Nobody likes unexpected travel expenses and almost everyone likes to save money. Google is trying to cover both fronts by releasing a new Google Maps feature that helps combat the anxiety of unexpectedly traveling down expensive toll roads.
As part of the navigation platform’s latest software update – which focuses on giving users more useful information before and during their journey – Google Maps for iOS and Android will now include toll prices for nearly 2,000 toll roads in the US. , India, Japan and Indonesia , with more countries set to receive the feature soon.
According to a recent Google blog post (opens in new tab)you’ll be able to see the estimated toll price for your destination before you start navigating (courtesy of “trusted information from local toll authorities”), with Maps taking the date and time into account when calculating a value.
Google will also show possible discounts available through a relevant toll pass, as well as price variations between different payment methods.
You’ll, of course, still have the option to avoid routes that cross toll roads entirely – just click the “Avoid tolls” slider in the app’s settings – but it’s nice to know that surprise currency locks can be a thing of the past during long journeys. . Couple that with the app’s latest gas-saving trick, and Google Maps in 2022 has become a surprisingly useful cost-cutter.
A digital facelift
Elsewhere in the latest Google Maps update, Google has added a number of new details to the digital map — including icons for nearby traffic lights, stop signs, and notable buildings — that should make you feel more comfortable navigating unfamiliar locations. .
Google Maps users on iPhone, specifically, can now also benefit from widgets that provide quick access to the most important details of an upcoming trip, while Apple Watch users can enjoy a “Take me home” function without having to pick up the phone right away. all.
Those using Google Maps on Apple hardware will soon be able to ask Siri (using their voice, of course) for directions provided by Google as well, while the app is also set to integrate with the Spotlight and Shortcuts apps.
For more Google Maps related content, check out our guides on how to download Google Maps for offline use and the five things you didn’t know Google Maps could do.
