Are Private Investigators Allowed To Use GPS Tracking?

Key Takeaways:

• Laws on GPS tracking by private investigators depend on state rules and require consent or ownership.
• GPS tracking improves surveillance by saving time, cutting costs, and reducing physical risk.
• Misuse of GPS trackers can lead to lawsuits or legal action against private investigators.
• The Family1st Portable GPS Tracker is a secure and effective tool for professional investigations.

GPS Trackers and Private Investigators

People often hire private investigators when they need help gathering information. It could be a spouse who suspects cheating or a lawyer needing extra evidence for a case. Private investigators work legally and focus on finding facts through different methods like background checks, surveillance, and deeper investigations.

Background Checks

Private investigators can dig into someone’s past to uncover useful information. This might include:

• Checking for criminal records
• Looking into financial history, like debts or hidden money
• Verifying education or job history

These checks help the client know more about the person they’re dealing with.

Surveillance

Surveillance is when a private investigator watches or tracks someone to see what they’re doing. There are a few ways they do this:

• Following them in person without being noticed
• Using GPS trackers or small devices like microphones or cameras
• Checking online activity, like social media or deleted files

The method depends on the situation and what’s allowed by law.

Investigations and Evidence

After collecting all the information, the investigator puts the pieces together.

• They Go through everything they find.
• Make sure the evidence is real and useful.
• Share the results with their client in a clear way.

The goal is to give the client answers they can trust, based on facts, not guesses.

Benefits of GPS Surveillance for Private Investigators

Keeping an eye on someone used to mean long days sitting in a car, waiting, watching, and hoping you don’t miss anything. GPS tracking has changed that game completely. Here’s how it actually helps private investigators in real life:

Why GPS Makes an Investigator’s Job Easier

Following someone around all day isn’t just tiring—it takes a lot of time and effort. Before GPS, investigators had to physically be there, which meant no breaks, no real downtime, and a constant need to stay alert.

Now? They can stick a GPS tracker on a car or bag and keep track of movements from their phone or laptop. It’s a huge time-saver and makes life way easier.

Staying Safe While Tracking Someone

Getting caught while following someone can go badly—especially if that person doesn’t take it well. People have become more cautious, and in some cases, even defensive.

GPS helps avoid that. Investigators don’t need to be nearby anymore, which lowers the chance of confrontations and keeps things low-risk.

Spending Less While Getting More Done

Old-school surveillance racks up expenses fast—gas, food, parking, and sometimes even overnight stays. That adds up quickly, especially in long cases.

With GPS tracking, there’s usually just one upfront cost for the device. After that, it’s mostly just checking in remotely, which saves a ton of money.

Watching Someone Without Wasting Time

Private investigators often juggle multiple cases at once. GPS makes it easier to track someone in the background while handling other work.

Instead of sitting in a car for hours, they can check in occasionally and spend the rest of their time doing something more productive.

10 Things To Consider Before Buying GPS Tracker for Private Investigations

For private investigators, a GPS tracker is more than just a tool. It plays a crucial role in gathering accurate information without being physically present. Choosing the right one means focusing on what truly matters during surveillance.

1. Real-Time Accuracy is Essential

A tracker must provide live updates with pinpoint accuracy. When you know exactly where the subject is, you can make better decisions on the spot and collect dependable location data.

2. Battery Performance Supports Long Surveillance

Investigations don’t follow a fixed schedule. A tracker with long battery life helps you monitor for extended periods without interruption. Features like motion activation or timed updates help extend battery use without losing track of movement.

3. Size and Design Support Discreet Use

Discretion is part of the job. The tracker should be compact, lightweight, and easy to hide. It should stay unnoticed whether placed on a vehicle or inside a bag.

4. Durable Build Handles Tough Conditions

Tracking can happen in any environment. Your device should work smoothly through rain, heat, dust, or rough handling. A durable tracker keeps performing regardless of where the job takes you.

5. Alerts and Flexible Tracking Options Improve Control

Notifying you when your subject enters or leaves a location keeps you ahead. Useful features like geofencing and movement detection let you stay in control without constant screen-watching. Adjusting how often the tracker updates location helps balance precision and battery use.

6. Simple App Access Makes Monitoring Easier

You should be able to track movements from your phone or laptop without stress. A clean, easy-to-use app or web dashboard makes it simple to review activity, manage settings, and receive alerts.

7. Location History Helps Spot Patterns

Tracking is more than watching movement in real-time. Having access to past location data helps identify habits and frequent places. This insight is useful for building strong reports and understanding behavior.

