If you've ever plugged your iPhone into your car and wondered which map app to use, how to switch between them, or why your voice directions suddenly went silent — you're not alone.
CarPlay maps are the most-used feature on the platform. And there's a lot more to them than just tapping "Go."
At Car Tech Studio, we work with CarPlay every day. We've helped a lot of customers set it up, troubleshoot it, and get more out of it. So I put together this post to cover everything — from how each navigation app works on CarPlay, to setting things up, fixing common problems, and figuring out which app actually makes sense for you.
Key Takeaways
Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze all work on Apple CarPlay — but they behave differently
Apple Maps is the default and has the deepest iOS integration, including Apple Watch alerts
You can set a default navigation app in iOS 17 and later (and in the EU, iOS 18.4 and later expands this further)
Offline maps work with CarPlay on both Apple Maps and Google Maps — useful for travel or spotty coverage
Apple Maps supports EV routing directly through CarPlay on compatible vehicles
If your voice directions have gone silent, it's almost always a volume issue with two separate audio streams
Over 94% of new cars sold in the US now ship with CarPlay support, according to 2025 data
What CarPlay Maps Actually Does
CarPlay is a projection system. It takes your iPhone's apps and displays them on your car's screen in a driving-friendly layout. Navigation sits right at the center of that experience.
When you connect your iPhone, CarPlay shows turn-by-turn directions, live traffic, lane guidance, and ETA info on your dashboard — all controlled through touch, steering wheel buttons, or Siri. You keep your eyes on the road while the map does the heavy lifting.
According to Edison Research's Infinite Dial data, around 40% of Americans now have CarPlay or Android Auto in their primary vehicle, up from 26% in 2023. And of those, about 83% actively use it when they drive. Maps is why most of them use it.
Apple's own data shows that close to 80% of US new-car shoppers would only consider a vehicle that supports CarPlay. Navigation is a big reason for that.
The Three Main CarPlay Maps Apps
Apple Maps
Apple Maps is the default CarPlay navigation app. It's built into iOS, which means it's always there, always updated, and works smoothly with everything else Apple makes.
On CarPlay, Apple Maps gives you turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic, lane guidance, ETA sharing, and 3D city views in supported areas. Siri is deeply integrated, so you can say "take me home" or "find a gas station nearby" without touching the screen.
One thing a lot of drivers love about Apple Maps is how it pairs with Apple Watch. You get subtle taps on your wrist at every turn. Some people say that alone is the reason they stick with Apple Maps — even if they think Google's data is more accurate in their area.
The app has improved a lot over the years. iOS 18 added brighter icons and cleaner map markers on the CarPlay screen, making it easier to read at a glance. And with iOS 17, Apple added EV routing — more on that later.
Google Maps
Google Maps is the most widely used navigation app in the world, and it works well on CarPlay. Once it's installed on your iPhone and enabled in CarPlay settings, it shows up on your CarPlay home screen and works like you'd expect.
On CarPlay, you get a top bar where you can tap "Add destination" to search for places. During navigation, you can add stops — gas stations, restaurants, drive-throughs — by tapping into the menu and searching by category or name. There's also a microphone button for voice search within the app.
Google Maps pulls from a massive database of traffic data, POI info, and real-time conditions. For a lot of drivers, it feels more reliable for routing around traffic — especially in busy urban areas.
The one catch: Siri doesn't automatically open Google Maps. You have to say "navigate to [place] using Google Maps" for Siri to hand things off to it. Skip the app name and Siri defaults to Apple Maps.
Waze
Waze is owned by Google and takes a different approach. It focuses on crowd-sourced data — police sightings, speed cameras, accidents, road hazards, and live incident reports from other drivers.
On CarPlay, Waze splits the screen: one half shows the map, the other shows navigation instructions, shortcuts, and categories like gas, coffee, and drive-throughs. You can switch to full-screen mode if you want a bigger map view.
Waze's CarPlay version is a slimmed-down version of the mobile app, so some features don't make it to the car screen. It also doesn't support Siri the same way Apple Maps and Google Maps do — you use Waze's own microphone button for voice input instead.
Despite those limitations, many drivers swear by Waze for long highway drives or areas with heavy speed enforcement. One popular setup we see often at Car Tech Studio: use Waze for hazard awareness and Google Maps for general navigation, switching between the two as needed.
