Think you know Waze like the back of your steering wheel? Think again. While Waze has wiggled its way into every driver’s smartphone and just won’t let go, most people never scratch beyond its basic features—and that’s a shame. Get ready to upgrade your daily commute or epic road trip with these 8 hidden Waze settings that every driver should try…yes, right now!
Customizing Your Ride: Set Up Your Vehicle Type
- Waze isn’t just for regular cars. In the app’s settings (under vehicle info and vehicle type), you can switch your mode of transport: private vehicles are there by default, but taxi and motorcycle options are also available. Why bother? Because taxis and motorcycles can sometimes take routes off-limits to others, giving you a leg-up (or a wheel up) on traffic! However, a little warning: there’s no support for trucks or caravans—that’s a job for specialist apps.
- For electric vehicle owners, the magic doesn’t stop. Activate specific resources for EVs: input your charging plug type so Waze only shows compatible charging points. You can even pick preferred networks to fit where you work or live, making your green journey even smarter.
Smart Planning: Arrive On Time, Every Time
- Not sure when to leave for that important meeting or family gathering? With trip planning right inside Waze, just enter your travel details in settings (look for planned drives), activate alerts, and let Waze tell you the optimal time to start your journey. Plus, connect your digital calendar and—boom—future trips transfer automatically. No more excuses for being late due to “unexpected” traffic!
- Once your trip’s confirmed, you can easily keep others in the loop. Tap the banner at the bottom of the screen, then select share drive. The lucky recipient gets a link showing your real-time location, remaining trip time, and estimated arrival—your route line even turns green when the update is live. Perfect for letting people know exactly when you’ll pull into the driveway, especially during the dreaded holiday traffic jams.
Take Control: Tweak Your Map and Audio
- If Waze’s iconic map has ever looked a bit… overloaded, you’re not alone. Like a gamer customizing their HUD, you can choose exactly which icons show up! In settings, under display then reports, browse the full menu—from weather to police checks to cars parked on the shoulder. Pick what matters, ditch what doesn’t, but don’t be too hasty: keep urgent and exceptional hazard alerts for safety’s sake.
- Music on Waze? Sure. But did you know you can link all sorts of compatible audio apps, including Audible for audiobooks, Castbox for podcasts, and leading radio stations? Head to audio player in the settings and connect your favorites for seamless in-app listening and fast audio controls.
Handy Reminders and Cost-Saving Tricks
- Here’s a quirky but potentially life-saving feature: the child reminder. Especially in summer, when distractions run high, Waze lets you set a notification that pops up when your journey ends, reminding you to take your child out of the car. Personalize your message or keep it simple—better safe than sorry! Find it in settings under reminders, then child reminder.
- Want to save some cash at the pump? Just as you can input your EV charging preferences, thermal (gasoline or diesel) drivers can select preferred fuel types: SP95-E10, E85, LPG, or diesel. With this info set up under vehicle info, Waze finds nearby gas stations in real time, showing you prices so you can make the most economical choice. Very handy when holiday road trips take you far from home!
- Bonus tip time: If a friend or family member is added as a Waze friend, and you’re both heading to the same destination, you can see each other’s progress in real time. It’s a race—not just against time, but against your companion’s ETA!
Final Gear Shift: Make Waze Work for You
- And wouldn’t it be nice if Waze allowed even more CarPlay display customization, like user messages or letting a passenger (not the driver, safety first!) type on the keyboard? Perhaps in future versions.
- Some users fondly recall old navigation devices letting you set your vehicle’s max speed (like 90 for a van, or 70 with a trailer), with routes calculated accordingly. Currently, Waze doesn’t offer this—but here’s hoping it shows up down the road.
Waze is packed with potential if you’re willing to poke around its settings. So tap, tweak, and tailor away—your driving experience (and maybe your stress levels) will thank you. Safe travels, navigator!
