5 Best Car GPS Trackers [2022 Guide]

2022-09-03 01:11:53 By : Mr. Grant Liu

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An informative OBD-port tracker with a low monthly cost.

A GPS tracker with consistent updates and locating.

An affordable tracker with powerful storage capabilities.

A premium tracker packed with potential upgrades.

A long-lasting tracker that provides timely updates.

The best GPS trackers for cars report a vehicle’s location in real-time and transmit driving data to a user’s cell phone . They can also report factors such as average vehicle speed and health, as well as provide roadside assistance in emergency situations.

Trackers come in an array of shapes, sizes, and prices, with many of them requiring a monthly subscription for their services. Our expert review team has tested the best GPS trackers for cars to narrow down the top choices on the market.

Because of its ease of use and affordability, the Bouncie GPS Car Tracker is our pick for Best Overall car GPS tracker. Downloading the app, signing up, and plugging in the device takes only a few minutes and instantly gives you access to real-time tracking .

Bouncie uses 4G LTE to transmit driving data, so a subscription is required. Most GPS tracker subscriptions are anywhere between $20 and $25 per month, while Bouncie only costs around $8 and even offers more features than competitors.

Between the Bouncie ‘s accuracy as a tracker and its superb value, we rated it at 4.8 out of 5 stars. Although it stopped tracking when our car wasn’t running, everything else about it made up for this minor design flaw.

Customers on Amazon gave the Bouncie tracker an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. This is from over 3,600 reviews, 82 percent of which were 5 stars. The Bouncie GPS Car Tracker is also Amazon ’s Choice for best GPS trackers for cars.

Positive reviews commended the Bouncie ’s real-time notifications , with one customer going as far as to claim the tracker saved her son’s life when his car accidentally rolled over in an accident. Other satisfied customers enjoy being able to track their parents, grandparents, or young drivers with ease.

Top negative reviews say that consumers did not know the trackers would turn off with their cars.

We recommend the Bouncie Car GPS Tracker for anyone who wants affordable, accurate means of tracking themselves or their loved ones on the road. Its ease of use makes it perfect for anyone unfamiliar with GPS devices.

As our favorite battery-powered positioning system, the LandAirSea 54 GPS Tracker delivers exceptional tracking. Its frequent refresh feature provides accurate coordinates within 6.0 feet of your car’s location, and users can receive updates as frequently as every three seconds.

The device latches onto metal surfaces of your car with its built-in super strength magnet. Its battery normally lasts between one to two weeks when providing updates, but can survive up to six months when in low power mode.

We liked the LandAirSea 54 GPS Tracker ’s physical design and tracking abilities. Its subscription is a bit expensive, but it provides detailed driving history in an accessible interface, earning it 4.8 out of 5 stars.

The LandAirSea 54 GPS Tracker has earned its spot as the number one bestseller on Amazon for car GPS trackers , with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars from over 16,300 ratings. Positive reviews highlight LandAirSea’s helpful technical support and its compact design.

Negative reviews center around claims that customers have lost their trackers while driving because the magnetic body did not stick well in wet road conditions.

We believe the LandAirSea 54 GPS Tracker is suitable for anyone who doesn’t mind time between updates and is comfortable with leaving a tracker under their car. While extra features come at a price, the basic subscription plan provides suitable peace of mind .

The Tracki 4G Mini GPS Tracker is a highly versatile device you can attach to your car using a magnet, belt clip, keychain, or lanyard, making it perfect for use beyond your vehicle. It can provide updates every 15 seconds and has highly accurate geofencing capabilities, too.

This tracker also comes with a lifetime warranty . Should the 4G Mini stop working at any time, you can reach out to Tracki and receive a replacement device free of charge.

Not only is the versatility of the Tracki 4G Mini GPS Tracker device useful, but the app comes preloaded with a number of features to help you have a productive experience. The only real con is the battery life , but overall we rated the Tracki at 4.8 out of 5 stars.

While the 4G Mini maintains an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars from over 33,000 Amazon customers, top reviews are mixed. Some customers note positive experiences that highly recommend the 4G Mini for its small size and reliable warranty. Others cite the 4G Mini for limited tracking range and software malfunctions.

Despite the negative reviews, the 4G Mini maintains over 63 percent 5-star ratings from Amazon customers.

With its great design and navigable app, we recommend the Tracki 4G Mini GPS Tracker for anyone who likes to have customizable tracking options at their disposal. Users should be willing to commit to a prepaid subscription plan for the best value.

