Google Maps Revamps Navigation Experience with Customizable Car Icons on Android Auto and CarPlay
Google Maps continues to enhance its user experience, bringing a touch of personalization to your daily commute and road trips. Back in February 2025, the navigation app rolled out an exciting feature allowing users to swap the traditional blue dot or arrow with a custom car icon. This small but impactful addition, previously popularized by Waze, lets you tailor your on-screen representation to better reflect your style and personality. This feature initially offered a limited selection of vehicle types and customizable colors, offering a welcome departure from the standard blue dot.
Now, this personalized experience extends seamlessly to Android Auto and CarPlay, transforming your car’s infotainment display into a more engaging and visually appealing navigation hub. The ability to see your chosen car icon on the larger screen while navigating adds a layer of fun and individuality to your driving experience.
Android Auto Integration: A Personalized Touch on Your Dashboard
The integration with Android Auto brings the custom car icon directly to your car’s display. Google Maps will mirror the icon you’ve selected on your phone app, ensuring a consistent experience across devices. Imagine navigating through city streets or cruising down the highway with a miniature version of your dream car leading the way. This simple visual tweak can significantly enhance the overall driving experience, making it feel more personal and less generic.
It’s important to note that the car icon cannot be changed directly on the car’s display through Android Auto. The customization options are exclusively available through the Google Maps app on your phone. Furthermore, any changes you make to the car icon on your phone will not be immediately reflected on the Android Auto display. To see the updated icon, you’ll need to disconnect and reconnect your phone to Android Auto. While this might seem like a minor inconvenience, it’s a necessary step to ensure seamless synchronization between the two platforms.
The exact timing of this integration remains somewhat unclear, but it appears to have been implemented within the past few weeks, coinciding with recent Android Auto updates. This suggests that Google is actively working to improve the compatibility and feature parity between its mobile and in-car platforms.
CarPlay Compatibility: Bringing Customization to Apple’s Ecosystem
Apple CarPlay users can also rejoice, as Google Maps has extended this functionality to their preferred in-car system. Similar to Android Auto, CarPlay will display the custom car icon you’ve chosen on your phone app. This ensures that your personalized navigation experience remains consistent regardless of your smartphone preference.
Again, it’s worth emphasizing that the car icon customization is solely managed through the Google Maps app on your phone. You cannot directly change the icon on the CarPlay interface. The icon displayed on CarPlay will reflect the settings you’ve configured on your phone.
How to Customize Your Car Icon: A Step-by-Step Guide
Customizing your car icon is a straightforward process that can be completed in a matter of minutes. Ideally, you should perform these steps before you start driving to avoid any distractions while on the road.
- Open Google Maps on your phone: Ensure you have the latest version of the app installed.
- Start Navigation: Initiate navigation to your desired destination. This is necessary to access the car icon customization options.
- Access Settings:
- Trip Preview: If you haven’t connected to Android Auto or CarPlay, a "Settings" button should appear on the trip preview screen, typically located below the navigation directions. Tap this button to open a menu.
- Ongoing Navigation (Without Android Auto/CarPlay): If navigation is already in progress and you’re not connected to Android Auto or CarPlay, there should be a dedicated button directly on the navigation screen to change the icon. Look for an icon that represents the current vehicle display.
- Change Vehicle Icon: Within the settings menu, you’ll find an option to change the "vehicle icon while navigating." Tap this option to proceed.
- Choose Your Icon: You’ll be presented with a selection of different icon choices. The default blue dot/arrow will still be available, but you can also choose from a variety of cars, SUVs, and trucks.
- Customize Color (Optional): Five of the available icon options offer customizable colors. This allows you to further personalize your on-screen representation. Select the color that best suits your preferences.
- Select Legacy Icons (Optional): If you prefer a more classic look, you can choose from three legacy icons that have fixed colors.
- Confirm Your Selection: Once you’ve chosen your desired icon and customized its color (if applicable), confirm your selection.
Your new car icon will now be displayed during navigation on your phone. If you’re connected to Android Auto or CarPlay, remember to disconnect and reconnect your phone to see the updated icon on your car’s display.
Icon Choices: A Range of Options to Suit Your Style
Google Maps offers a diverse range of icon choices to cater to various preferences. You can choose from a selection of modern cars, rugged SUVs, and powerful trucks. The customizable color options allow you to fine-tune the appearance of your chosen icon, making it truly unique.
For those who prefer a more traditional look, the legacy icons provide a nostalgic touch. These icons, with their fixed colors, offer a simple and familiar representation of your vehicle.
A Small Change with a Big Impact
While the ability to customize your car icon might seem like a minor addition, it can have a surprisingly significant impact on your overall driving experience. This simple visual tweak adds a personal touch to your navigation, making it more engaging and enjoyable.
The integration with Android Auto and CarPlay ensures that this personalized experience extends seamlessly to your car’s display, enhancing the overall in-car navigation experience. By allowing you to choose an icon that resonates with your style, Google Maps empowers you to create a more personalized and enjoyable driving experience. It’s a testament to the power of small details in enhancing the overall user experience.
Share Your Experience
Have you tried using a custom car icon on Google Maps with Android Auto or CarPlay? What icon did you choose, and how has it enhanced your driving experience? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! Let us know if you have any tips or tricks for customizing your car icon and making the most of this fun feature.