Comparing Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze on CarPlay
Here's a quick breakdown of how the three apps stack up for the things that matter most on the road:
Default behavior: Apple Maps is the system default. Google Maps and Waze need to be installed and enabled in CarPlay settings first.
Siri integration: Apple Maps works with any generic Siri command. Google Maps and Waze require you to name the app in your request — for example, "navigate using Waze."
Traffic and incidents: Apple Maps uses Apple's own data. Google Maps offers extensive real-time traffic from its massive data network. Waze relies on community-submitted reports, which can be more current in areas with active user bases.
Apple Watch support: Apple Maps only. Google Maps and Waze don't send haptic navigation alerts to the Apple Watch.
EV routing: Apple Maps supports EV routing with charging stops on compatible vehicles. Google Maps has EV features on mobile but not natively through CarPlay. Waze doesn't offer EV routing.
Offline maps: Apple Maps offline works with CarPlay on iOS 17 and later. Google Maps offline works on the phone and carries over to CarPlay guidance, though live traffic requires connectivity.
How to Set Up CarPlay Maps
Step 1: Connect CarPlay
Plug your iPhone into the car via USB, or connect wirelessly if your vehicle supports it
Follow the prompts on both the car's screen and your iPhone to allow the CarPlay connection
Make sure your iPhone is running a recent version of iOS. In our experience at Car Tech Studio, a lot of CarPlay issues trace back to outdated software rather than the app itself.
Step 2: Enable Your Navigation Apps
Apple Maps is always present on CarPlay — no setup needed.
For Google Maps and Waze:
Install them from the App Store on your iPhone
Go to Settings → General → CarPlay on your iPhone
Select your vehicle and confirm the apps appear under "Included Apps"
If they're not showing up, try disconnecting CarPlay, restarting your iPhone, and reconnecting.
Step 3: Set Your Default Navigation App (iOS 17+)
Starting with iOS 17, you can choose a default navigation app for CarPlay:
Go to Settings → General → CarPlay
Select your vehicle
Tap "Default Navigation App"
Choose Google Maps, Waze, or Apple Maps
This setting controls which app opens when you tap an address or navigation link on CarPlay. A step-by-step walkthrough from UMA Technology confirms that this option appears once a compatible third-party navigation app is installed on the iPhone.
If you're in the EU and running iOS 18.4 or later, Apple extended this further under Digital Markets Act requirements. You can set a true system-wide default, so even generic Siri commands will route through Google Maps or Waze instead of Apple Maps.
Outside the EU, Siri still defaults to Apple Maps for generic commands. To get Siri to use a different app, you need to name it: "Hey Siri, navigate to [destination] using Google Maps."
Step 4: Customize Your CarPlay Home Screen
On your iPhone, go to Settings → General → CarPlay
Select your car
Drag your preferred navigation app to the top of the list
Putting it in the top-left slot makes it the easiest to tap when you start driving. CarPlay also tends to reopen the last-used navigation app on your next drive. So if you use Google Maps once and it's at the top of your screen, it'll likely come back up automatically.
Using Maps in CarPlay: Key Features
Turn-by-Turn Directions
This is the core experience. Once you select a destination and tap "Go," your navigation app takes over the CarPlay screen with route info, upcoming turns, and a real-time ETA.
During navigation, you can:
Add stops mid-route via the ETA display or in-app menu
End navigation by telling Siri "stop navigating" or tapping "End Route"
Mute voice guidance without stopping navigation
Share your ETA with contacts (Apple Maps)
Changing Map Views and Zoom
Apple Maps on CarPlay lets you switch between a detailed 3D view and a 2D overview with north at the top. You can zoom in and out using the on-screen plus and minus buttons, and on some touchscreens, you can pinch to zoom.
If you scroll the map away from your current position, a "Resume" button appears. Tap it to snap back to the turn-by-turn view. A lot of people don't know this button exists and get frustrated thinking the map has lost them — worth knowing about.
EV Routing in Apple Maps
This is one of the more impressive features for electric vehicle drivers. Apple Maps can factor in your car's current charge level, elevation changes, and charging infrastructure to build routes that include charging stops.
