Using a GPS tracker for your car is a way to ensuring your car is not on the move without your consent. Real time tracking, custom alerts and many more features are now seen on the majority of devices available today.
The best GPS tracker for your car is the MasTrack OBD Real Time GPS that provides 1 minute intervals of updates and no installation apart from a smartphone app.
Basic GPS tracking systems simply connect to your cars OBD-II port and then use a smartphone or computer application for live updates and various other pieces of data. All include 24/7 access to your vehicle current location in seconds.
Table of Contents
Best Car Tracking Devices
Car GPS Tracker | Connection | Our Rating |
---|---|---|
MasTrack | OBD-II | 4.9 |
Vyncs | OBD-II | 4.7 |
AMERICALOC GL300W | Rechargable | 4.8 |
Spy Tec STI | AA Batteries | 4.7 |
Anysun TK103B | Wired | 4.6 |
Using additional security features in your car has many benefits that even go as far as lowering your car insurance premiums. Vehicle tracking is used by companies to monitor their employees but are popular among the average driver due to the increase in car theft and tracking children or other users of the car.
Although many GPS tracking devices include monthly or annual plans, they are not compulsory. They are usually put in place for people wanting SMS support when the car is on the move or leaving a certain location.
Whether you are tracking your children using a car or employees, investing into a device is worthwhile. Below is a list of the best GPS trackers for cars that provide real time updates and custom alerts.
MasTrack OBD Real Time GPS Vehicle Tracker
The MasTrack is a premium GPS tracker for cars that simply plugs straight into the OBD-II port. There is a nationwide coverage and includes real time live GPS tracking with 1 minutue update times that can be seen via an Android, iOS or computer application.
Using the MasTrack, you will have unlimited 24/7 access, reporting and alert notifications that you are able to set in the application. This GPS tracker for cars includes a feature that measures the driving style of the current driver, which include:
- Harsh Braking
- Rapid Acceleration
- Speeding
- Excessive Idling
- Voltage
- Ignition Status
Keeping track of employees or children whilst driving has never been easier. You are able to set notifications when the car leaves certain areas as well as being told the diagnostics of a vehicle such as the check engine light.
The MasTrack MT-OBD is the best car GPS tracker to buy and provide easy tracking of any vehicle that has an OBD-II port.
Check it OutVyncs GPS Tracker
The Vyncs is a mid-range GPS tracker with no contract and uses the 3G/2G connection to transmit data back to the car owner. In terms of tracking, there is 3 minutes real time GPS with 60,30 and /15 seconds update upgrades available.
Features of the Vyncs unit includes OBD information, real time goefence zone, fuel economy, drivers speed, braking, acceleration and more. Notifications can be sent via emails and SMS, which can include drivers driving score, history and other details.
Although there are upgrades available that will increase the overall cost, the base Vyncs is the best cheap car GPS tracker. There are no hidden costs and it provides almost as many features as the MasTrack device as well as close performance.
Check it OutAMERICALOC GL300W XW Series
The Americaloc XW Series is a highly rated portable GPS tracker that provides live real time updates and 1 year of historical data. You are able to track any vehicle using an internet based device such as a smartphone or computer. Unlike other GPS trackers, this one works in every country in the world.
With no additional costs, you are able to configure the device to transmit real time data every 60, 30 or 10 seconds. Compared to the previous model, this device has the longest battery life and is fully rechargeable in a short amount of time.
The Americaloc GL300W XW Series is the best portable GPS tracker for cars and is more desirable than the battery powered Spy Tec (below) as there is no messing around with batteries. The Americaloc will send alerts when the battery is getting low as well as the other features from speeding, leaving certain locations and much more.
Check it OutSpy Tec STI GL300 Mini
The Spy Tec STI GL300 is a compact portable GPS tracker that can be used on person or inside a vehicle. It is battery powered using AA batteries and it integrates with Google Maps to provide real time tracking over the internet.
