My wife does all the driving when we go places together. It’s not that I don’t find driving enjoyable; I just don’t enjoy making decisions on the fly. I have a real anxiety about losing things, and its magnitude is compounded when I’m the object that is lost while traveling at high speed.

My GPS is the most useful gadget I own. While I use my smartphone regularly, my decade-old Garmin Nuvi GPS has saved my nerves so many times.

While smartphones are equipped with GPS, they require a data signal to be fully reliable. It also tends to drain the phone battery and, in some cases, can cause the phone to overheat.

Standalone GPS devices made by Garmin, TomTom and others work without the need for any internet connection, making them dependable, even when there are zero bars on your cellphone.

GPS devices are priced as low as $80; a $250 device is usually equipped with more features than you will ever need. All offer voice navigation, speed limit information, time and distance to destination, and can search for nearby points of interest.

“Recalculating”

GPS can be frustrating to some people who feel the device likes to blurt out unclear instructions at the last moment. Most of these issues can be avoided by knowing how to read and listen to the device. Whether you use a standalone GPS or the one on your phone, here are some tips to help you get along better with your GPS copilot.

• Spend some time with the GPS as a passenger. Study how it gives you instructions both visually and audibly about lane changes, turns and distances.
• Listen to the GPS more than you look at it. It will usually tell you everything you need to know, such as exits, merge instructions and turning information.
• Read what’s written on the screen more than looking at the 3D navigation. The GPS will tell you what exit to take, what street to turn on and how far until you must take action. This information is far more reliable than trying to interpret the proper exit from a computer-generated image of freeway spaghetti.
• For best reliability, update your maps or get a new device every two years.

One last tip: If you’re buying a new car, there is no reason to pay $500+ to upgrade to a built-in navigation system. I haven’t seen a single built-in navigation system that is better than the ones you buy for $100 at the electronics store.

In fact, many built-in systems now rely on a connection to your smartphone’s data, making them no more reliable than your phone’s GPS app.