For EVs that don't require a manufacturer app:
Connect your iPhone to CarPlay
Open Maps and start a route
Tap "Connect" above the route options
Follow the on-screen instructions to link your vehicle
For EVs that require a manufacturer app:
Download and set up the manufacturer app first
Open Maps on your iPhone
Go to your profile → Vehicles → "Connect Your Electric Vehicles"
Once connected, Maps can show real-time charging station availability from select providers, and lets you filter by plug type and network — all from the CarPlay screen.
Offline Maps and CarPlay
Starting with iOS 17, Apple Maps supports offline maps that work with CarPlay. This is a big deal for road trips, rural driving, or international travel with limited data.
To download offline maps:
Open Apple Maps on your iPhone
Tap your profile icon
Go to "Offline Maps"
Tap "Download New Map"
Search for the city or region you want
Adjust the coverage area, then download
Offline map files for major cities can range from 100 to 500 MB, so download on Wi-Fi before you leave. The Simology travel guide recommends downloading maps for every region you plan to drive through — not just your main destination — to avoid coverage gaps.
Once downloaded, you get full turn-by-turn directions on CarPlay even without data. Live traffic and dynamic rerouting resume automatically when connectivity returns.
Google Maps also supports offline downloads that carry over to CarPlay guidance:
Search for a city in Google Maps
Tap the place card
Open the three-dot menu
Select "Download offline map"
Troubleshooting Common CarPlay Maps Problems
Maps Not Showing Up on CarPlay
This is one of the most common issues we hear about. Here's where to start:
Confirm CarPlay is active in your car's infotainment settings
Make sure you're using a certified USB cable that supports data, not just charging
Check Settings → General → CarPlay on your iPhone and confirm your car is recognized
For third-party apps, go to "Included Apps" and verify Google Maps or Waze is listed
Try disconnecting, restarting your iPhone, and reconnecting
Reinstall the missing app if it still doesn't appear
If Apple Maps itself isn't showing, that's unusual since it's a system app. Try deleting and reinstalling it from the App Store.
CarPlay Keeps Opening the Wrong Navigation App
This comes down to default behavior. If you want Google Maps or Waze to come up instead of Apple Maps:
Use iOS 17's Default Navigation App setting (Settings → General → CarPlay → your car → Default Navigation App)
Move your preferred app to the top-left of the CarPlay home screen
Use it for at least one trip — CarPlay learns from recent usage
For Siri, always include the app name: "navigate to [place] using Google Maps"
If you're outside the EU, there's no system-wide default that overrides Siri for generic commands. The above steps are the best you can do for now.
No Voice Directions
This one trips a lot of people up, and the fix is counterintuitive.
CarPlay uses two separate audio streams: one for music, one for navigation prompts. They're both controlled by the same physical volume knob, but only the active stream gets adjusted. If you turn down the volume while a navigation prompt is playing, you've just muted directions — not music. Then when you turn the volume back up during a song, navigation stays silent.
Here's how to fix it:
Check your car's navigation or guidance volume settings — many vehicles have a separate slider just for guidance audio
For Google Maps, go to Settings → Navigation settings → Voice on your iPhone and make sure voice isn't muted
Test Apple Maps — if it speaks directions fine, the problem is Google Maps' internal settings; if Apple Maps is also silent, it's the vehicle's navigation volume
Toyota's navigation manual has a dedicated "Voice Volume" setting just for CarPlay guidance that can't be adjusted with the main volume knob. Honda documentation has a similar "Guidance Volume" control. Worth checking your car's manual if you're stuck.
The CarPlay Dashboard Split-Screen
Some users see their CarPlay screen split between a map and music controls and think something's wrong. That's actually CarPlay's dashboard — a deliberate layout that shows navigation on one side and your current audio on the other, along with small calendar and notification widgets.
To get to full-screen navigation: tap the map panel
To expand audio to full screen: tap the music panel
There's no setting to make CarPlay always open directly into a specific app, which frustrates a lot of drivers.
A workaround some people use: set up an iPhone Shortcut automation that launches your preferred navigation app automatically when your iPhone connects to CarPlay. It's not an official feature, but it works.
CarPlay Maps After iOS Updates
After a major iOS update, do a quick restart of your iPhone before assuming something is broken. A lot of short-term CarPlay quirks resolve with a simple reboot.
