Best hidden GPS trackers for cars: Real-time GPS devices to secure your car
GPS tracker for cars has made its way into the market, from people flaunting it, to use it as a necessity, and for various security purposes. Using a hidden GPS tracker is a smart move for any car owner in this day and age. Through a tiny tracking device that uses Global Positioning System or GPS, you can easily locate your vehicle.
As technology advances, people tend to stay aware of everyone and everything near them, be it their family members or their belongings. Knowing the exact location of a dear one or the vehicle they are driving, in real-time gives you a sense of relief. Having a GPS tracker for a car where your loved one is driving makes you feel more secure about them.
The tracker is generally used to recover lost vehicles because people nowadays are very cautious about car theft and they want the best possibility of finding their vehicle if someone steals it. A hidden car tracker is not only used for the prevention of theft. It can help you to know the driving habits of the teenager of your house so you can guide them in future. You can analyze the routes traveled by your employee. This will help you find better and shorter paths. Find your driver’s location, or analyze the remaining time of the journey by calculating the distance of the car away from you. You may also want to evaluate the performance of the car by keeping a track of its routes and distance travelled.
Family1st GPS Tracker is one of the most Rated Hidden GPS Tracking devices.
The device’s compact design, along with several other safety features, makes it one of the best-hidden GPS Tracker which people use for tracking their vehicles and family members.
- Lowest Price Starting $29.95
- Real-time GPS tracking & Reports
- Lifetime Warranty
- 14-days battery Life
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Table of Contents
Types of Hidden GPS trackers
There are generally two types of secret or hidden tracking devices for cars. The two ways in which these GPS trackers work are:
- Passive hidden tracking device: A passive GPS tracker acts as a data logging device. It records all the routes traveled by the vehicle, and the data can be downloaded later. They don’t require a continuous internet connection as they won’t work in real-time. The problem with these types of trackers is that you won’t be getting regular updates.
- Active hidden tracking device: The active GPS trackers can send you the information any time you want. They require a constant data connection to transmit the data in real-time. They require more power than passive trackers. Thus they must have a powerful internal battery, or you might have to replace them regularly. Using an activity tracker is very helpful as you get the information in real-time, and it might save you or your family in an emergency.
Features of an ideal Hidden GPS tracker
Here are some basic features that an ideal hidden GPS tracker must have:
- Real-time tracking: If you need to see where your vehicle is in real-time, a GPS tracker should include real-time tracking. With the function of finding the location of your vehicle anytime, this feature is generally included with most GPS tracking systems.
- A powerful battery: A hidden tracking device for your car, specifically the active tracker, should have a strong battery. As it constantly uses the data connection and sends you the data, it would require a long battery life.
- Casing: The hidden car trackers could be used roughly as they are portable and are mostly placed in an unguarded area. Therefore, they need to be protected with a good quality case. A well-featured tracker will come with a proper casing along with it. Moreover, it’s an additional benefit if the case has the option of easy mounting, such as a magnetic case.
- Proximity alerts: The Proximity alert is a feature in which you get a notification every time your vehicle reaches a destination you set on the map. This feature will help in freeing you from constantly checking whether you have reached your destination or not.
- Geofencing: Geofencing feature of a GPS tracker notifies you when a vehicle goes outside of a predetermined area. It may help you in notifying about the family members who might cross the preset area. With this feature, you can monitor a teenager, of the family, who has gone to an evening football match. You can check if he’s going to the after-match party, which is outside the preset area on the tracker. You may also check if the old family members are traveling within the area that you have set on your tracker for their safety.
- Speed alerts: A good GPS tracker will notify you if the car is crossing the speed limit. You can set a speed limit on the tracker so that you can train the driver to learn better driving skills.
- Data recording: An ideal GPS tracker for cars must keep an accurate record of the data for a longer time so that you can check the information whenever required. Ideally for vehicles, a GPS tracker that can store the data for 30 days or more is the best.
Benefits of A Hidden GPS Tracker
- Tracking your vehicle’s location anytime: Having a GPS tracker in your car will help you locate it, anytime and from anywhere you want. If the tracker is within an area with a persistent internet connection, it will send you constant updates on your cell phone or any other device of your choice via email and SMS, or through a dedicated app that is installed for the tracker.
- Finding your vehicle even after it’s stolen: With an efficient, hidden GPS tracker you can recover your stolen car. You may easily share the location of your car with the law enforcement agency, increasing the chances of getting it back.
