Choosing the correct GPS car tracker can give you undeniable peace of mind. Imagine what happens when you are no longer uncertain of where your car is at any time. It can be the key difference to safeguarding a teen driver, recovering stolen vehicles, or simply knowing your loved ones arrived safely without a call. But then, you can access a vehicle GPS tracker that will pinpoint their whereabouts at any time without breaking the bank. This guide provides practical, legitimate, and affordable methods for tracking your vehicles effectively.
How to track my car location for free?
There are several ways to leverage a GPS tracker for vehicles. But here we will focus on tools that are either completely free or require paying a small fee.
With a built-in GPS
As long as you use a car manufactured after 2015, it should come factory-installed with a GPS. All you need is your manufacturer’s app to view the real-time location, lock or unlock doors, and trigger alarms. These built-in vehicle tracking systems are sometimes called stolen vehicle recovery systems, and they work only in your specific cars.
Usually, they combine satellite and LTE signals to help you learn the whereabouts of your car. Some individuals may have alerts for speeding or other high-risk driving behaviors. That said, because these features are installed at the manufacturing facilities, you don’t have control over them. Many car owners commonly use third-party systems because they are easier to use and customize to their needs. Nevertheless, if you want to use the built-in system, start by checking your car’s manual, followed by the manufacturer’s app to confirm compatibility.
Use an old phone as a GPS tracking device
A cheat trick you can use to set up GPS tracking for your vehicle is to place an old phone in your car. The idea is to use the smartphone’s built-in GPS location tracking capabilities to monitor your phone’s location. Here’s how you can make this work:
- Install free tracking apps on smartphones. Depending on the phone’s OS, you can choose Google Find My Device or Apple Find My.
- Enable location services and ensure the phone is always connected to power.
- Hide the phone securely in the car, either under a seat or in the glove box.
- You can access location data using the app on your primary phone. You’ll need to have the same Google or Apple icloud account to use this approach.
Save the parking location on Google/Apple Maps
If you are trying to park your car at a location and return to it without confusion, then you need this step. After you reach your destination (the parking lot), you can save your parking location so that you can find it later. On Google Maps, here’s how:
- Before proceeding, ensure that you’ve enabled location services.
- Go to your Android phone or tablet and open the Google Maps app. Note that this also works for iPhones and iPads.
- Tap the blue dot that indicates your current location.
- Select “save your parking”.
- Once saved, you’ll see the sign “You parked here.”
You can also connect your device to your car for more accurate results by turning on your Bluetooth and pairing it with your car’s audio system, or by plugging your device directly into your vehicle’s audio system. Now, follow the steps to save your parking location in Google Maps.
If you use an iPhone or iPad, you can set up Google Maps to save parking locations. But then, Apple Maps also gives you the same features. Here’s how to use it:
- Again, ensure that you’ve enabled location services.
- On your iPhone or iPad, launch the Apple Maps app.
- Click the blue dot to indicate your current location.
- Next, select “Mark My Location”.
- Alternatively, when you park, you can activate Siri by saying, “Hey Siri, remember where I parked my car”. Siri will save location and add a car icon.
- Likewise, you can also connect your iPhone to your car’s Bluetooth or CarPlay. Doing this will automatically save the location when you disconnect. That way, you can find your parked car in Maps by simply searching for “Parked Car” on the map.
Insurance company tracking devices
Some insurers install “plug-in devices” to monitor driving behavior to offer discounts. If you’re using this, you might either have the physical device plugged into your car’s OBD-II port or use a GPS technology app on your phone, required by your insurer. While this is used for risk assessment, you can also use it to access location data if the car is stolen. Note that not all insurers offer real-time tracking to policyholders. But you can always give this a try. Usually, they may still require you to report the incident to the police before contacting them.
Fleet management
For business-owned vehicles, a cost-effective vehicle GPS tracker is necessary to help you monitor them in real-time. There are tons of great fleet management apps with a free plan that offer real-time GPS tracking, route history, driving behavior, and geofencing. Great selections include Geotab and Verizon Connect. Here’s how they typically work:
- Usually, you’ll need to install a GPS tracker inside the vehicle according to the instructions.
- Power on the device so it can signal and communicate with orbiting satellites.
- You may need to install an app on your phone to view the collected information. Some trackers may also have a console on them, allowing you to review the information.
