GPS tracking for vehicles isn’t a new-fangled concern. Instead, the technology has been around for a long time and is mostly used by vehicle owners to facilitate seamless tracking. But then, GPS trackers aren’t simply restricted to tracing specific instances anymore.
In an era where connected devices are ruling the roost, GPS trackers have discovered a newly found motivation. Starting from making their presence felt in supply chain and logistical modules involving trucks to being used as a recreational asset in cars, GPS trackers have evolved with time.
Plus, GPS tracking hasn’t been this affordable before as manufacturers are constantly pairing innovation at throwaway prices.
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Why GPS Tracking for Cars makes more sense?
E-commerce setups with autonomous product delivery systems have been using GPS trackers for a long. However, car owners have recently started taking the concept of GPS tracking seriously owing to the affordability, innovation, and functionality on offer.
With electric vehicles and autonomous cars being the latest concepts to surface vehicle tracking has become an indispensable option instead of being restricted as a choice. Also, installing GPS trackers is easy and one can control the same via a dedicated application.
Why Car owners are increasingly relying on GPS Trackers?
There can be multiple reasons for investing in a GPS tracker for a car. If you are a car owner, who is concerned about the safety of the vehicle, GPS tracking with alarms and other enhancements make sense. Plus, if the car itself changes hands now and then, a GPS tracker allows you to ascertain the traveling and fuel usage history, thereby adding to the financial autonomy.
But then, not every GPS tracker for a car is the same. In the subsequent sections, we shall talk about 10 of the best trackers in the market that have started making several heads roll with their innovative feature sets and deep-seated compatibility.
What are the best GPS trackers for Cars?
Still with us!
Then, you might be interested in reading detailed reviews concerning the 10 best car GPS trackers that we have tested extensively, across diverse parameters. We understand that you might be new to the concept of GPS tracking and there is a set of insights enlisted at the end of this discussion to help you make informed decisions, based on your preferences, budget, and requirements.
Family1st GPS Tracker: Best Overall
Highlights
- Alexa compatible
- Subscription-based service
- Lifetime gadget warranty
- Round the clock tech support
Review
As mentioned, the Family1st GPS tracker readily takes the first spot, courtesy of the extensive specs sheet and cost-effectiveness. Plus, the lowest subscription fee pertaining to the device usage also enhances the credibility of the selection.
Family1st GPS tracker ensures accurate tracking and regular updates, thereby ensuring continued coverage and better autonomy. Also, if the GPS satellite isn’t responsive at any time, this gadget is capable of deploying wireless networks for indoor tracking.
Not to mention the portable design that qualifies the same as one of the best assets for covert tracking. But then, we wouldn’t actually recommend clandestine usage owing to the legal restrictions.
Overall, the Family1st GPS tracker scales above the rest, owing to the extended battery life, customizable usage, and promise to offer a full refund, in case the performance leaves you unsatisfied.
Pros
- Offers detailed tracking history
- Easy to configure and use
- An affordable monthly subscription model
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Only tracks the pre-assigned vehicle
- Requires the OBD interface to reach the full potential
Bouncie Tracker: Best for Inclusive Vehicle Maintenance
Highlights
- Customized alerts
- Monthly subscription plan
- Real-time alerts
Review
If you are seeking inclusivity while searching for GPS trackers, there aren’t many better options in the market as compared to Bouncie. This tracker readily fits into the OBD port of the concerned car and allows you to track acceleration, speed-based alerts, hard braking scenarios, and other car-related processes.
Plus, the $8 dollar subscription fee is pretty competitive, to say the least. Also, this is one of the few GPS trackers in the market that allows you to store data on the move whilst supporting mileage tracking.
Pros
- Geofencing support
- Offers real-time alerts
- Lowest possible subscription rates
- Supports mileage tracking
Cons
- Erroneous flashing light
- Alexa commands can be glitchy at times
Americaloc GL300W: Best in terms of Portability
Highlights
- Offers history coverage of up to one year
- Supports real-time vehicle tracking
- Equipped with a magnetic case
Review
Car owners with a penchant for portable trackers can purchase the Americaloc GL300W without second thoughts. Owing to the minimalistic form factor, this is one of the best gadgets in the retail arena to carry around without breaking a sweat.
