.

Google Maps

Send Google Maps to your TomTom.
click to enlarge

While not a comprehensive option, you can use Google Maps with your TomTom device. This limited application allows you to search for business addresses in the USA and other locations and then transfer the information to your TomTom.

To download USA maps for TomTom from Google Maps, you will need to install TomTom Home as directed in the previous section. Go to Google Maps and search for the business and location for which you want to download a map, such as "Jersey Mike's in Watauga, TX." When you find the correct location, click the drop-down arrow to the right of it and click Send To. Select GPS in the left pane of the Send To window. Select TomTom in the Brand list. If your TomTom is not already connected to your computer, do so before continuing. TomTom Home will launch. Select Show on Map, Navigate to It or Add to Favorites and send a map of the address to your TomTom.

USA Photo Maps

USA Photo Maps
click to enlarge

USA Photo Maps is a freeware application that obtains aerial photos, topographic maps and urban area maps from TerraServer. Once you download the application, you can select Address, Populated Place, Lat/Lon or USGS Landmark from the Go To menu to find the map you want. When your

Connect your TomTom to your computer with a serial cable, start up the USA Photo Maps application and go to the GPS menu. You can send and receive maps, waypoints and more.

Downloads to Avoid

While sites offering free maps via peer-to-peer file sharing might be enticing, it is advisable to avoid downloading USA maps for TomTom from them. Not only might the files be illegal, but they can also contain viruses or tools that enable hackers to access your computer. While you might save a few bucks upfront obtaining maps this way, in the long run it can cost you a great deal more.


