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This is normal if you or anyone else has difficulty determining whether a GPS tracker is on or within your vehicle. Not knowing whether someone’s vehicle has a GPS tracker or not usually is not the first thought, but when it becomes a thought, it is difficult to determine how to tell if a vehicle has a GPS tracker and the different areas that it could be in.
You can tell if a vehicle has a GPS tracker by:
- Determining the purpose of looking
- Conducting an interior and exterior sweep through your vehicle
- Asking for help
- Removing the GPS tracker
- Having your vehicle inspected
As we read throughout this article, we will learn about what a GPS tracker is, the different types of GPS trackers, how to tell if a vehicle has a GPS tracker along with the benefits of having one, and, lastly, we will learn about GPS trackers that you could consider purchasing for your vehicle.
Is There a GPS Tracker In Your Vehicle?
A GPS tracker is a commonly used tracking device beneficial for vehicles. It helps to track your various locations as it provides you with the information that you or others utilizing the tracking device in a precise and appropriate amount of time.
Learning how to use a GPS tracker is a fairly simple and quick experience. And there is no one-set type of GPS tracker, but there are four different types.
We will learn about the four different types of GPS trackers as we read.
Different Types of GPS Trackers
There are four different types of GPS trackers. Each type of GPS tracker, in some way, will fit within what you are looking for with your respective vehicle.
The four different types of GPS trackers include:
- Wearable GPS Tracker: Often used by hikers or hunters in an emergency.
- Plug-In GPS Tracker: A GPS tracker plugged into a vehicle’s port. Works in a multitasking fashion, charging the port while providing the information needed.
- Hardwired GPS Tracker: Unlike the previous tracker, there is no port to be plugged in, but it is wired into the vehicle, can be hidden, and is often recommended to be used by fleet drivers.
- Battery-Operated GPS Tracker: Relies on vehicles’ power to be optimized. However, unlike the previous GPS trackers, a battery-operated GPS tracker will not be able to provide as much information to preserve battery life.
There is no one-set area where you can find a GPS. You can hide a GPS tracker in multiple locations within a vehicle. Let’s continue to read further to learn about the different areas to find a GPS tracker.
What Are the Different Areas to Find a GPS Tracker?
There is not one exact location for every GPS tracker to be placed, but there are multiple areas where a GPS tracker can be hidden in plain sight, making it easier for you to find but difficult for others.
The different areas to see a GPS tracker in your car can include:
- Roof
- Under the hood
- The glove box
- The vehicle data collector
- Trunk storage
There are many other areas to place your GPS tracker, but it is also essential that you are familiar with the various ways to tell if a vehicle that you may be unfamiliar with has a GPS tracker. Let’s continue reading to know if a vehicle has a GPS tracker.
How To Tell If a Vehicle Has a GPS Tracker
You may want to check if your vehicle has a GPS tracker for safety reasons and maybe an interest in purchasing your GPS tracker for the vehicle. However, you must sweep your vehicle correctly to check for the GPS tracker before doing anything. This is not an overwhelming task, but a simple one.
Let’s read further to learn how to tell if a vehicle has a GPS tracker through five tips and steps.
Determine What You Are Looking For and Why
If you can, determine why you are looking for a GPS tracker and what you are looking for. You could be looking for a tracking device for safety reasons or because you purchased the vehicle from someone else. Regardless, once you’ve determined your ‘what’ and ‘why,’ you can continue doing a thorough sweep of your vehicle.
Check the Interior and Exterior of Your Vehicle
Check the interior and exterior. Use a bright light and scan throughout the vehicle. If you are checking areas where you have difficulty seeing yourself, use your hands to feel around those areas. Use an electronic sweeper device and scan it throughout the vehicle because you will be alerted if there is a tracker on or in your vehicle.
Ask for Help
If you are unsure what to do or how to look for a GPS tracking device, then promptly ask for a professional’s help. They will look through your vehicle’s interior and exterior to ensure you have any GPS trackers that need to be removed as they are more trained and, thus, have more knowledge on what to do.
Once You’ve Found It, Remove It!
Once you’ve found the GPS tracking device, remove it. Typically removing a GPS tracking device is generally simple and quick to do.
Carefully cut it If your tracking device is:
- Wired
- Taped
- Tied
If you are uncomfortable cutting anything, have a professional do it to ensure you are not damaging the vehicle.
Have Your Vehicle Inspected
After you’ve found and removed the GPS tracker, still have it inspected by a professional. You can have more than one GPS tracker on your vehicle, so to be cautious, have a professional sweep through your vehicle once more, interior and exterior, to ensure that all the GPS trackers have been found.
Having a GPS tracker proves to provide many benefits for vehicle owners. Along with the convenience of knowing where you or others are at all times, other helpful benefits can also help people consider purchasing a GPS tracker for their vehicles.
Let’s continue reading to learn about the various benefits of having a GPS tracker.
Benefits of Having a GPS Tracker In Your Vehicle
People often do not think about the benefits of having a GPS tracker for a vehicle, work-related or personal, but it proves helpful in many ways. As we continue reading this article, we will learn about the eight benefits of having a GPS tracker as a vehicle owner.
