Buying a GPS overseas - can I use it in NZ?

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tims

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#32165 15-Apr-2009 09:33

I'm going to Canada later this year and hiring a car for a couple of weeks - I want to buy a GPS over there to help get around but really would like some help in choosing one that works here in NZ.
In the US/Canada they all appear to come with USA/Canada maps already loaded but I can't find any info on whether it's possible to load other maps from other countries onto them.
Should I be looking at a particular GPS brand/model (TomTom or Garvin maybe) with an SD slot and maybe buy NZ maps when I return or is this not possible?

Thanks

freitasm

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#207014 15-Apr-2009 10:02

If you buy a TomTom or Garmin you can always purchase maps online later - I currently have a TomTom Go730 with NZ, AU, US maps loaded in the main memory (no extra SD memory required yet).

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corksta

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#207016 15-Apr-2009 10:04

Provided the brand you buy has the option of purchasing NZ maps then it will be possible.

However with the exchange rate, then having to pay for NZ maps (most likely payable in US$ or Euro) I reckon you'd be better off just buying one here. You get the warranty here whereas when you buy overseas and bring it back here there is no warranty.

nzkc

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#207019 15-Apr-2009 10:07

In a word: Yes

I have a TomTom so am speaking from experience here...though I suspect they're all more or less the same. You can buy and load maps for various parts of the world (New Zealand included). And being GPS, it'll pick up signals all over the world

What I would be careful of, however, is the fact that any mains charger will be for Canadian power (I'm guessing 110v like the US). Whilst you should be ok with one for the car, in that it should come with a car charger, this is something you may need to consider.

Also you are expected to declare electrical goods purchased overseas with a value of over $800 (I think that was the value when I last travelled) to customs on the way back into NZ. You may end up having to pay GST on the item(s). Again something to consider, be wary of.

marmel

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#207103 15-Apr-2009 15:56

nzkc: In a word: Yes

I have a TomTom so am speaking from experience here...though I suspect they're all more or less the same. You can buy and load maps for various parts of the world (New Zealand included). And being GPS, it'll pick up signals all over the world

What I would be careful of, however, is the fact that any mains charger will be for Canadian power (I'm guessing 110v like the US). Whilst you should be ok with one for the car, in that it should come with a car charger, this is something you may need to consider.

Also you are expected to declare electrical goods purchased overseas with a value of over $800 (I think that was the value when I last travelled) to customs on the way back into NZ. You may end up having to pay GST on the item(s). Again something to consider, be wary of.

I think it would be very unlikely that any mains charger for gps units would be voltage specific. Pretty sure that most of the auto units will require 12 volts to be compatible with vehicles. Any mains charger will just be a transfromer similar to laptop power suplies which are designed to be universal and will accept 110-240 volts no problems.

sbowness

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#207118 15-Apr-2009 16:56

Check out the NZ Open GPS Project at nzopengps.org. They provide maps for Garmin units for free.