If a navigation app is behaving strangely after an update — not loading, wrong zoom behavior, missing features — restart first, then check if the app needs an update from the App Store.
Which CarPlay Maps App Should You Use?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer. It really comes down to what you care about most.
Choose Apple Maps if: You use an Apple Watch, rely on Siri for hands-free navigation, drive an EV that supports Apple's EV routing, or want the smoothest experience across all your Apple devices.
Choose Google Maps if: You want the most comprehensive traffic data, you travel internationally a lot, or you're more comfortable with Google's interface and POI database.
Choose Waze if: You drive a lot on highways or in areas with speed cameras and police enforcement. The crowd-sourced hazard data is genuinely useful and hard to match.
A lot of drivers we talk to at Car Tech Studio end up using two apps — Apple Maps or Google Maps for daily navigation, and Waze specifically when they want hazard and enforcement alerts.
What's Coming Next for CarPlay Maps
Apple Maps keeps getting better. EV routing, offline maps, and the iOS 18 visual improvements are all part of a longer trend toward making CarPlay maps more capable.
The Tesla situation is an interesting look at where things are headed. According to a MacRumors report, Tesla's plans to support CarPlay were delayed because Apple Maps and Tesla's internal navigation software gave conflicting turn-by-turn directions during autonomous driving tests. Tesla asked Apple to fix it, Apple shipped a solution in an iOS 26 update, but adoption was slow. It's a real challenge: as more cars add advanced driver assistance and self-driving features, navigation apps will need to work alongside those systems, not against them.
As EV adoption grows, expect more charging networks to be integrated into Apple Maps' real-time station availability feature. Offline map coverage will likely expand too. And the EU's push for default app settings may eventually influence what Apple offers globally.
Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze all work with Apple CarPlay. Apple Maps is built into iOS and available automatically. Google Maps and Waze need to be installed from the App Store and enabled in your CarPlay settings before they appear on the car's screen.
How do I set Google Maps as my default on CarPlay?
On iOS 17 and later, go to Settings → General → CarPlay, select your vehicle, and tap "Default Navigation App." From there you can choose Google Maps. If you're in the EU on iOS 18.4 or later, you can set it as a true system default. Outside the EU, you can also make it behave like a default by using it regularly and placing it at the top of your CarPlay home screen.
Why is there no voice with Google Maps on CarPlay?
This is almost always a volume issue with two separate audio streams. CarPlay keeps music and navigation audio separate. If you lowered the volume while directions were playing, you muted guidance without knowing it. Check your car's navigation volume settings (separate from the main volume knob in many vehicles), and also check Settings → Navigation settings → Voice in the Google Maps app on your iPhone.
Can I use Apple Maps offline with CarPlay?
Yes. Since iOS 17, Apple Maps supports offline map downloads that work with CarPlay. Open Apple Maps, tap your profile icon, go to "Offline Maps," and download the regions you need. Offline maps support full turn-by-turn driving directions without a data connection.
How do I get navigation apps to appear on my CarPlay screen?
On your iPhone, go to Settings → General → CarPlay, select your car, and check the "Included Apps" section. Make sure Google Maps or Waze is listed there. If an app is missing, try disconnecting CarPlay, restarting your iPhone, and reconnecting. If it still doesn't appear, reinstall the app.
Does Apple Maps work with electric vehicles on CarPlay?
Yes, Apple Maps has EV routing that works through CarPlay on compatible vehicles. It factors in your battery level, elevation changes, and charging infrastructure to build routes with charging stops built in. Setup varies by vehicle — some connect directly through CarPlay, others require downloading a manufacturer app first.
Which is better on CarPlay — Apple Maps or Google Maps?
It depends on your priorities. Apple Maps is better if you use an Apple Watch, want Siri to work hands-free without naming the app, or drive an EV with compatible routing. Google Maps is often preferred for its traffic data, POI coverage, and cross-platform consistency. Many drivers use both, depending on the trip.
Why does CarPlay keep opening Apple Maps instead of my preferred app?
CarPlay defaults to Apple Maps for Siri commands unless you name another app. To make Google Maps or Waze come up more consistently, use the Default Navigation App setting in iOS 17+, place your preferred app at the top of the CarPlay home screen, and use it for at least one trip. For Siri, always say "using Google Maps" or "with Waze" at the end of your command.
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