Comments

Showing all 33 comments
 
Larry Summary Nov 15, 2010 4:55 PM
TomTom is relegated to the dust bin!
The smartphones are taking a toll on G.P.S. devices like TomTom. Google and Nokia have both decided to give the technology away for free. TomTom does not understand that evey time we have to replace a product, our loyalty is tested. It's not a painful test when the product is a soda or beer, but it is when it's a consumer electronics gadget costing several hundred dollars--- and when it has grown obsolete because of an old map.
Manufactures like TomTom can extend a product's life with software upgrades like maps, and these upgrades may encourage people to stick with the brand when it's time to buy again.
I paid $700 for my TomTom Go, and I will not pay one cent more for a upgrade, I have thrown it in my closet and will never buy anything from TomTom!
Ben Aug 20, 2010 9:42 PM
TomTom vs Garmin
My Garmin started randomly freezing up and yet it was still more functional than my "working" TomTom. Once you've enjoyed Garmin's fabulouse POI database and ease of use, you'll never be satisfied with a TomTom.
yes Aug 14, 2010 11:17 PM
Forget tomtom
Don't worry about updates, I have owned several other brands of gps. Figured I would try tomtom, everyday I use it, I get more frustrated. I have the XXL-550M which is a unit that has free lifetime updates. Upon receiving the unit, I did the latest updates, yet still, many neighborhoods that are at least 3yrs old do not show on gps. Many streets are named wrong, it shows roads that do not exist, many locations are way off, I'm not talking feet, I am talking a mile. Unit most often takes longer, slower routes. Has told me to go straight at a fork in the road. Unit actually has pop-up ads trying to sell you tomtom acc. Some roads do not have numbers, so you have to ride for miles looking at mail boxes. tomtom support was bad, they sent a auto reply saying they were swamped with problem calls(that should tell you something) After a few weeks of it not being anywhere close to getting me where I need to go, I bought a garmin, now I can drive, not having to look at mailboxes to find location. Want some good advice, buy something other than tomtom.
dora welsh Jul 1, 2010 8:50 PM
freemaps
Everywhere you go to download a free map is bull because they all want you to sign up to some kind of gimic to get the map. I think this news should be on CNN etc.etc.
Kris Jul 1, 2010 3:49 PM
Euros
@ Rob E - sorryy, missed this before. While on the website, look in upper-right corner. Change UK to Canada and it'll stop using EU and start using Can$. Taking the time to look over a site before complaining can be useful.
Kris Jul 1, 2010 3:47 PM
Comments on comments
Sid - update it.
Rob E. - Not true if you bought the unit after 1/1/2010 or it has a "M" in the model name.
jOSH - How is it "too hard"?? assuming it's a "M" or bought after 1/1/2010, it should be easy to update from TomTomHOME!
rebecca haynes - you dont download the update directly. Use TomTomHOME to do it.
Sid Young Jun 23, 2010 10:02 PM
TomTom $$$$$ no way
The thing doesn't even know my address nor the shortest way to town from my house
jason Jun 22, 2010 7:05 PM
help restore maps
I backed up my usa map on my computer and the gps crashed after that, now I can't reload my map back on the gps, but I still have one for guam. please help
Lee Apr 8, 2010 3:11 PM
Hi Tricia !!!
I Think your wordings are " Where to download free USA map for Tom Tom" BESIDE YOUR PRETTY PICTURE Could you please tell us THE (WHERE) ABOUT ???
Rob.E Mar 26, 2010 12:32 AM
TomTom maps
TomTom feel that they can rape the consumer over and over again. You have to pay to download the whole map every time you need to update.
Why???
Heaven help you if you don,t have current version otherwise map-89euros 1year of quarterly updates 89euros (Why euros when my account is in Canada, can anyone say RIP OFF).
For my money $10can a month from my cell phone carrier for up to the minute nav = goodbye TomTom, you know where you can stick your euros.
Oh! yeah almost forgot my cell phone carrier gives me new equipment every 3 years.
Who cares Mar 18, 2010 7:35 AM
Free maps - NEVER
How do you allow this rubbish on the internet. VERY misleading!
jOSH Mar 9, 2010 3:12 PM
UPDATE MY GPS TOMTOM 720
I have a Tomtom 720 Portable Car Navigation System.To hard to update my gps tomtom 720 to update from tomtom home
rebecca haynes Mar 1, 2010 3:36 PM
RE: Help Finding New Maps for a TomTom
I am also confused i cannot find a free down load i purchased this for christmas only two months ago .and cannot find a free down load for maps
azar Jan 27, 2010 9:09 PM
free tomtom maps
Tricia Gos and her editor, Neil Henry, ought to be fired! The title of their article is misleading and leads to great frustration. Don't publish if you don't know your material and don't waste other people's time.
Ricardo Jan 21, 2010 3:35 PM
RE: Help Finding New Maps for a TomTom
Can some one help or can we download maps for freeee yes or no
Ricardo Jan 21, 2010 3:23 PM
tmotom720
i HAVE A TOMTOM 720 AND AM LOOKING ALSO TO UPDATE MY GPS PLEASE HELP. EL RICK
S K Wan Jan 9, 2010 4:37 PM
No free map...
I do agree that there is no such free map you can find and download. After you have bought TomTom gps and exercise your one time free map upgrade, you need to pay for the subsequent map upgrades. The more I try to search for free download, the more craps I find from all kinds of unknown web-sites. It is risky.

There are a couple of things you can do (or I'll do in the future). When you buy TomTom (or any main brand) gps, you buy it from big store like Futu?? Sh??. You pay a little more for extended warranty. Before the first map upgrade expires, you upgrade the map. It will be good for awhile. Just before the extended warranty expires in a year or two, you bring the gps back to the store for a no-question-ask exchange for a new one ("bad reception" is a good reason). In the new exchanged package, the map of the new gps should be quite current. The beauty of it is - you can have one free map upgrade again. The extended warranty you pay is far less than the map you purchase from TomTom. I know this is a bad exercise but it is better than dreaming of a free download from internet.

