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Last updated:
- 19
- Dec
- 2011
Using a sat-nav to get from A-to-B is now the rule rather than the exception, and they make great presents for the directionless!
Whether you're looking for a Christmas gift or want to treat yourself, it's possible to get a big brand sat-nav for under £100, or a budget model for less than £50.
We've rounded up some of the best sat-nav deals online and on the high street, and added a section on handy apps for smartphones, which could mean you don't need to buy a sat-nav at all.
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Important!
Ensure you know how to shop safely
before trying these deals
Tips for shopping safely
Whether it's a retailer or restaurateur, airline or air-conditioner seller, computer shop or car rental company, there are always two main risks: either it's a dodgy company, or it's a legit company that has financial problems and goes bust.
The aim of these tips is to help you minimise the risks.
What happens if a company goes bust?
Quite simply, its customers are immediately transformed into creditors.
This hits hardest if you've ordered goods or tickets from them, and not had delivery, as then you are simply one of a line of people trying to get your money back out of the company's assets, and you usually get back much less than you paid in.
Even if you've had delivery, if the company you bought from goes under and there's a problem with the goods, it can mean you've no comeback.
While MoneySavingExpert.com endeavours to check deals are valid, we don't check companies ' finances - even huge names like MFI and Woolies have folded - so it's very important you use the right strategies to stay protected where possible...
DO: Pay by credit card for goods over £100
Pay by credit card for something over £100, eg, flights, kitchens, sofas, and Section 75 laws super-charge your consumer rights.
Unlike debit cards, cheques and cash, pay in full or part (even just £1) on a credit card and by law the lender's jointly liable with the retailer. This means you have exactly the same rights with the card company as you do with the retailer, so if it goes bust, you can simply take your complaints there instead and get money back if no delivery.
Yet it's important you ALWAYS REPAY IN FULL each month, so there's no interest cost. See the Section 75 guide for a full guide and Cashback Credit Cards for how to earn cash on top too.
DO: Protect purchases under £100
Section 75 doesn't apply to purchases under £100, but there's still an option which can help. It's not a legal protection, just Visa rules, but it's a good secondary back up.
Spend on a Visa credit or debit card and, if the goods don't appear within 120 days, you can ask your bank to reclaim the cash from the seller's bank. See the Visa Chargeback part of the Section 75 guide for full details.
DON'T: Use unfamiliar sites without checking
Bogus websites are often set up to cash in on popular products like Ugg boots and Tiffany necklaces, so be wary if it's an unfamiliar site. And don't think that because it appears on a reputable search engine, that makes it a reputable site - always check.
DO: Check the site's legit
Most folks know to look for a security padlock on a website's bottom right, but that doesn't mean the site's legit, just that payment's secure.
To find out who registered the site and when, search the Whois database. Reputable firms should also appear on the Companies House site, the UK Govt's official companies register. Be very wary of businesses with just a PO BOX or email address.
Study the site's worldwide web ranking on Alexa. Anything in the top 100,000 means it's reasonably big - a good, though not foolproof, indication of legitimacy. Do a quick Google search for other shoppers' experiences.
DON'T: Let your anti-virus run out
Crucially, ensure your security's up-to-date - free software can be downloaded to your computer in five mins. Full details in the Free Anti-Virus Software guide.
DO: Know your distance selling rights
Many people are surprised to learn you've MORE rights buying online (or telephone/catalogue) due to the Distance Selling Regulations.
This gives a legal right to send most goods back within a week for a full refund (including outward delivery costs), even if there's no fault. You'll usually need to pay for the return delivery. Read Consumer Rights for a full guide.
However, of course this is balanced by the fact that, order online, and that automatically means a time gap between ordering and delivering - when the company has your money. So if it goes bust in that time, the distance selling rights don't help.
DO: Understand sometimes there's no protection.
Ultimately, there is always a risk that a company can go bust. If the above routes don't apply, then you have to make a decision about whether you're willing to take the risk of parting with your cash.
Don't be overly scared of this: every day we all make transactions based on trust, and this is part of that, but do balance up the amount you're spending against the risk. Don't give large amounts of money to a company you're not sure of.
Close
Foehn & Hirsch UK sat-nav, £44 Includes MP3/MP4 FM transmitter
You can order the budget Foehn & Hirsch sat-nav online from eBuyer* for £43.57 including delivery (order before Sun 18 Dec for delivery before Christmas). It's in its clearance section though, so stock's limited.
Perhaps the simplest sat-nav on the market, it's slim, light and compact. It has a 3.5" colour touchscreen, and instant route calculation so, if you make a wrong turn, it'll automatically get you back on track.
It has a built-in FM transmitter, which you can tune your car stereo into so music stored on the sat-nav can be played over your car system. It also lets you browse any photos, e-books and videos you've saved on the 2GB internal memory, which can be expanded via the SD card slot.
