Have you ever looked at that basic blue arrow in Google Maps, a representation of your vehicle on the road, and wondered what it would look like as something more fun? With the latest version of Google Maps for Android Auto and CarPlay, you no longer have to wonder. Best of all, you don’t have to touch your phone to make changes.
As reported by Android Authority, in Android Auto 17.8.163744 and Google Maps 26.38.0, you will now see an option called Driving Avatar in Settings, which allows you to customize the appearance and color of your vehicle’s icon. The personalization feature was initially available in February 2025, and around May 2026, these visual changes were made to Android Auto. However, users could only edit this avatar through the Google Maps app on their phone – this is no longer the case.
Now users can open the Google Maps app through Android Auto, meaning they can do it on their car’s screen. Although entirely visual in nature, this is another hidden Google Maps feature that can make your travels a little better. To make the change from Android Auto on your dashboard, tap the settings icon (a gear) with Maps open and select Driving Avatar, then customize your icon. From the Google Maps app, go to Settings > Your Vehicles > Driving Avatar, then select the options you want.
What changes can you make to your avatar and what is it for?
The avatar is nothing more than a visual flair. It’s cool to look at and it shows you, your vehicle really, as something different than a boring blue arrow. Now, in the Google Maps app on mobile or Android Auto, you can customize the vehicle type or appearance, then choose from several predefined colors. Available avatars include the blue arrow, a sedan, a truck, an SUV, a sports car, a small electric vehicle and legacy icons – a red car, a green van and a yellow station wagon.
Admittedly, custom avatars aren’t yet very useful outside of visual aspects. But there are some similar Google Maps settings that drivers should enable, if they haven’t already. This includes downloading the offline maps you use often, sharing trip progress with family and friends, and enabling media playback controls. You can also make sure Google Maps tailors route suggestions to your needs, which will come in handy via Android Auto or CarPlay.
Ultimately, though, aside from these more practical settings you can adjust, there are no major changes here functionally. The avatar has a certain whimsical nature, especially when you see it cruising the local roads and highways on your car’s dashboard screen.