8. Security Features Protect Sensitive Data

A good tracker keeps your data safe. It should use encryption and send you a notification if someone tries to remove or tamper with it. These features protect your investigation and maintain confidentiality.

9. Legal Compliance Protects Your Work

All tracks must follow local laws. The tracker you use should help you stay within legal and ethical limits. Using it the right way protects both you and your client from serious issues.

10. Strong Network, Good Support, and Clear Pricing Matter

Before you buy, make sure the tracker works well with local mobile networks. Choose a provider with responsive customer service. Review the subscription plan carefully and check that the pricing is fair and easy to understand.

Are Private Investigators Allowed To Use GPS Trackers?

A licensed private investigator is allowed to use a GPS tracker if the purpose is legal and there’s no intent to invade someone’s privacy. The legality still depends on the situation and the laws of the state.

Employee and Employer

An employer can place a GPS tracker on a company-owned vehicle to monitor how it’s used during work hours. But tracking an employee’s personal movements after hours is illegal and counts as stalking.

Husband and Wife

A private investigator can track a spouse if the client is still legally married and owns the vehicle. If the couple is separated or divorced, tracking without consent is illegal.

Unmarried Couples

If someone wants to track their partner before marriage, it is only legal if they own the vehicle being tracked. Without ownership, using a GPS tracker in this case would violate privacy laws.

Child Custody

In custody disputes, a GPS tracker can be used to collect proof if one parent suspects neglect or unsafe behavior. This is allowed when the child’s safety is at risk and the information is meant for legal use.

Other Scenarios

A GPS tracker can be used legally when the client is the legal owner of the vehicle. Ownership is the key factor in whether tracking is allowed or not.

Laws Related To The Use of GPS Trackers

Laws around GPS tracker use depend on who’s using them and where. The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that law enforcement must get a warrant before placing a GPS tracker on someone’s vehicle.

For private individuals, GPS tracking laws change from state to state. In some states like California, Texas, Virginia, and Minnesota, private investigators can legally use GPS devices, while in others like Wisconsin, it’s illegal.

These laws are not clearly defined across the country. However, the Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and helps guard personal privacy.

Read More: GPS Laws of Different States

How to Find a Hidden GPS Tracker Placed by a Private Investigator

If you suspect there’s a GPS tracker on your vehicle, it’s important to check carefully. Private investigators usually place these devices in spots that are hard to notice.

Common hiding places include:

• Underneath the car, especially on metal surfaces using magnets
• Inside the glove box
• Under the seats
• Connected to the OBD2 port, which is usually below the dashboard
• Hardwired into the vehicle, making it harder to detect

Start by checking all visible areas and feel around hidden corners with your hands. If you still can’t find anything, consider buying a GPS scanner or RF signal detector. These tools are easily available online and can help you detect hidden tracking devices by picking up their signal.

Also See: How To Find GPS Tracker and remove it.

Investigation v/s Stalking

There’s a thin line between investigating someone and stalking them. Private investigators must know that line clearly to avoid legal trouble.

If the investigation has a legal reason and no harmful intent, using tools like GPS trackers is allowed. But if a private investigator follows someone out of curiosity or without a real case, they can get sued.

Can You Sue Private Investigators? 

You can report a private investigator to local law enforcement if they are following you or using a GPS tracker without a legal reason. If they are harassing or threatening you, you can sue them in court.

A private investigator cannot enter your home without permission or record inside your private space. They also cannot hack your accounts or access your bank details, and doing so is grounds for legal action.

Future of GPS Tracking and Related Laws: The Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance Act

As GPS tracking becomes more common, the legal system is working to catch up. One proposed law, called the Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance Act (GPS Act), was created to set clear rules on how location data can be used.

The GPS Act aims to require law enforcement and other agencies to get a warrant before accessing someone’s geolocation data. It also includes limits for private use, banning the collection or sharing of location information without consent.

As of 2025, the GPS Act has been introduced in Congress several times but has not been passed into law. While it reflects growing concerns about digital privacy, it currently holds no legal authority and remains a proposed bill.

Best GPS Tracker for Private Investigators: Family1st Portable GPS Tracker

Family1st Portable GPS Tracker gives private investigators real-time tracking with high accuracy. It helps monitor vehicles or individuals without needing to follow them physically.

This device is compact, easy to hide, and runs up to 14 days on a single charge. Its geofence alerts and tracking history allow you to collect detailed movement data for reports.

With 4G LTE support and weather-resistant build, it works reliably in any environment. The tracker connects through a mobile or desktop app, making remote surveillance simple and efficient.