Mio F360 GPS sat-nav System, £50 User friendly with 3D junction view & lane assistance
If your budget doesn't quite stretch to TomTom prices, the Mio F360 GPS is a cheap equivalent at £49.97 delivered from Dixons*(order before Fri 23 Dec for delivery before Christmas).
Its 3.5" colour LCD screen shows detailed maps of your route, and for tricky junctions, there's a 3D view. The lane assistance feature combined with spoken street names means you can listen for when you have to turn, without taking your eyes off the road.
Reviews seem to agree it's simple to set up and easy to use.
Garmin Nuvi 2200, £70Save on fuel with the cheapest Garmin
As a big player in the sat-nav market, Garmin models usually come with a hefty price tag, but Amazon* is currently selling the Nuvi 2200 for £69.99, including delivery.
It's preloaded with UK and Ireland maps, plus speed limit warnings and a handy fuel-saver feature that calculates the most fuel-efficient route.
However, several reviews say the Nuvi 2200 reads numbers as a whole rather than single digits (think A-three-hundred-and-twenty-nine, instead of A-three-two-nine), which can be confusing. It doesn't feature lane assistance either.
TomTom Start² Europe, £95
Cheapest TomTom, with full EU mapping
Currently cheapest at Amazon*, the TomTom Start² includes full EU mapping for £93.28 including delivery (order before Sun 18 Dec for delivery before Christmas).
It has all you'd expect from a TomTom, including lane guidance, speed restriction notifications, fixed speed camera notifications and "POI" (points of interest).
TomTom users also get a free update with the latest maps, as long as you register it online within 30 days of purchase.
If you don't mind a refurbished TomTom it's also worth browsing the TomTom outlet store, which can offer some decent discounts off standard prices.
Free sat-nav apps for your smartphone
If you've a web-enabled phone (with a decent screen), it's possible to use this as a sat-nav, so you can avoid buying a separate product. Many mobiles now include Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, which you can use with various downloadable apps.
Apps can vary in price, from free to around £50, but if you're going to pay this much for an app it's probably wiser to buy a separate sat-nav. The only downside to using apps over maps is that the large files could take up a lot of your phone's memory, and if your screen's not big enough you may not be able to see where you're going anyway.
If you're going down this route though (pardon the pun!), below are some of the top free apps for iPhones, Androids and BlackBerrys:
Navfree GPS UK & ROI
Available for iPhone and Android.
What is Navfree? As the name suggests, Navfree is a completely free route planner app with no on-going charges. It is based on mapping from the Open Street Map service.
How does it work? Search by exact address or postcode, do a simple "Point Of Interest" (POI) search, or connect to Google/Bing to find information about the local area (a data connection's needed). Then plan your route.
Pros: All maps are downloaded and stored on your phone when you first install it, so can be used whenever needed without a wi-fi or 3G connection (perfect if you're driving around). As you can browse, plan and access routes anywhere without having to pay for data, the app's handy when abroad (there are a number of free versions of this app for different countries/areas).
Cons: Because all on-board maps are stored on your phone, it can take a while to download. It’s a pretty hefty 400MB, so you should install via wi-fi, rather than your 3G connection. This is a one-time thing though, so once you’ve got it you’re good to go.
Also, the app may not be that handy if you're completely lost and there are no recognisable landmarks around - if you're in a place that's that remote, you may not be able to get a 3G signal to help you find your way home!
Google Maps for mobile
Available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry
What is Google Maps? The app offers free turn-by-turn directions (with voice prompts if you choose to turn them on) whether you're travelling by car, by bike or walking.
How does it work? Most smartphones now come with Google Maps pre-installed, but the service itself works best with devices that support Google's operating system, Android.
The mapping itself is like normal Google Maps, but less detailed. However, It moves fast and follows where you're going, so you can see if you're going the wrong way.
Pros: It has a simple POI search and can be integrated with other Android and Google Apps, for example, "check in" wherever you are to let your friends know you're there with Google Latitude.
Cons: This app requires a constant data connection, so isn't that handy if you're lost in the middle of nowhere and can't get a 3G signal. Also, the "navigation" aspect is still being tested, so may not always be accurate.
Available for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry.
Waze GPS & social traffic app
Available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry
What is Waze? Waze is a free GPS and social traffic app, available on iPhones, Androids and BlackBerrys.
How does it work? Powered completely by its users, you can build and use live maps, real-time traffic updates and turn-by-turn navigation to improve your daily commute.
Pros: Once your route's planned, should other "Wazers" report any traffic jams, road works, etc you'll automatically be re-routed based on live road conditions.
Cons: While it's free to download, unlike Navfree it needs a constant data connection to work.The UK mapping for the app only began this year, so isn't that developed. Waze says: "It'll be a little while until the app delivers its full value."
Also, reviews suggest the BlackBerry version has flaws. When we tested it on a BlackBerry, we couldn't get it to connect properly.
Available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry.
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