- Analyze your car’s performance: You can check your car’s performance by knowing the distance it traveled, the type of route it took, and the speed and the driving behavior of the driver, just by installing a secret tracking device in your car.
- Safeguard your family members: Know the whereabouts of your family members through the GPS tracker, so that in case of emergency, you can get them the help they need, and protect them against harm.
- Get immediate help in an emergency: The faster you know of a problem, the quicker you can solve it. As soon as your GPS alerts you of an accident or other mishap, you can inform the required authorities and get quick help. The tracker will help you send the exact location to someone for help in case you are stranded or have met with an accident. This will help especially when you are in an unfamiliar area.
- Recall your meetings: You can access your old records to check your routes and whom you have met in the past few days with the help of the GPS tracker for a person in your vehicle.
- Get details and statistics of a trip: You can evaluate the mileage, fuel usage, and other details of a long trip with the help of these trackers.
- Calculate the time left for a journey to complete: When you know the distance remaining to reach your destination and the speed of your car, you can easily calculate the time left for the journey to complete. This can be done by other sources on your car like Google Maps, etc. but having a tracker will help you calculate the data even if you are away from your car and someone else is driving it.
- Surveilling the driver: Did you know that as a car owner, you are responsible even if your driver gets into an accident, or if the car is used for illegal, unauthorized work? A GPS tracker could help you avoid that. There are instances when you have to send your car driver for various tasks at your home or office. These are the times when you might want to keep an eye on him to check if he’s following the rules and regulations.
- Know when your car is being towed: This is another way you can use your hidden GPS tracker. You will get notified whenever your car is moved, towed, or even bumped so that you can act immediately.
List Of 10 Best Hidden GPS Trackers In 2024
Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is to LIST the best products in the market, and not to review or rank them. All the products listed here have several unique features catering to a wide range of customer requirements.
While compiling this list, we evaluated the devices based on their cost, subscription plans, battery life, size, and installation process. We considered factors like the countries they offer coverage in, ease of use of their application, security, or other unique features they offer. We also looked into add-on services these vendors provide – lifetime warranty, 24/7 customer support, installation help, and more.
The intention is to inform and educate the reader on the variety of options available in the market.
So, now that you know how beneficial a GPS tracker can be for your car, here is a list of 10 best-hidden GPS trackers for your car
AngelSense GPS Tracker – Best Tracker With 2-Way Calling
AngelSense is one of the most cost-efficient trackers with a powerful battery. It’s a multi-purpose tracking device that can track your family members, pets, vehicles, etc. With the powerful battery and small size, it can be an ideal choice for covert tracking.
The real-time tracking and other data are accessible through the AngelSense Companion app (Android and iOS) and the web portal.
You can also add various accessories to your order for improving your tracking. Accessories such as belts, undershirts, waterproof pouches, etc. would come in handy for hidden tracking.
The AngelSense GPS tracker is available at $99 and has a monthly subscription of $49.99.
Product Highlights
- Small and lightweight
- SOS button
- 2-way voice calling
Battery & Specs
- Size: 2.4″ x 1.7″ x 0.63″
- Weight: 1.4 Oz
- Battery: NA
- Battery type: NA
- 24 hours of active battery life
Family1st Portable GPS Tracker – Best Alerting System
Family1st GPS Tracker is among one of the smaller devices on the market, which makes it a great choice for hidden tracking. As the device is portable, you simply need to place it inside your car, away from prying eyes. If your car is stolen, a hidden tracker will not attract the perpetrator’s attention, allowing you to keep tracking your valuable asset. Family1st Portable tracker hidden in your kid’s backpack will give you second set of eyes and ensure their safety.
Family1st has designed this tracking device with a very user-friendly interface since it’s meant to be used by any age group person in the family. The company has all kinds of GPS trackers including GPS trackers for cars, bikes, teenagers, and family members.
This tracking device usage has been made easier in many ways. You can easily use the geofencing feature of the Family1st GPS tracker. You can drag and drop a pin, and when the GPS vehicle tracker enters or exits the preset area, you will get an instant notification.
This tracking device comes in the size of 2.8 inches, weighing 3.60 ounces. It has a 2400 mAh li-polymer battery. The Family1st is currently offering you the device at the price of $29.95 with a monthly subscription that starts at $21.95 They offer 24×7 tech support in case of any assistance regarding connectivity, installation, usage, etc.
