Before you can use Routes Preferred API methods in your
code, you must enable them.

To enable Routes Preferred API methods with your project:

1. Log in to [Cloud console](https://console.cloud.google.com)
   and select the project selection tab:

   ![Select project selection tab](https://developers.google.com/static/maps/documentation/routes_preferred/images/project_selection.png)
2. In the **Select from** window, select **New Project**.

   ![Select New Project](https://developers.google.com/static/maps/documentation/routes_preferred/images/new_project.png)
3. Specify a name and location for the project, and then select **Create**.

   ![Create project](https://developers.google.com/static/maps/documentation/routes_preferred/images/create_project.png)
4. Contact your Google representative.

5. If you don't already have the Routes Preferred API enabled for
   your project, navigate to the APIs \& Services Library in Google Cloud console.
   You can skip this step if Routes Preferred is already enabled.

   ![Navigate to library](https://developers.google.com/static/maps/documentation/routes_preferred/images/navigate_library.png)

   Then search for *Routes Preferred* to open the Routes Preferred API.

   ![Open API](https://developers.google.com/static/maps/documentation/routes_preferred/images/open_api.png)

   To enable the API, select **Enable**.

   > [!IMPORTANT]
   > **Important:** Check your quota limits for Routes Preferred API methods. If you need to increase your quota limits, contact support by filing a case on the [Google Maps Platform support page](https://console.cloud.google.com/google/maps-apis/support) in the Google Cloud Console, or by calling the [Google Cloud Support Hotline](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/routes_preferred/support.md.txt#support_hotline).

6. If you don't already have an API key associated with your project,
   navigate to the Credentials tab. You can skip this step if you already
   have an API key.

   ![Go to Credentials tab](https://developers.google.com/static/maps/documentation/routes_preferred/images/go_credentials.png)

   Select **Create Credentials** , and then **API Key**.

   ![Select API key](https://developers.google.com/static/maps/documentation/routes_preferred/images/api_key.png)