# Upgrade your map or add team access Official GBMaps guide for the classic map maker. VectorMaps has a different interface. Source: https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=account-upgrades Updated: 2026-10-16 Keep your work and choose the access you need next. Upgrade access shows eligible paid licences, available map and team choices, the amount payable and the renewal date. Review the quote before paying; configure a new team afterwards. ## 1. Open Upgrade access Sign in with the account that owns the paid access. In My maps, look in Map Access for Upgrade access or the Upgrade option for that licence. If you already own a team, My team also has Upgrade team or map type. The assistant can open these options when you ask how to upgrade. Sign-in is needed to identify an existing purchase; a brand-new team purchase can start from the normal Unlock box without signing in first. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=account-upgrades#account-upgrades--open) ## 2. Choose what to upgrade In Upgrade your access, check Your current licence if a choice is shown. Choose Upgrade my map, Upgrade to a team, Add more people or Upgrade map and team, depending on your current access. For a team, choose Up to 5 people or Up to 10 people where offered; the total includes the owner. A team member who is not the owner should ask their owner to upgrade. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=account-upgrades#account-upgrades--choose) ## 3. Check the price and renewal date Read Pay today, the total including any VAT and the renewal date shown. Available choices and prices depend on your existing licence and selected upgrade; the assistant cannot inspect your private purchases or quote your personal balance. Use the live quote rather than the example amounts in screenshots. If a map is marked Already owned, use Open this map instead of paying for it twice. Expired access may need renewing before an upgrade is available. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=account-upgrades#account-upgrades--quote) ## 4. Use the usual payment options Choose card, PayPal or Bank transfer where available and follow the normal payment process. Card and PayPal open payment separately so your coloured map stays in its original tab. Access updates after payment confirmation. For bank transfer, use the exact reference and wait for confirmation. Return to the map or follow the receipt’s next steps; sign in with the purchaser’s email if requested. You do not need to create a team name or send invitations before paying. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=account-upgrades#account-upgrades--pay) ## 5. Keep your map and finish team setup An access upgrade does not automatically redraw saved maps at a different level of detail. Saved maps keep their existing detail; create a new map to use a different boundary level. The compatible Add roads preview can keep your current postcode colouring while showing roads. Save work you want to keep. If upgrading a personal licence to team access, read the sharing note before paying: the relevant existing maps and uploads become shared with that team. After payment, use My team to set its name and invite colleagues; other personal work remains separate. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=account-upgrades#account-upgrades--work) ## 6. Try roads before buying For UK postcode maps without roads, Add roads to my map lets you try the compatible roads version while keeping your colouring. You can try this without logging in. Buying or upgrading access is a separate choice. The normal unlock box also offers the roads alternative where available. Read the Roads guide for the supported layers; these maps are not detailed street maps. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=account-upgrades#account-upgrades--roads) ## 7. If the right option is missing Check that you are signed in as the purchaser or team owner and that you have selected the intended licence. If access has expired, check renewal options. Contact GBMaps with your purchase email and which map or team size you need if the options still do not match. Do not buy the same access again just to work around a problem. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=account-upgrades#account-upgrades--help) ### What this looks like Real GBMaps dialogs with example account details. Choose View larger to read a message clearly. ![Upgrade to a team — actual GBMaps message](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/teams-upgrade.png?v=1792161853) [**Upgrade to a team**](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=account-upgrades#account-upgrades--choose) Choose the change you need and check the current licence. The quote shown here is an example, not a published price. ![Review the quote on a phone — actual GBMaps message](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/teams-upgrade-mobile.png?v=1792161853) [**Review the quote on a phone**](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=account-upgrades#account-upgrades--quote) The same upgrade options fit a small screen. Scroll to the payment choices after checking the total and renewal date. ## Related guides - [Teams: buy access, invite people and share maps](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=team-access) - [Saved maps: access, renewals & new maps](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=saved-access) - [Buy, unlock or renew a map](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=payments) - [Roads, land & specialist map layers](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=roads) - [Notifications: the bell and System messages](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=notifications) - [Ask the map assistant](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=map-assistant)