Second thing you may try is - find someone who has the same model of TomTom gps with the most updated map and have him saved it to the pc (through TomTom Home) and you restore it to your gps. I have not tried this one yet, so I am not sure it will work. If you know, please let us know.
Yes Jan 8, 2010 12:38 PM
Looking for Free maps?
Well click the red X because the title is what your search engine saw and it is wrong. As soon as a search engine is made that can see advertizing bull crap for what it is and tell us what we want to know not what to buy......
hank Jan 2, 2010 9:34 AM
tomtom maps
I broght my tomtom gps just before xmass and so
far I,am not sure what to think of it. the manuel got
say you get a free map upgrade for the first thirty days
then you have to pay. well ihave only had two weeks and for some reason your tomtom home site does not work to down load free maps. why is this such a
difficult proccess when your book clearly states you
should be able to excess information. I have had
second thoughts about purchasing anything from tomtom as so far they dont, live up to what is in writing on book you get when you buy gps. I hope some one else has better luck than me. but judging from comments it sound like I,am not alone on this issue.
saman rhaman Dec 28, 2009 12:02 PM
hi
actually i want update my tomtom one gps ,so i don't know what's hapent it sayes no items availble. can you help me with that what can i do please .thanks
geno1956 Dec 14, 2009 12:59 AM
No Free Maps...
After reading all of the comments about free maps, I feel I have to try to explain what I know to be true. The TomTom Home application for your home computer will allow you to download free map corrections aka updates made and submitted by other TomTom owners like you and me. Also available by annual subscription only (around $40/yr) are access to the quarterly revised maps sold by TomTom. I hope this explanation helps to clarify this matter.
Tom Neideigh Nov 14, 2009 5:43 PM
Nothing is for free apparently
There is no such thing as free map updates from TomTom as I was led to believe by a Circuit City idtiot. They had told me that the difference between TomTom and Garmin was free map updates...guess what, that idiot was wrong. Guess that is another reason CC went out of business. And again, you put a free map download comment in your article and no where does it say where to get the free updates....

oh well, gues you are on your way to going out of business too...
Tricia Goss Nov 11, 2009 4:08 PM
Re: Misleading
Hi Karen!

According to TomTom.com: "TomTom HOME is our free software program that gives you access to a huge array of services as well as the global community of TomTom users."

You are correct that you can use TomTom Home to purchase optional downloads. However, TomTom does offer free map upgrades and other services through TomTom Home. Sorry if you felt this was misleading or unclear. Thank you!
Karen Karvin Nov 11, 2009 12:32 PM
Misleading
You said TomTom Home is free. What makes you think that? Tom Tom charges for that service. You need fact checker.
I almost bought one based on your report. Glad I didn't take you at your word.
Andrew Nov 9, 2009 4:41 PM
Free TomeTom Maps
But you didn't tell us where to get free USA tom tom maps, the article title is missleading. :(
Pris Oct 11, 2009 1:21 PM
RE: Help Finding New Maps for a TomTom
I am also looking for free updates for my tom tom one 130-S model. Please let me know where I can find free map updates (USA). thank you!
Cengiz Oct 10, 2009 6:19 PM
abaout my tomtom
Hi I have tom tom 910 but I cant download free maps from internet. Do you have solution for this.
Every year from London to Turkey I am driving but it doesn't give me full that's why I want to download could you tell me have do you do it.
Birgit Young Sep 28, 2009 12:10 PM
Maps for North America
I Have a TOMTOM GO 930. `We go to the States ( Washington DC ETC.North America ) Is there a free Download somewhere, because TOMTOM charges 70 EUROS for that.
Tom Brownell Sep 21, 2009 10:06 PM
Free Tom Tom Map update
i'm looking for free updates for my tom tom one 130-S model. I can't use it to find my own home!
Thank You.

Tom
Scottie smith Sep 16, 2009 4:05 PM
Free tom tom Map update
I have A Model 330xl
G Sep 3, 2009 1:21 PM
Free TomTom Map update
I have a TomTom one XL and am looking for a way to update my GPS for free. Can you help me?
derrick Aug 18, 2009 10:26 AM
free up todate map
Good day to all

i'm looking for free updates for my tom tom one 125 model. I had it less than a year and can't use it to find my own home.lol help1
john ball Aug 12, 2009 6:41 PM
free tom tom maps
I brought my tom tom in 2006 not knowing that it will cost me in the future to update the maps . PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE i CAN DOWNLOAD THESE MAPS FOR FREE .today it is hard enough to live an everyday life and survive without a job please let me know, I have a model 300 thank you very much. JOHN B.
 
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