I just got an American TomTom One and loaded an extra Italy map for a coming vacation. The unit came with a car cigarette lighter power adapter. Will this work in European cars?
Thanks, Joseph

 

They sure will work.All cars even in "old" Europe have 12 V Batteries.So just plug it in and enjoy.

Grry from PA

 

Actually, you may want to be careful with this.

MOST cars have 12v, some older diesels have 24v systems.

Also, older British cars sometimes used to have a positive ground (rather than the "standard" negative ground. ("Ground" is on the side of the cigarette lighter, with "power" at the tip).

I would imagine anything recent is 12 volt, negative ground - but may want to be careful with older cars.

 

an we got them new fangled light thingys that dont need matches too!!!
we dont live in the stone age in europe you know, and all modern cars are -ve earth

 

Thanks for your varied responses. I'll be driving a recent-make rental car, but it's interesting to know that vintage cars might pose a problem.

 

most vintage cars dont have cigarette lighter either

 

Is it true that most modern European cars have a slightly different size cigarette lighter plug than American cars? I have an American TomTom that I hope to use in a rental car in Europe and was wondering if I need some sort of an adapter for the different cigarette lighter plug sizes.

Thanks

 

The plug size is the same. I've had no difficulties with cars that I've rented in France (a Renault and a VW).

 

This is no longer the case. All cars use a standard "cigar" lighter now.

The older 12V outlet (long gone since the early 80s) was a German design, it was used in part for BMW motorcycles so a rider could plug in an electric vest.

To my knowledge, this is the only format that design still uses.

BMW cars do not use it.

Here is what it looks like.

 

I drive a '95 Opel Astra over here in Italy and the cigarette lighter adapter DOESN'T fit. It seems like the socket is too short to accomadate it.

I'm trying to find a solution though, so I'll post if I find something out.