Despite the exorbitant price tag, the Americaloc GL300W deserves your attention, owing to the curated magnetic case, which in turn allows you to hide the same in plain sight. Plus, this GPS tracker provided steady real-time vehicle tracking followed by customized alerts that can notify you in case of restricted entries, overspeeding and other activities. In case, you are looking for GPS trackers with magnets, we got you covered with our guide and a comprehensive list for the same.
Pros
- Exceptional battery life
- Strictly monitors vehicle activities
- Easy to hide
- Allows you to save and view history for up to 365 days
Cons
- Pricey
Optimus 2.0: Best Tracking Bundle
Highlights
- Compatible with a slew of apps and devices
- Easy to use app interface
- Enhanced concealment
Review
The Optimus 2.0 is more of a tracker bundle, supporting real-time, accurate, and obviously discreet tracking. What works in favor of this device is the extended battery life of up to 2 weeks. However, if you want to experience the best possible battery life, you must select the reporting frequency of 1 minute by logging onto the app.
Also, Optimus 2.0 is one of the best resources in the market for someone who is looking to perfectly pair the generated data with the featured mobile app. Finally, there is a twin-magnet tracker case in play that restricts the same from getting identified.
Pros
- Competitive pricing
- The app interface is intuitive
- Offers router details
- Advanced vehicle monitoring
Cons
- Might experience issues with auto-update
MotoSafety Tracker: Best for new car drivers
Highlights
- Compatible with Google maps
- Supports the curfew mode
- The monthly subscription fee is close to 20 dollars
Review
If you are a new driver who is still trying to find his or her way around a car, we would recommend the MotoSafety Tracker over any other GPS tracker on the market. As new drivers need to rely more on customized location alerts, geofencing, and Google maps, the MotoSafety Tracker allows them to be on track with the more stringent requirements.
Plus, parents can rely on this tracker to help them with curfew management, by tracking the movement of the driving kids, at specific hours.
The competitive monthly rate allows you to use this device without thinking about the finances. Plus, the app-based interface also makes way for a driver training module, whilst allowing the new driver to hone the skills further.
Pros
- Supports router display
- The curfew mode is an intuitive addition
- Innovative and responsive app
- Competitive subscription fee
Cons
- Sensitive to acceleration
Primetracking: Best for Personal Usage
Highlights
- Measures 3×1.5 inches
- Comes with 4G support
- Supports location changes
- Zero activation cost
Review
The Primetracking GPS tracker comes forth as one of the smallest units in the retail space, allowing you to deploy the same either as an open resource or in the clandestine mode. You can even consider using the same with multiple cellular service providers by tapping into their 4G connectivity module.
As far as location updates are concerned, this tracker provides intimation in increments of 10 seconds. The battery life can extend up to two weeks, making it one of the more dependable car trackers to purchase.
Pros
- Portable
- Offers router history
- Unlimited GPS range
- Competitive pricing
Cons
- Geo-fencing technology is properly seasoned
Carlock Tracker: Best for Alerting
Highlights
- Monitors the vehicle in real-time
- Provides safety score
- Records route history
- Compatible with the OBD2 port
Review
OBD2 compatible GPS trackers can be extremely resourceful, provided you know how to configure and use the same. The Carlock Tracker is one such resourceful gadget that is capable of monitoring the smallest of car-specific activities and movements with precision.
This means, if you are interested in detecting vibration, the status of the tracker, or the rate of acceleration, the Carlock Tracker has the requisite firepower to provide the details. Plus, with this tracker at work, you can even log in to the route history and follow whether the car traces the same at every instance.
Plus, this is one of the few trackers to provide a safety score, depending on the capabilities of the person behind the wheel.
Pros
- Monitors acceleration and sharp turns
- Offers international support
- Can be installed seamlessly into the OBD2 port
- Offers route history
Cons
- Not the most battery-intensive tracker
LandAirSea 54: Best Waterproof tracker
Highlights
- Completely waterproof
- Compact and portable design
- The battery can last up to 2 weeks
- Intuitive application
Review
The LandAirSea 54 is probably the only cent-percent waterproof tracker on the list, with comparable indoor and outdoor compatibility. Leading the way is the integrated magnet that helps with the installation. Plus, the compact layout ensures that you can place the gadget in a given vehicle without getting noticed.
