There are several ways to leverage a GPS tracker for vehicles<\/a>. But here we will focus on tools that are either completely free or require paying a small fee.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as you use a car manufactured after 2015, it should come factory-installed with a GPS. All you need is your manufacturer\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019t 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\u2019s manual, followed by the manufacturer\u2019s app to confirm compatibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s built-in GPS location tracking<\/a> capabilities to monitor your phone\u2019s location. Here\u2019s how you can make this work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also connect your device to your car for more accurate results by turning on your Bluetooth and pairing it with your car\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s how to use it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some insurers install \u201cplug-in devices\u201d to monitor driving behavior to offer discounts. If you\u2019re using this, you might either have the physical device plugged into your car\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s how they typically work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/a> or Tile. They also use Bluetooth to ping nearby smartphones. Here\u2019s how it works if you were setting up an Apple AirTag:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s more preferable to leave a tag in it and then track with your smartphone app connection. Here\u2019s how to use Life360 with a Tile tag for car tracking:<\/p>\n\n\n\nWith a built-in GPS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Use an old phone as a GPS tracking device<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Save the parking location on Google\/Apple Maps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Insurance company tracking devices<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fleet management<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Tracking via Bluetooth or Tile devices<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Use a smartphone tracking app<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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