Reduction of Theft and Theft Recovery
There is a likely reduction in theft, but importantly, theft recovery. So, let’s say that someone steals your vehicle. Your GPS tracker will provide you or a fleet driver with the proper and precise alerts to help you recover your vehicle promptly in time to contact the appropriate authorities and inform you where the vehicle is.
Productive Work
Optimizing a GPS tracker improves productivity if you or anyone else are working as fleet drivers. A GPS tracker showcases tracking of where the fleet drivers are going and during their operating time, so the boss is in the know if needed.
This will give them the ability to manage the fleet driver’s workloads and increase their chances of productivity.
Precise Tracking with Real-Time Alerts
There is precise tracking with real-time alerts if a fleet driver or anyone else utilizing the GPS tracker is leaving or entering a specific place. So, suppose you are a fleet worker.
In that case, contacting the appropriate workers is beneficial, and the same goes for others. Also, you can receive alerts and reminders for any necessary vehicle maintenance.
Reduction In Fuel Cost and Usage
Using a GPS tracker allows you the reduction of fuel costs and usage. A GPS tracker will allow you to circulate the route of where you need to go, or if you are a fleet worker, where your boss wants to go. There is also an alert if the driver, or fleet driver, is driving recklessly.
Prevention of Traffic Violations If Needed
You can use your GPS tracker to avoid any outstanding traffic violations. You can use the GPS tracker data to prove your innocence if you feel like you have not committed any traffic violations.
Considering that your GPS tracker can showcase how fast you were driving or the route you were going at what time.
Ability to Track Workers
You can track your fleet workers. You will know where they are at all times and can keep an informed record of their whereabouts. This will keep the customers happy and keep you informed if anything goes array and if you can catch your fleet driver, hopefully not, in a lie if they attempt to dissuade from the truth.
Reduction In Insurance Cost
People who use a GPS tracker will reduce insurance costs if they utilize it for different reasons. If you are a fleet driver, a primary reason for the percentage reduction in insurance costs using a GPS tracker is to promote safe and cautious driving. If that does not happen, then the appropriate alerts will be noted.
Safer and Improved Driving
A GPS tracker can show drivers how rough they are driving, showcasing their acceleration and speeding, which can be deemed concerning if the behavior is repeated.
If you are a fleet driver, you can benefit from seeing various strengths and weaknesses that need to be implemented into your work to avoid any immediate disciplinary action.
Let’s continue reading further to learn about GPS trackers that you could consider purchasing for yourself, your work, or others.
GPS Trackers to Consider Purchasing
There are plenty of GPS trackers out there that suit the needs of everyone. So, as we continue to read this article, we will read about five different GPS trackers that you could consider purchasing for yourself.
Tracki GPS Tracker
This GPS tracker provides unlimited distance real-time tracking. Powered by a battery, the rechargeable battery life is up to 5 days depending on how much the vehicle owner utilizes the tracker daily.
If not needed, the battery life is upwards of 30 to 75 days. The Tracki GPS tracker is considered the smallest and lightest GPS tracker in weight.
Spytec GPS GL300 Real-Time GPS Tracker
Spytec is considered the easiest and fastest GPS tracking device while remaining small. Spytec is battery-powered and has a battery life of up to 10 days. This GPS tracker will provide you with the information you need at the quickest possible with acute accuracy.
Spytec GPS GL300 Real-Time GPS Tracker and Weather Proof Magnetic Case with App
LandAirSea 54 GPS Tracker
This GPS tracker is a magnet-mount, waterproof tracker that provides full coverage and real-time and accurate information through text messages and email alerts.
The battery life can last for up to 2 weeks. And you can track where you or others are through Google maps.
Trak-4 GPS Tracker
You will be able to receive text and email alerts as to the whereabouts of your vehicle via your:
- Cell phone
- Computer
- Laptop
- Tablet
The Tracker depends on a battery that lasts up to a year and a half, and when it needs to be charged, you can charge it with a cellphone charger or USB cable.
Trak-4 GPS Tracker – Email & Text Alerts – Made in USA
Brickhouse Security Spark Nano 7 GPS Tracker
The Brickhouse Security Spark Nano GPS tracker is a magnetic tracker and waterproof. This GPS tracker provides accurate and appropriately timed information about your whereabouts.
You can drive across state lines and still receive accurate information through your GPS tracker. All the while, the tracker will be neatly and discreetly tucked underneath your vehicle.
Closing
Now that you know if a vehicle has a GPS tracker, you will not have an issue determining whether your or someone else’s car has a GPS Tracker installed. Along with this, you have also learned about what a GPS tracker is and the different types.
You have also known about the other areas to find a GPS tracker on your vehicle, along with the benefits of having a GPS tracker and different GPS trackers that you could consider purchasing for yourself or others.
References:
GPS Technologies
PAJ GPS
Ascent Fleet Services
Family 1st
Teletrac Navman
Your Mechanic
How to Find a GPS Tracker in Your Car in 5 Steps
GPS Insight
How GPS Fleet Tracking Helps Reduce Insurance Costs
Sky Patrol
Lytx
What is GPS Tracking and How Does it Work?
Amazon
Spytec GPS GL300 Real-Time GPS Tracker and Weather Proof Magnetic Case with App
Trak-4 GPS Tracker – Email & Text Alerts – Made in USA