Product Highlights
- Low device cost and subscription plan
- No Contract, No cost activation, and deactivation
- Lifetime Warranty on device
- Coverage in the USA, Mexico, and Canada
Battery & Specs
- Size: 2.8” x 1.8” x 1.1”
- Weight: 3.60 Oz
- Battery: 2400 mAh Li-Polymer
- Battery Type: Internal and Rechargeable
- 2 weeks battery life on the basic plan for an hour of drive time minimum every day
AMERICALOC GL300 W Mini Portable – Best Real-time GPS Tracker
The Americaloc GL300W is an excellent device to track your vehicle on any occasion or circumstance. Not only does it track people it can also be used to locate assets and equipment. It is a portable real-time tracker that comes ready to use and helps you in tracking vehicles from any phone, tablet, or computer. It is updated with a longer battery life that can last for weeks and track many movements with faster coverage.
Its size is 2 inches and weighs 2.3 ounces. GL300 W tracks your latitude/longitude, vehicle parking, speed, device turn on/off, and arrival and departure. It has the option of location update speed of 10, 30, or 60 seconds. Americaloc Android and Apple-compatible mobile applications can be used to keep historical data up to one year. It comes with a preinstalled lithium-ion battery and SIM card option.
It’s quite an expensive device and costs upwards of $80, along with a monthly subscription fee of $25.
Product Highlights
- Keeps a track record history up to 1 year
- Can be converted to a Wired device if required
- No Contract
- No activation or cancellation fee
Battery & Specs
- Size: 7” x 1.51” x 0.92”
- Weight:24 oz
- Battery: Lithium-ion battery
- Battery type: Internal and Rechargeable
- 10-14 days active battery life with one-minute updates
Invoxia Cellular GPS Tracker – Best Tracker with No Monthly Fee
Invoxia Cellular GPS Tracker has a very unique rectangular shape, making it easy to hide anywhere – in a car, bag, bike – you name it! It is a standalone GPS device with unlimited range, and does not depend on any dedicated Bluetooth connection. The device is best known for being a multipurpose hidden GPS tracker. When connected to the car, it tells you about your vehicle’s health, driving history, fuel performance, and location. The data can be accessed from your computer or their mobile application on your mobile or tablet.
While Invoxia doesn’t charge monthly fees, they do charge a one-time activation and a yearly subscription fee that can be unsubscribed anytime. They offer 24/7 customer support and a lifetime warranty.
The device costs $129, which includes subscription cost for the first year. After that, you can pay $29.90 per year to continue the service.
Product Highlights
- Unique Rectangular Design
- First Year’s Subscription Free
- No Monthly Fee
- Coverage Only in the USA
Battery & Specs
- Size: 4.3″ x 1.1″ x 0.4″
- Weight: 1.6 Oz
- Battery: Lithium-ion 300 mAh, 3.7V-1.11
- Battery Type: Internal and Rechargeable
- 2 weeks active battery life for 5-minute updates
- 4 months battery life in save mode (no activity)
Tracki Mini GPS Tracker – Best Tracker For Worldwide Coverage
Tracki Mini is one of the tiniest GPS trackers with worldwide coverage available in the market. This small tracking device is very effective when it comes to unobtrusive tracking. With Tracki, you can track your cars, motorbikes, bicycles, drones, and whatnot. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about its coverage area as it covers about 190 countries worldwide.
With its intuitive alert system, you can get alerts on speeding, movement, low battery, and crossing a Geofence. It has two extra buttons along with the SOS buttons for setting custom contacts, that may help in emergencies.
It has got a decent battery backup that can help you with hidden tracking requirements. Tracki Mini is available at $28.88 with a monthly subscription of $19.95.
Product Highlight
- Small size
- Motion Alerts
- Coverage in over 190 countries
- Custom contacts alert for emergencies
Battery & Specs
- Size: 1.75″ x 1.6″ x 0.6″
- Weight: 1.26 Oz
- Battery: 3,5000 mAh
- Battery Type: Internal and Rechargeable
- 2-3 active battery life with 1-5 updates every minute
- 3 months battery with one update per day
LandAirSea 54 Real-Time 4G LTE GPS Tracker – Best GPS Tracker For Hidden Tracking
With a compact body, LandAirSea 54 is a real-time GPS tracker. It’s a waterproof and dustproof device that comes with an internal magnet and SIM Card. As it is a portable and handy device and can be attached to a vehicle, equipment, motorbike, ATV, RV, boat, or anything that moves or transports. The tracker also supports 4G connectivity. LandAirSea 54 has LED lights that can be turned off as per requirement.
