Sat nav features to help you with navigation and driving

All sat navs have touchscreens, with a keyboard appearing on the screen for you to enter addresses or locations. Many have predictive systems similar to text messaging, which can save time.

All sat navs will re-route you automatically and get you back on track if you accidentally take a wrong turn or end up having to follow a detour

However, routing is getting more sophisticated and intelligent every day. Sat navs can now update your route based on live traffic information, working out the fastest route for the time of day. Over time, they become familiar with your daily routines and will ask whether you're driving home or to work when powered up.

Many also feature route preference options that let drivers state what's most important to their journey, whether that's getting somewhere as quickly or leisurely as possible, or avoiding costs like toll gates. The sat nav will then plan out a route accordingly.

Models with advanced lane guidance show you which lane you need to be in when you're travelling through a junction, preparing and pre-warning you in advance of complex turnings.

The Garmin Drive 52 EU Sat Nav is a real heavyweight of a sat nav that offers advanced lane guidance, including diagrams that feature the road signs you'll need to look out for. This means you'll only need to glance at the sat nav if you forget to listen to the voice guidance instructions or end up at a particularly hairy junction or interchange!

Sat navs aren't only useful for driving in the UK; they're also exceptionally handy when travelling abroad. They provide a helping hand for unfamiliar roads, and can also point to amenities and attractions, from places to visit to places to eat.

It's key to ensure that the sat nav you're considering offers the full range of maps you require. All Halfords sat navs provide UK and Ireland mapping, but if you know you may be travelling to Europe, consider paying a little extra for a sat nav with UK and European maps.

Take a look at the TomTom GO Classic 6" for a great sat nav with European maps, plus Wi-Fi and real-time traffic information via TomTom Traffic.

Whether you're driving in a congested city or simply keen to cut out significant delays on your daily commute, live traffic information updates are handy in almost every situation, alerting you to any potential obstacles on your journey.

Generally speaking, these traffic updates will come via your mobile phone data. Your sat nav will connect to the corresponding app on your phone and use it to access the live traffic info.

With UK road systems constantly changing and new housing continuously being built, it's important to keep your sat nav up to date. At Halfords, all of our sat navs are sold with free lifetime map updates, so keeping your sat nav's information up to date has never been easier.

If you’re using a sat nav with a Wi-Fi connection then you can download map updates without having to plug anything in. If not, all you need to do is connect the sat nav to a computer using the USB cable, or it may come with a removable storage card that you'll need to plug into your computer.

Speed camera warnings are technically 'alerts' to warn you to take care, usually emitting a beep as you approach a camera and reminding you to check your speed. Some top-end models can even locate mobile cameras, although this may require a subscription fee.

If this is a feature you're keen to explore, check out the TomTom GO Discover 5" Car Sat Nav or the Garmin DriveSmart 66 with Alexa. These give clear audio and visual warnings when the car approaches camera-controlled sections of the road, including a graphic of the speed limit, so you won't be slamming on the brakes at the last minute.

POIs are stored in your sat nav and show up on your map when you get closer to them. These might be for functional facilities, like petrol stations, cash machines and car parks, but also for places like restaurants and hotels, beaches, attractions, historical sites, parks, and more.

We stock a range of models that include free POI downloads, like the TomTom GO Classic 5" Sat Nav and the Garmin Drive 52MT-S with UK Maps 5" Sat Nav.

The best sat nav models come with voice control, so you can set routes with your voice rather than having to stop the car to use the touchscreen. This becomes incredibly handy if you need to re-plan your route either while you're on the go or in a hurry.

For excellent voice control navigation, we'd recommend starting with the TomTom Go Essential 5" Sat Nav and the Garmin DriveSmart 66 Sat Nav. These sat navs have been designed to provide extremely clear instructions, with an assertive but easy-to-understand voice that will tell you when it's time to take a break or if the route has been altered to avoid traffic.

Using a sat nav with Bluetooth can be incredibly useful. You can connect to your phone wirelessly and the sat nav can search through contacts, make a call and act as a microphone and speaker, allowing you to use your phone hands-free. As mentioned above, this also gives you access to live traffic updates and other information.

For sat navs with this feature, take a look at the TomTom GO Discover 7" Car Sat Nav or the Garmin Drive 52MT-S with UK Maps 5" Sat Nav.