Tracking via Bluetooth or Tile devices
You can attach a tag to your car and use your phone to keep track of it. These devices are meant for tracking belongings within a short range, but they are beneficial, especially if you want to track a parked vehicle. Note that they are not effective for longer distances. Popular choices include Apple AirTag or Tile. They also use Bluetooth to ping nearby smartphones. Here’s how it works if you were setting up an Apple AirTag:
- Activate the AirTag and then hold it near your primary iPhone device.
- You should see the connection request on your phone.
- Once connected, choose or create a custom name for it.
- Now hide the AirTag in your vehicle. Most tags have a battery life of about a year. Therefore, choose a location where you can easily access to replace the battery.
- Now, using your primary device and your Apple Find My, you can test its location.
Use a smartphone tracking app
Smartphone tracking apps like Life360 can help you share your location in real time with friends and loved ones. You can also use this as a vehicle tracker. By integrating with a Tile Bluetooth tag, you can extend the tracking capability directly to your car, even when you’re not in it or have left your phone inside. It’s more preferable to leave a tag in it and then track with your smartphone app connection. Here’s how to use Life360 with a Tile tag for car tracking:
- Obtain a Tile model that fits your needs. Tile Pro will, of course, offer more range and is suitable for vehicle tracking.
- Securely place it in a discreet and accessible place, like the glovebox.
- Download the Life360 app and set up your bio.
- Choose your correct membership plan.
- Click the “Create a circle” or “Create another circle” if you’ve created one before. Next, name it and then invite your family to join your circle by sharing the code with them.
- In the Circle you want to use within your Life360app, tap on the “keys” icon or “Add an item”
- Select “Add your Tiles.”
- If you have an existing Tiles account, select the option to link it. Otherwise, you’ll be prompted to download the Tile app and create your account.
- Through Life360, log in to your Tile account.
- Follow the prompts to enable Bluetooth and activate your Tile within the Life360 app.
- Once linked, your Tile appears on the Life360map alongside other Circle members.
- You can view the Tile’s last known location.
- Plus, if your car is within Bluetooth range, you can use the “Find” feature to make the Tile ring, helping you locate it in a crowded parking lot.
- In case your car is towed or stolen, you can mark the Tile as “lost.” This allows you to use the global Tile network, where any phone running the Tile app that comes within range of your device anonymously updates its location, giving you a more recent pinpoint.
Can I track my car location by number plate?
No, private individuals can’t really track their vehicle’s location using license plates or VINs. Typically, this requires access to data that is restricted to law enforcement for investigative purposes. This means the police often use databases like ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) to locate stolen cars. But you need to make a formal report to access this procedure. That said, here’s a run-down of things you should do immediately you lose your car;
- Report immediately: Contact the police about the stolen vehicle. They will need the plate number, make, model, and last known location. They will also need your identity and driving license information.
- Check your tracking apps: If you have a built-in GPS, phone tracker, or insurance app installed, take a look at it and monitor the directions it’s heading to.
- Review Cameras: If you have no tracking app, consider viewing CCTV footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras for information.
- Check DashCam Footage: Newer car models often come equipped with cloud-connected dashcams that can be accessed via apps to view your car’s last location.
- Notify insurer: Using the police report you have, make a report to your insurer. This would expedite claims.
- Post around: Share information in local social groups, forums, and more to raise awareness about your lost vehicle.
FAQ
Can Google Maps track my car?
Yes, you can set up Google Maps to actively track your car’s parked location when you connect to your car’s Bluetooth or via CarPlay. That way, when you’ve parked your car and disconnected the phone, it automatically stores that location. You can also keep track of your vehicle using Google Maps shared location if you have a phone permanently left in the car. But note that Google Maps does not monitor your vehicle independently.
Can I track my car remotely?
Yes, you can track your car remotely, but you need tools for that. You can keep a spare phone in the car, which you can use with tracking apps like Find My Device or Google Maps to monitor. Some vehicles also come with built-in manufacturer GPS, which would work with an app on your phone. It’s also possible to install dedicated GPS vehicle trackers used by businesses to keep track of their fleet.
Can my phone detect a tracker on my car?
No, your phone can’t detect dedicated GPS trackers. However, you can use anti-stalking apps on an Android phone, which alert you to the presence of unknown Bluetooth devices nearby. Your iPhone and Android phones can also detect unknown Bluetooth devices using system alerts. However, the best way to determine this is by physically inspecting your car.
Conclusion
There are a number of ways you can set up a car tracker for your vehicle, and for free. Here, we’ve discussed using your car’s built-in GPS, old phones, or tracking apps. Depending on the features you want, you can monitor your vehicles in real-time using any of these techniques. However, it’s often best to invest in a dedicated car GPS tracker to access theft recovery features and more.
