title: Does the Google Directions API use UTC or Local Time?
body: <p>I am developing a transit navigation app using the <a href="https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/directions" rel="nofollow">Google Directions API</a>.</p>
  
  <p>The API requires me to submit a departure time (<code>departure_time</code>) for transit queries.</p>
  
  <p>Is it necessary to convert the local time to UTC time for this parameter?</p>
  
  <p>I could not validate it through the API's response, as there is no accurate time returned in it.</p>