How to find the location of a parked car on iPhone using Apple Maps (2023)

Over the years, Apple Maps, or simply Maps, has improved a lot, providing iPhone users with easy navigation. From turn-by-turn directions and real-life 3D images to displaying your favorite places and transportation routes, Maps is a great way to get around with ease!

Another useful feature is the ability to find the location of your parked car on your iPhone. This is especially handy if you’re in a crowded parking lot, in a new place, or if you don’t have a very good memory! Here’s everything you need to know about this handy feature.

• Requirements for iPhone to track where your car is parked
• Enable iPhone car parking feature in Maps
• How to track the location of a parked car on iPhone
• What to do if you can’t find your parked car on Apple Maps?
• How to stop showing your parking location on iPhone

Requirements for iPhone to track where your car is parked

• You must connect your iOS device to your car’s CarPlay or Bluetooth system. What happens is that your iPhone resets the parked car marker in the Maps app whenever your iPhone disconnects from your car’s Bluetooth or Carplay system. For example, when you get out of the car, the connection between them is broken.
• Most new cars have CarPlay. If you’re not sure if your car supports CarPlay, you can visit the Apple CarPlay page to view a list of supported models. If you don’t see your device listed, you can still use your car’s Bluetooth system.
• If you’re using a data connection, be sure to turn on cellular data for Maps. To do this, go to Settings → Cellular → scroll down and turn on Maps.

Enable iPhone car parking feature in Maps

1. Go to “Settings”on your iPhone → scroll down to “Maps”.
2. In the “Your car”section, turn on “Show Parking Location”.
   How to track the location of a parked car on iPhone

   If this feature is enabled, Maps will automatically add a marker to Maps when you disconnect your iPhone from your vehicle.

   You should see a notification that Maps has placed a pin to mark the parking spot. If you don’t see a notification, you may not be connected to your car’s CarPlay or Bluetooth system.

   To use it, simply select “Parked Car”under “Siri Suggestions”in the search card. Or type “parked car”in the search box. This should display the location of your vehicle. If they don’t work, you can check through Maps. Do it:

   • Open the Maps app.
   • You will see a blue “Parked Car”marker at the spot where you parked your car.
   • Tap a pin to see more detailed location information.

   You can add a note to help you remember details about the parking spot, or add a photo to help you visually remember the location.

   Restrictions on using the Parked Car feature on the map

   • Your vehicle’s location will be based on the last connection to your iPhone. So let’s say the last time you connected to your car was from point A, but you moved it to point B without connecting your iPhone to the car. The location of your vehicle will still be in location A.
   • The second significant limitation is that when you park your car in a place that you frequently park, such as at work or at home, your parked car will not be tagged.
   • Using this feature can also be confusing if you’re parking inside establishments. Although it will show the location, it cannot accurately determine the location and level you are at, so it is wise to take a note or take a photo of the exact parking spot.
   • While this works well in metropolitan areas, some users have reported problems using this feature in rural areas.

   What to do if you can’t find your parked car on Apple Maps?

   If you’ve already connected your iPhone to CarPlay or Bluetooth but still can’t see your parked car in Maps, check your settings:

   • Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → turn it on.
   • Go back to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → turn on Important Locations.

   How to stop showing your parking location on iPhone

   To stop showing your parking location, you can simply touch and hold the marker, then select Delete Vehicle. If you want to disable this feature, go to Settings → Maps and turn off Show Parking Location.

   Alternatives to finding a car

   • In addition to using your iPhone to find a car, you can also use your Apple Watch to find it.
   • If you’re not a Maps fan and prefer to use Google Maps, you can also use Google Maps to save where you’ve parked. To do this, park your car, open Google Maps, tap the blue pin (where you currently are) and select Save Parking. When returning to the parking lot, hold the saved pin and select “Start”. This will give you directions on how to get back to your car.

   Completion…

   Forgetting where you parked your car can be a headache. Luckily, you just need Maps on your iPhone to find the location of a parked car.

   What do you think of this feature? Do you use it or do you prefer other methods to find your car? Let us know in the comments section!