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How to turn on Google Maps? How to obtain a Google Maps key

Google Maps in Vehica runs on a key from your own Google Cloud account. This guide walks through creating that key, enabling the three APIs Vehica needs, and pasting it into the Vehica Panel.

2 minute read

To run Google Maps on your website you need to generate a Google Maps API key and add it to your Vehica Panel. Three APIs have to be enabled for it to work correctly:

  • JavaScript API
  • Geocoding API
  • Places API

Create the key in the Google Cloud console

The steps below explain how to create this kind of key.

  1. 1 Open the Google Maps Platform documentation

    Go to https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/.

  2. 2 Sign in with your Google account
  3. 3 Open the console

    Click Go to Console or Get started.

    Top of the Google Maps Platform page with a blue “Go to Console” button next to “Contact sales”, marked by a green arrow.
The same page header in its other layout, with a blue “Get started” button next to “Contact”, marked by a green arrow.
Depending on the page you land on, the button reads “Get started” instead of “Go to Console”.
  1. 1 Pick the products

    Tick Maps and Places, then continue.

    The “Enable Google Maps Platform” dialog with the Maps and Places checkboxes ticked, Routes left unticked, and a blue CONTINUE button.
  2. 2 Enter a new project name

    Type a name for the project and accept the terms of service.

    The “Select a project” step of the dialog, with “My Project” typed into the project name field, “Yes” selected under the terms of service, and a NEXT link at the bottom right.
  3. 3 Choose a billing account

    Pick an existing billing account or create a new one. Google charges only very popular websites — you can read more about it on the Google Maps Platform pricing page.

    A dialog titled “Set the billing account for project “My Project”” listing one entry, My Billing Account, with CANCEL and SET ACCOUNT buttons.
A billing account is required
Google Maps will not display on your website until a billing account is linked to the project.

Check that the required APIs are enabled

Please make sure the following APIs are enabled:

  • Maps JavaScript API
  • Geocoding API
  • Places API
The APIs & Services dashboard in the Google Cloud console, with Maps JavaScript API, Geocoding API and Places API listed in a green-outlined table of enabled APIs.

If one is missing, click ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES, search for it — e.g. “Geocoding API” — and click Enable.

The top of the APIs & Services dashboard with the “+ ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES” button highlighted.
The API library search box containing “Geocoding API”, showing two result cards — Geocoding API and Maps JavaScript API — with an arrow pointing at the Geocoding API card.

Add the key to the Vehica Panel

Copy the Google Maps API key from the Credentials page and paste it into Vehica Panel > Google Maps > Google Maps API Key, then save.

The Credentials page of the Google Cloud console with one API key row, its key value blurred out and marked by an arrow.
The Vehica Panel in the WordPress admin, open on the Google Maps tab, showing the empty Google Maps API Key field and an orange SAVE button.

Keep reading

How to setup map search in Vehica How to style Google Maps (snazzy maps)

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