One of the best features of the LandAirSea 54 tracker is that it can be integrated with Google maps in real-time or on the SilverCloud app for reliable live tracking of people, assets, or vehicles. You get immediate notification via text or email alerts. It is one of the best devices for discreet tracking because of its small size and the LED lights can be disabled via the app, so it won’t glare from a hidden area. It’s a very strong device so it does not require any additional accessories.
One drawback of this device is that while the battery lasts for around 4-5 days, you’ll need 12 hours to charge it from zero to full.
The LandAirSea 54 requires a monthly subscription plan starting at $19.99 per month but for 2 years of prepay-subscriptions, you are charged as low as $9.95/month.
Product Highlights
- Waterproof Device
- Google Maps integration
- Immediate Alerts and notifications
- Versatile use
Battery & Specs
- Size: 2.25″ x 2.25″ x 0.8″
- Weight: 8 Oz
- Battery: Lithium ion battery
- Battery Type: Internal and Rechargeable
- 3 weeks active battery life with 3-minute updates
- 6 months battery life on Sleep mode
Optimus 3.0 Portable GPS Tracker – Best Tracker With Long Battery Life
Optimus 3.0 GPS tracker is a mini GPS tracker that can cater to your different tracking needs. You can use it to track vehicles, items, cargo, people, or any movable thing. It is an affordable solution that you can own by paying $39.95, along with monthly subscription fees of $19.95.
It is a small and portable GPS tracker, so you can enjoy discreet tracking. It has an amazing battery life that can last up to one month with a one-minute position report setting. It also has an internal motion sensor that turns the device into standby mode when not in use. So you can even maximize the battery life.
It provides 4G coverage over the US, Canada, and Mexico only. The company provides phone and email support. The Optimus Twin Magnet GPS Tracker Case and the Optimus GPS Tracker Hardware Kit are sold separately.
Product Highlights
- Low subscription cost
- No contract, no cancellation fee
- Alerts for geofences, low battery, SOS, and more
- Google Maps integration
- Internal motion sensor
Battery & Specs
- Size: 3″ x 1.5″ x 1″
- Weight: 3.3 Oz
- Battery: Lithium Polymer batteries
- Battery Type: Internal and Rechargeable
- 1-month active battery life with 1-minute updates
Trak-4 GPS Tracker – Best Sturdy GPS Tracker
Trak-4 is a rugged-bodied, bulky GPS tracker. It comes with a hard case that is designed to protect the device from crashes and knocks. It is an easy-to-setup device that comes with mounting tabs so you can screw the device instead of magnet mounting it.
It can be used independently of a dedicated phone application. The device is controlled and monitored via Trak-4’s website. Through the website, you can set live text, email alerts, and Geofencing settings.
Due to its bulkiness and rugged body, it’s meant to be used for vehicles, but it’s small enough that you can carry it in your pocket or bag for personal use as well.
It has a rechargeable internal battery that lasts 12-18 months on a single charge with a daily reporting feature. Trak-4 cell-trilateration feature gives an approximate location when no GPS signal is available.
One of the demerits of using the Trak-4 tracker is that you have to visit the company’s website for controlling the settings instead of using a mobile application.
The current price of Trak-4 is $48.8 with a wiring harness and a subscription fee of $83.88 per year.
Product Highlights
- Location Sharing
- Small and compact design
- Weatherproof device
Battery & Specs
- Size: 2.5” x 1.75” x 1.25”
- Weight:3oz
- Battery: 4600 mAh
- Battery type: Internal and Rechargeable
- 2 weeks active battery life with one-minute updates
- 18 months battery life with 1 update per day
Amcrest GL300W GPS Tracker– Best Tracker For Personal Use
Amcrest GL300W GPS tracker is a portable GPS tracker. It is a compact device that you can use to enjoy discreet tracking. It can easily slip into cars, backpacks, strollers, or luggage without being noticeable. It provides 4G LTE coverage over the USA, Canada, and Mexico. It offers real-time tracking for up to 5-second updates that you can access through a desktop web portal or mobile application.
It is an affordable solution that costs up to $29.99 along with monthly subscription fees of $19.99 with 60-seconds updates. You can change the plan according to the update frequency for as low as 5 seconds for $34.99. It has a long-lasting battery life that can last up to 10-14 days. You can buy it with an IP65 magnetic waterproof case to protect the device against moisture and corrosion. It also allows you to place the device under the vehicle discreetly.
