How to Choose the Best GPS Tracker for Your Car

Once upon a time, GPS trackers for cars were only the stuff of spy movies. These days, however, a GPS tracker is a valuable car accessory that can help you keep your vehicle safe at all times. But, of course, that is only true if you pick out the best GPS tracker for your needs.

The best GPS tracker is one that you can comfortably afford, not necessarily the most expensive one available. As long as it tracks your car and provides alerts in ways that suit your needs, then it’s an excellent device to invest in. It should also have a durable design, especially if you plan on installing it on your car’s exterior.

Let’s begin by considering how a GPS tracker for cars can benefit you. Then, we’ll explore the qualities of a tracker that will make it the best one for your personal needs.

Let’s get started.

What Are the Benefits of Installing a GPS Tracker on Your Car?

At first, the thought of attaching a GPS tracker to your vehicle might not make sense. I mean, wouldn't it make more sense to track someone else's car instead?

Well, as it turns out, there are good reasons for investing in a device that allows you to track your vehicle at all times.

Here are the top reasons why you should consider installing a GPS tracker on your vehicle:

1. In case of theft: If your car is ever stolen, you will have much more information to provide to the authorities. Not only can you tell them what your car looks like, but you’ll also be able to tell them where to look.
2. To keep tabs on people who use your car: Sometimes, people let their staff or family members use their vehicles. A GPS tracker allows you to keep track of their movements at all times, keeping them honest. 
3. To remember where you parked your car: Now, don’t laugh, but people are more forgetful than they care to admit. Having a GPS tracker means you will never lose your car in a parking lot ever again.

What Is the Best Car GPS Tracker?

There are several benefits to installing a GPS tracker on your car. But, if you were to use your imagination, you could surely come up with a few more reasons to add to the three main ones listed above.

So, how do you choose the best GPS tracker? Well, deciding which one is the ‘best’ is pretty subjective. To be more precise, you’ll want to look for the best tracker to suit your needs.

Factors to Consider when Buying a Car GPS

Here are a few things to consider as you shop around for your car GPS tracker.

Affordability

First and foremost, a good GPS tracker is one that fits into your budget. 

As mentioned before, even a cheap GPS tracker for cars is good enough for many purposes. So, not everyone has to go out and buy the most expensive, top-of-the-line, best GPS tracker for vehicles available anywhere. There are trackers at different price points, so you just need to find one that fits yours.

Do you need to pay monthly for a car GPS tracker?

There are two separate costs that you will be spending on when you get a GPS tracker – the upfront and subscription costs. So, yes, there is a recurring cost involved in using a car GPS.

1. Upfront cost: First is the price of the GPS device itself. That’s usually a one-time price that you pay to purchase the device and get it in your hands.
2. Subscription fee: Another cost to consider is the recurring subscription fee. For some GPS devices, you will need to pay a monthly fee to enjoy using the device. Sure, that involves spending a few dollars every month. 

However, you can rest assured that you’re getting plenty of support services in return like pinpoint-accurate tracking, emergency helplines you can call, and more. 

Real-Time Tracking or Passive Tracking

Another factor to consider is whether you want a device that provides real-time tracking or passive tracking.

What’s the difference between real-time and passive tracking in car GPS?

Real-time tracking means that you can log into a website or open an app and see where your vehicle is. With these types of trackers, your car’s location is updated at regular intervals of 15 or 30 seconds, for example.

Passive tracking means the device records your vehicle's movements, and you can go through its records later if you'd like.

Notifications and Alerts

One way to choose between different car GPS trackers and services is by comparing how they provide you with notifications and alerts. For example, if your car leaves your city, will you be notified by email, or will you have a push notification on a mobile app?

For some people, like bosses managing a fleet of company vehicles, having instant alerts on their mobile phones is critical for their business.

Power Supply

Another crucial factor to consider is how the GPS tracker is being powered. For this, you have three options:

1. Battery-powered: This option gives you the most flexibility because it means you can place the GPS tracker almost anywhere you want in the car. That also means you can keep it hidden if you’d like. Unfortunately, it also means you’ll have to change its batteries regularly.
2. Plug-In: Some GPS trackers can also be plugged into your car through its USB port, cigarette lighter, or even the OBD (on-board diagnostics) port. This feature is helpful as it means your tracker will always have power, but it also means that you can’t keep the tracker hidden. So whoever is in your car will see that it’s there.
3. Hardwired: The final option is to hardwire the tracker into your car, connecting it directly to your fuse box. This type is the best of both worlds as it allows you a lot of flexibility while also giving the tracker an uninterrupted power supply. However, it will take a bit of effort to wire it up nicely, especially if you’re trying to keep it hidden away where it can’t be seen.

Hardware Durability

Lastly, the best GPS tracker for a car is a durable one. That’s especially true if you plan on sticking it to the vehicle’s exterior, where it will be exposed to the elements.

So, shop for a waterproof tracker, or at least one that’s water-resistant. One that’s impact-proof or shockproof would also be a plus.

How Can You Tell If Someone Has Put a GPS on Your Car?

At this point in the article, it would be completely understandable if you wondered whether or not someone might have placed a hidden GPS tracker on your vehicle. Well, that’s certainly a possibility you do not want to ignore.

To help you ease your worries, here are some quick tips to check your car for an unwanted GPS device:

1. Check the interior: The most telling aspect of a GPS tracker is its power source (as discussed above). So, when inspecting the inside of your car, start with the places where a GPS device could be plugged in (USB ports, cigarette lighter, OBD port, or fuse box). Once you’ve ruled those out, then expand your search to places that are useful for hiding things, like under each seat or in the boot where the spare tyre is kept.
2. Check the exterior: On the outside of the car, the most discreet places are those on the underside. You will have to crawl underneath to inspect each section closely. Remember: you’re looking for any small container that doesn’t belong there and can be removed easily.
3. Check with an electronic sweeper: For anyone who has a solid reason to be concerned about trackers, it would be a good idea to invest in an electronic bug sweeper. These can help you detect hidden car GPS trackers, hidden cameras, and much more.

To learn more about GPS trackers for cars and other car parts and accessories, check out the blog at Carpart.com.au.

By Ray Hasbollah