I was just given the Garmin 255W as a Christmas gift.Can you purchase the lifetime maps or do you have to pay for each update after the 60 day free update is over.

For maps that came with a Garmin GPS - a map can be updated for free within 60 days after purchase. The purchase date is recorded after registering the device at MyGarmin.com or when the GPS detects movement above a certain speed. If the GPS is purchased with lifetime updates - it will be free throughout the lifetime of the Garmin GPS.

Just see what happens when registering the device at MyGarmin.com. A map update will show when there's one available for your Map version.

The only time you get a free update is if a new map comes out within 60 days of your satnav first accessing satellites. If you're paying for updates you can pay for a once off or for a lifetime update. With the lifetime update you pay once, 85 euros for the map of Europe, and you get maps every 3 months or so.

Hello,

Updates come at a cost, 54.95 to get the most current map set or 89.95 for a lifetime subscription to map updates. The lifetime subscription is the more economic way to go saving 20$ by the second year. You are eligible for a free update within 60 days of the units purchase, so you could try obtaining that before paying. All your GPS updates & accessories can be obtained at www.gpscity.ca or www.gpscity.com.

Hope this helps!

Garmin give free map updates only if a new map comes out within 60 days of the first time your satnav accesses satellites. You can find details of how to update your maps at http://www.fixya.com/support/r5628920-update_garmin_satnav_maps The only difference in doing this for free updates and paid updates is that if you're entitled to a free update when you click on GET UPDATE you'll be taken to the download page. If you have to pay for it you'll be taken to the payments page.

The only time garmin give free map updates is if a new map becomes available within 60 days of your satnav first accessing satellites. Details of how to update your maps are at http://www.fixya.com/support/r5628920-update_garmin_satnav_maps
The only difference in getting them free or paying for them is that if you're entitled to a free update when you click on the GET UPDATE link you'll either be directed to the payments page if it's not free or to the download page if it is. The cost of a map update is approx 50 euros for a one off update or you can get a lifetime update for around 130 euros. The lifetime update is for the life of your satnav not for your own lifetime.

It's a good idea to back up your favourites before updating just in case anything goes wrong. You can get details of how to do this at http://www.fixya.com/support/r8422587-backup_restore_favourites_garmin_nuvi

Garmin's policy for most of its nuvi GPS units is to allow you one free map upgrade. For example, I bought a Nuvi 755T in December and their policy said:
The n?Maps Guarantee entitles you to 1 or more free map updates within 60 days of Dec 06, 2010.
Some Nuvi models come with lifetime free map upgrades, these models have "LM" or "LMT" at the end of their model number.

Details on how to update your map are at http://www.fixya.com/support/r5628920-update_garmin_satnav_maps

Garmin give free maps only if a new map comes out within 60 days of the first time your satnav connected to a satellite. Otherwise you'll have to pay for them. If you find free maps other than those supplied by garmin be aware that they may damage your satnav.

Hello,

Updates come at a cost, 54.95 to get the most current map set or 89.95 for a lifetime subscription to map updates. The lifetime subscription is the more economic way to go saving 20$ by the second year.

Hope this helps

Hi Vicki, unless your nuvi was first activated and acquired satellite lock in the last 60 days (unlikely as yours was discontinued a long while ago) then you cannot get free map updates, sorry.

For models activated within the last 60 days Garmin offer a free update to the latest maps if the maps already on the product when it was purchased are an older version. After that, all updats must be paid for.

You simply won't find free map updates legally. Accurate maps cost a fortune to produce and update so nobody gives them away, even the few illegal downloads tend not to work and if they do work are likely to be out of date anyway.

The way that Garmin price their map updates, it's often better to simply buy a new Garmin with the maps pre-installed, although I appreciate that's not the answer you hoped for. If you do buy Garmin updates then you can either go for a one-off update, or for additional cost can buy a lifetime update, but it's limited to the lifetime of the device which is only designed to last three years anyway so may be poor value if you buy the lifetime update and your machine then dies of wear or old age.

https://my.garmin.com/maps/nuMaps.htm
follow this link. If your first registering the unit. They give you first 60 days to download one free map update. Or you can purchase new maps by clicking the map updates link on the page.
thank you,
Lee