Coming to the feature sets, this GPS car tracker comes equipped with a rechargeable battery unit, which is more than capable of powering the tracker for 2 weeks at once. Also, you can monitor diverse car-specific activities via the LandAirSea 54 application, which notifies the owner regarding playback, arrival, and even sends forth proximity alerts.
However, you can control the nature and frequency of the updates by tweaking the apps and the subscription plan, as per preferences.
Pros
- You can access tracker data via the web interface
- Supports geofencing, InstaFencing, and emails alerts
- Can support 4G connectivity via select service providers
- Easy to install
Cons
- Pricey
- Battery backup could have been better
How does a Car GPS tracker work?
Now that you are aware of the existing car tracking choices, it is necessary to understand the functioning and usage of the device in general. This insightful section is expected to help you make informed decisions.
Firstly, a GPS tracker uses the global positioning system and the related technology to constantly transmit locational data to the cloud servers. The concept is comparable to using a SIM card, which also relays the information to certain towers. For a GPS tracker, there are GPS satellites, which constantly track the information and the processes, whilst updating them onto the concerned application.
A vehicle with a tracking device sends across the wireless signal to the data server, which is then connected to the cloud network and can be accessed using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. This technology allows you to make decisions concerning the type of tracker that needs to be purchased.
For instance, local GPS tracking activities use cellular data and send the tracking insights to local servers only. However, if you require international tracking support, a 4G tracker with a globally compatible SIM card needs to be prioritized.
How to select the right car GPS tracker?
There are quite a few aspects that need to be prioritized before purchasing the preferred car tracking device. These include:
Tracking capabilities
It is quite obvious for you to prioritize tracking capabilities as the first and foremost consideration. As a rule of thumb, it is necessary to check whether the car tracker offers real-time updates. This means a reliable GPS tracker must be able to notify you when the vehicle moves from point A to point B.
Other aspects of tracking include the ability to manage multiple vehicles and interfaces with ease. Also, if you have high-end requirements, the ability to log the trip history is a good feature to look at. This way, it becomes easier to trust others with your car, when you can constantly monitor the stoppages, engine running time, idling period, and other trip-related aspects.
Alerting
Besides tracking, a good GPS tracker should also come equipped with a reliable alerting system. By this we mean look at specs like route deviation alerts, stoppage alerts, tampering alerts, overspeeding intimation, and more. Top-shelf trackers generally feature a high-end alerting system, making it easier for the car owners to track maintenance liabilities, pilferages if any, and other car-related aspects.
Geofencing
Some of the more reliable GPS car trackers feature something called Geofencing support. This attribute allows you to establish certain virtual geographical boundaries via the app. Once the car enters or even exits the geographical fence, the person in charge of the tracking app is intimated.
This feature is great for improving operational efficiency and the workforce optimization standards pertaining to a specific workplace where cars and other vehicles are used to manage people and load.
Reporting
A good GPS tracking app is expected to send out every important report whilst being able to track and log the data for a significant period of time. The ability to log and share historical reports and even the dashboard summary makes certain GPS tracking applications better than most.
Access Control and Ease of Usage
If you are planning to use a vehicle fleet for managing workflow, you must look for a tracking device that offers ease of usage and better access control. This means the person in charge of the app and the device should be able to change the user profiles, as per requirements.
In addition to these attributes, you should be mindful of the installation support, OBD compatibility, and the analytics focussed on the concerned tracking device.
Wrapping Up
Finding the best GPS tracking device for your car can be quite tricky, provided you are an early adopter. While the buying guide and the tentative feature sets allow you to make better choices, it is expected of you to be a bit confused, considering the wide range of choices, all around.
But then, the Family1st GPS tracker can put all apprehensions and confusions to rest by coming forth as an all-inclusive GPS tracker for cars. While there are several other trackers to consider, the Family1st GPS tracker is arguably the most holistic gadget to invest in, courtesy of the indoor tracking support, affordable subscription plan, and excellent battery backup.
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