Product Highlights
- Compact size – smaller than a matchbox
- Intelligent Battery Alerts
- Motion and SOS Alarm
- Weather resistant
- Supports up to 20 geofences
Battery & Specs
- Size: 3” x 1.5” x 1”
- Weight: 3.52 Oz
- Battery: Li-Polymer, 2600 mAh
- Battery type: Internal and Rechargeable
- 10-12 days active battery life for one minute’s updates
- 2-week battery life on sleep mode (no activity)
Prime Tracking GPS Tracker– Best Tracker For New Teen Drivers
Prime tracking GPS tracker is a tiny lightweight tracker that you can use to track anyone secretly. You can place the device in the car to enjoy discreet tracking. It has a built-in sim card that provides you with unlimited data coverage. You can enjoy unlimited tracking of the range, real-time geofencing, speeding SOS alerts, and many more. It provides coverage over North America so no matter where your vehicle can always know its real-time location.
You can use this tracker to track your new teenage driver without telling them. As a parent, it is normal for you to worry about your child’s safety when they are driving a car or motorcycle. But at the same time, you don’t want to hinder their independence by asking different questions. With this GPS tracker, you can assure their safety and ensure that they are not practicing reckless driving activity and following traffic rules.
Product Highlights
- Unlimited distance tracking
- SOS button
- Instant alerts
- Real-time tracking
- 1-minute setup
- Lifetime warranty
Battery & Specs
- Size: 1.57″ * 1.05″ * 3.07″
- Weight: 2.24 ounces
- Battery: Lithium Polymer batteries
- Battery Type: Internal And Rechargeable
- 2-4 weeks active battery life
Things to consider before you buy a hidden GPS tracker
- Real-time tracking: A hidden GPS tracker should be able to send you to the real-time location of your vehicle so that you can feel safe about your loved ones, vehicle, and belongings.
- Length and weight: It should not be very long or heavy as its primary purpose is to stay hidden from anyone.
- Monitoring capabilities: Monitoring a GPS tracker can be done through a mobile app or a computer. An ideal GPS tracker should be pre-configured so that a user can easily trace its location through a web-based tracking platform, accessible through any internet-enabled device.
- Battery: A long-lasting battery is a must for any GPS tracker so that you can track your vehicle even if it covers a long journey for many days.
- Installation: The tracker should be easily installed in your vehicle and should be away from anybody’s visibility.
- Pricing: Prices for the tracking devices generally vary between $50 – $250. If you consider buying a costly device, make sure it has all the features of a high-quality GPS tracking device.
Read more: How Much Does a GPS Tracker Cost?
- Range: Before buying the GPS tracking device make sure it offers wide coverage. It should at least cover the area where your vehicle is regularly traveling.
- Plans: Considering a subscription fee that is affordable and helpful for the long term is an important factor to consider before buying a tracker.
- Tech support: Some companies provide direct phone call support while some offer live chat or email. Tracking devices are advanced technology devices and require basic knowledge of tech. Make sure the company is providing after-sale tech support while you get your hand on the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I hide my GPS tracker on my car?
You can attach the GPS tracker in these places to enjoy discreet tracking:
- Front/rear bumper
- Wheel wells
- Inside the seat cover
- In the door partition
- Under the car
- Rear window panel
- Beneath the seats
Which is the most common place to put a GPS tracker on a car?
The most common place to hide a GPS tracker is under the passenger seats. Why? Because it is a well-concealed area. It can help you to enjoy coveted tracking. You can easily remove the tracker whenever you need to recharge it and put it back.
Can I track my teen’s/spouse’s car?
It is illegal to track someone without their consent in the USA. But if you are the registered owner of the car, then you can put the tracker on it.
Magnetic or non-magnetic GPS tracker – which is best for the car?
Magnetic GPS trackers are best if you want to track a car discreetly. You can attach it to any metallic surface, for example, the wheel well, under the car, under the seat, inside the glovebox, etc.
How easy is it to detect a hidden GPS tracker?
Only two people can find a hidden car GPS tracker – the person using the vehicle and the one who installed it. If you are suspicious of the presence of a tracker in your car, you can either get a GPS detector from the market or visit your car mechanic and ask them to give your car a thorough run-through.
Final Words
There is a stigma around using concealed or hidden GPS devices. However, these devices can prove to be extremely helpful without invading privacy. It can be used for the easy recovery of your stolen car. It’s used for the safety of your dear ones. Fleet management and company owners have these installed in their vehicles to monitor the location of their vehicles and keep an eye on them.
You first need to identify the usage and benefits of the best hidden GPS tracker according to your requirements and then buy it for your safety and peace of mind.
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