As it is battery powered for portability, it has the benefit of placing it anywhere around the vehicle. Some clever car criminals may understand that there is a GPS tracker located within the OBD port and simply pull it out. Using the Spy Tec STI, you are able to hide it anywhere you wish and this will make it harder to be discovered.
Overall, the Spy Tec GPS tracker is a cheap and portable and device that can be used for a range of situations. Although you will need to keep an eye on the battery level, it is the best battery powered GPS tracker for cars that can be hidden in the car.
Check it OutAnysun TK103B
For those that do not want to keep electronics connected to the OBD port or do not want to worry about charging up or changing the batteries of the device, the Anysun unit is the answer. It is a hardwired device that will run from your vehicles battery power when the ignition is switched on.
The main disadvantage to this device is the installation that may be time consuming if not done by someone who knows what they are doing. Albeit, once installed it is a fully fledged GPS tracker that can be installed anywhere in the car and transmit GPS signals to any internet device or via SMS.
The Anysun has all the standard GPS tracker features from movement alerts, speeding, alarm sensor and more. It is a cheap unit to buy but installing the unit may increase the overall cost. It is the best hardwired vehicle GPS tracker and the cost to buy is very reasonable.
Check it OutCar GPS Tracker Buying Guide
Tracking in general has seen a big rise that be tracking your children, partner and vehicle. The benefits of tracking your car is the ability to find it if it has be stolen, track how other drivers are treating the vehicle and more.
The majority of car tracker GPS’s work by transmitting a signal back to a piece of software on a computer or smartphone application (iOS/Android). The software or application will then display the various amounts of data depending upon your package.
As technology has improved and become cheaper, the GPS trackers for cars has changed from the bog standard wired in devices to ones that are connected via the OBD port. Below are some factors to consider before parting with your money.
GPS Tracker Power Source
The five main sources of powering up a GPS tracker for your car are:
- OBD-II Port
- Batteries
- Rechargeable battery
- Hardwired into cars battery
- Cigarette lighter
Although the cigarette lighter is usually only for short radius tracking for situations as losing your car in a car park. The OBD port connection is the most desirable as it gets the power from the port and can also tap into the diagnostics of the car. Although it won’t be able to give you information as a professional diagnostic scanner would, it can still provide the basics error code such as the engine management light.
Portable GPS trackers such as one powered by disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries are also popular. The main benefit over the OBD alternative is that you can hide the device anywhere in the vehicle. However, you will need to keep track of the battery level because once they are run out of juice, the tracker will be obsolete.
The hardwired tracker is more “old school” and is how the majority of cars were tracked over the last 10 years. It is still used today but considering the installation costs and other factors, it is less desirable compared to both the OBD and portable GPS trackers.
Monthly Plans
Many of the cheap GPS trackers will have hidden costs associated with them that include real time tracking, SMS alerts and much more. Ensure you read the total costs before purchasing and compare the amount of features total costs compared to a unit with them already included.
Many brands will try and get you to buy their “cheap” tracker but then charge you for all of the additions that you will need to use in order to have a good experience of using it.
Tracking Features
The user interface of the application or software are usually similar with a map and various intuitive graphs to display the live or historic data. In terms of tracking, there is real time tracking with various live updates from 5 to as little as 10 seconds, historic data tracing and much more.
Additional features come in the form of tracking the drivers speed, harsh breaking, excessive idling, hard acceleration, ignition status and much more. GPS trackers that are connected via the OBD port also tend to come with additional diagnostics such as engine management lights and other fault codes.
You will want the most bang for your buck and going with for a premium OBD GPS tracker will give you all the features you would need.
Conclusion
A car GPS tracker makes sense if you worry about security and the fact it can lower your car insurance premiums is also a big bonus. They come in a range of forms but the OBD connection is the more desirable due to the simplicity, lack of maintenance (no need to check battery) and additional features.
A word of warning with the cheap GPS trackers is that the additional feature costs can mount up and it is usually better to spend that little bit extra upfront to get a better quality tracker.