The Vyncs GPS Tracker for Vehicles provides loads of driving data at a price. The basic plan is free, but users must purchase pricey upgrades to receive more frequent updates.

While these costs are high, this device uses an international SIM card , so it can be used virtually anywhere. It also attaches through an OBD-II port which means no recharging is necessary.

We give this product a score of 4.7 out of 5. Its tracking capabilities and features for the basic plan are good, plus we like how simple the setup is. The only real kicker is the cost of the upgrades.

The Vyncs tracker has an average Amazon customer rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with about 60 percent of these being 5-star ratings. Top positive reviews are mostly for the fleet users, which track business vehicles en masse. Other single-user reviews discuss how they enjoy knowing their vehicle’s health status.

Those who leave negative reviews call the Vyncs tracker “frustrating,” arguing that its interface repeatedly charged them for monthly fees when they weren’t due and customer service response times were poor.

We recommend the Vyncs GPS Tracker for Vehicles for drivers who like to know their vehicle’s whereabouts as well as receive consistent health updates. If you’re willing to pay more for added benefits, it can be a good choice.

For drivers who like a steady stream of notifications for tracking purposes, the Spytec GPS GL300 Tracker is a go-to option. Spytec’s app automatically provides updates when the tracker starts moving. The app also has an inviting interface with plenty of useful specifications.

We give this product a score of 4.2 out of 5 stars. While the GL300 can be stored nearly anywhere in a vehicle and updates vehicle locations frequently, the setup and cost lost it some points in our book.

Customer reviews are strong, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars. This is from over 11,500 reviews, and about 64 percent of them are 5-star ratings.

Positive reviews compliment the GL300’s tracking accuracy and swift cancellation policy. Some customers complain about monthly subscription costs that they did not know existed.

If you’re looking for a car GPS tracker that gives you excellent updates, the Spytec GPS GL300 Tracker is for you. We recommend it for anyone who doesn’t mind paying a higher monthly subscription for better features and prefers an uncomplicated interface.

Before you shop for GPS trackers for your car, consider the following factors to help you determine how you want it to function.

There are two types of GPS tracking devices : real-time and delayed time.

There are several designs for GPS tracker placement, including:

Many car GPS trackers require a subscription to function. These subscriptions are generally monthly or annual depending on the company. The average GPS tracker subscription is anywhere between $20 and $25 per month for a basic plan but can cost more for premium features such as driving habits . Trackers can sometimes also have activation and cancellation fees as well.

The GPS trackers in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching Amazon for top products, looking at factors like Prime shipping eligibility, customer ratings, Amazon superlatives, and prices. Our product testing team ordered the five GPS trackers that best met these standards.

A team member tested each product, taking note of how navigable the GPS tracker ’s app interface was, how well it tracked, and the design of the device itself. Each GPS tracker was given a rating out of 5 stars based on this criteria.

For each GPS tracker , we bought the base-level tracking subscription. All tracking apps were accessed using iOS 15 on an iPhone 12 Pro. Next, each of the GPS trackers we tested was placed in the same testing vehicle and tracked over a 24-hour period. It should be noted that the Bouncie and Vyncs GPS trackers were tested separately since our vehicle only has one OBD-II port .

Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.

We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more.

The best car GPS trackers are designed to help you track driving data. This data can be used for reporting driving habits , locating a stolen vehicle, fleet management for business owners, or keeping track of a teenager or elderly family member’s location.

As long as you own the car, you are legally allowed to track it. However, it is illegal to track a vehicle without the owner’s permission.

Many insurance companies offer discounts for using a car GPS tracker . This is because the device serves as another form of anti-theft protection and encourages safe driving.

Many car GPS trackers are designed with SIM cards built for international use, meaning you can be safely covered anywhere from Canada to Mexico – and anywhere in between.

Our pick for the best GPS tracker for cars is the Bouncie GPS Car Tracker . It tops our list for the installation point, price, and tracking updates. 

Cars can track in real-time via small devices that either attach magnetically to the OBD2 port or simply store it in the vehicle. 

Our pick for the longest range is the LandAirSea 54 . It also has a battery life of up to six months. 

Trackers cost anywhere from $50 to $100, although subscriptions vary depending on longevity and location refresh rate. 

If you have a luxury vehicle or operate a fleet of vehicles, a car GPS tracker may offer better peace of mind. 

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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