Apple CarPlay has long been tied to Apple Maps as the default navigation tool, but many drivers prefer Google Maps for its traffic data and business listings. According to a recent Engadget guide, the ability to switch the default depends on where you live. In the European Union and Japan, local regulations allow iPhone users to select Google Maps as their default maps app, which means Siri requests and address taps will open Google Maps instead of Apple Maps. This setting is found under Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
For users outside those regions, Apple Maps remains the default, but the guide outlines several workarounds. Drivers can place the Google Maps icon on the first page of the CarPlay home screen, add a Google Maps widget to the CarPlay dashboard, or use the split-screen dashboard's mini-map panel. Another simple trick is adding "on Google Maps" to Siri commands to avoid Apple Maps opening by default.
The guide also recommends practical steps within the Google Maps app itself, such as setting home and work addresses for one-tap routing and downloading offline maps for long trips where cellular coverage may be unreliable. These features help make Google Maps in CarPlay more seamless, even where default-app rules do not apply.