Most car owners break out in a cold sweat at the thought of their cars getting stolen with them having no way of tracking the vehicle. The thought of all their hard-earned sweat going down the drain, having to pay back an automotive loan for a stolen car if you have no insurance and losing your independence is quite possibly the most horrifying outcome for a modern-day car owner. But today, car owners can rest easy. With these best hidden GPS trackers for cars, you can easily monitor your vehicle’s progress, and receive notifications and alerts in predetermined conditions.
What is a GPS tracker and how does it work? A GPS tracker is a navigation system usually carried by a moving vehicle that uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) to track the vehicle’s movements and determine its location.
GPS trackers work by utilizing a network of satellites to determine the location of a device. They use a process called trilateration to determine the exact position of vehicles using 3 satellites. With the right tracker, you will receive notifications and alerts on the vehicle’s progress at determined frequencies and some can even connect to the front and rear dash cams with night vision over a Wi-Fi network.
Vehicle GPS trackers can either be passive or real-time. Passive trackers will log data in their unit to be downloaded later while real-time trackers will upload data that can be viewed on a mobile app to their servers at regular intervals. With these devices, you never need to worry about the safety of your car and when partnered with hidden cameras with audio under $100, you will know what’s happening with your vehicle at all times.
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Why invest in a GPS tracker?
Security
With a GPS tracker, you can rest easy knowing that you know your vehicle’s location all the time. If unfortunately, your vehicle gets stolen, you can easily see its location at the moment or check the updates on the company server. Some trackers even have features such as reporting to the nearest police station. Most trackers are also disguised and so will not be disabled.
Economical
A GPS tracker will help you choose and plot the most effective route based on mileage, obstacles and weather disruptions that may slow you down. You will, therefore, be able to save a lot of money on fuel consumption with these predictions.
Business applications
In delivery companies, customers can track the progress of any orders in real-time and allay their anxiety. Business owners can also monitor their employees and increase productivity.
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The comprehensive guide to choosing the best GPS trackers
Choosing a GPS tracker for your car is not as easy as walking into a store and picking one up. Here is a comprehensive guide of the factors you should consider to help you choose a GPS tracker that will help meet your specific needs.
Passive vs Realtime
Passive GPS trackers log data into the unit itself to be downloaded at a later time. A real-time GPS tracker on the other hand tracks and transmits its data to the server immediately. If you need to track the progress of a vehicle as it moves, a real-time tracker will work best for you as there is also no chance of data loss.
Notifications and alerts
Real-time notifications and alerts are only possible with real-time GPS trackers. They update the location, upload to the server and send you notifications within a set frequency. You can also receive updates for activities such as parking, movement, entering and leaving certain zones and whenever the device is turned on or off.
Maps
When you are in an area you are not familiar with, an updated map makes all the difference. Choose a GPS tracker that has a map updating feature including things like current obstacles on a certain route, weather patterns that may prevent you from using another route and more.
Cost
You will most likely need to purchase your GPS tracker and pay monthly fees for it if you want a quality device. Do not look to buy a tracker that will lock you into a contract, instead buy one whose subscription you can start and stop at will. Real-time trackers will more often than not be more expensive than passive trackers. Find a way to balance between cost and value though to get an optimal product.
The 8 Best Hidden GPS Tracker For Your Car
1. GPS Tracker for Vehicles Vyncs
PROS
- No monthly subscription
- Multiple subscriptions for one device
- Installation steps are easy to follow
- Gives accurate information on your vehicle’s location
- No battery needed as it is powered by OBD
CONS
- Not available globally
- Device location is visible
The Vyncs GPS tracker is a real-time tracker that functions on a 3G wireless connection. It comes with a pre-installed Simcard with a one-year data plan from AT&T wireless with backup from T-Mobile. It offers real-time tracking by analyzing data ever second and sending it to your server every 3 minutes and every hour if your car is off. One major advantage is that no battery is needed to power this tracker as it is powered by OBD. And with the vehicle health monitoring and regular fuel reports, you never need to worry about your car whether you are with it or not.
2. GPS Navigation for Car, Latest 2020 Map 7-inch Touch Screen Car
PROS
- Accurate location
- Fast navigation
- Lifetime warranty
- Large clear display
- Map and directions clarity
CONS
- Can’t be used globally
- Night vision can be too bright and irritate your eyes
This is a GPS navigation system with a 7-inch clear display which is large enough for you to see comfortably. It is pre-installed with the 2020 newest maps so you can use it soon as you receive it. This device works in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. It offers real-time voice navigation, which can be used in multiple languages, with comprehensive voice prompts, prompt safety navigation direction of progress, intelligent error correction if the route is wrong and it will generate new routes to make your travel faster and more efficient.
The car GPS functions include, address coordinates, favorite and POI search, 4 routes options, support FM broadcast, display remaining distance and tells estimated arrival time. You get a 90-day money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty with this device.
3. Xgody9-inch touchscreen Trucking GPS Bluetooth AV-IN GPS Navigation for car
PROS
- Bluetooth support
- Comes with all American maps with the option to update other country maps
- Real voice navigation
- Clear screen display
- Lifetime warranty
CONS
- Cannot be used globally
- Not the best for truckers
This Xgody GPS navigation has a 9-inch high-resolution screen which gives you a better and clear visual experience. It has Bluetooth support which you can use to make hands-free calls and connect to your rearview camera for a safer driving experience. To make sure you never get lost, this device comes pre-installed with all America maps and an option to update maps from another country. These maps have over 10 million Points of Interest to help you find whatever you want, and with the real voice navigation, you don’t need to continually strain yourself looking at the screen.
4. TomTom Trucker 620 6-Inch GPS Navigation Device for Trucks
PROS
- Large, clear display
- Real-time traffic updates
- Lifetime map subscription for free
- Access to maps with 3D buildings
- Smartphone messages read-out
CONS
- Battery life is just one hour
- Cannot be used globally
The TomTom trucker navigation device is designed for use by professional drivers in heavy-duty trucks. This system is designed with a variety of safety features for truckers including, smartphone messages readout so you can hear your texts, what’s app messages and updates so you can focus on your driving. With this navigation system, you can plot your route before you leave with map updates that predict traffic on primary and secondary routes for the most efficient driving.
5. Rand McNally TND 740 IntelliRoute Truck Navigation GPS
PROS
- Fast processor
- Map update constantly
- Able to plan complex routes
- Value for money
- E-logging
CONS
- Require external Wi-Fi connections to function fully
- Expensive compared to other units
The Rand McNally TND 740 is designed for use in commercial trucks. With access to external Wi-Fi which is provided by the trucker, this system has excellent route planning features. It analyzes and displays local fuel, food, and motel prices, as well as indicates whether or not such places are amenable to truck parking giving truckers the most efficient route possible. It can log data from any compatible Rand McNally device with E-logging.
The maps on this device are updated every time it is connected to a server so that it can function even when not connected to Wi-Fi. This will help you keep up with any change on your route and re-plan if needed, and with its dynamic map you can plan for weather changes and lane exits.
6. Bouncie GPS navigation system
PROS
- No contract subscription
- Easy to navigate mobile app interface
- Unlimited multiple user accounts
- Sync with smart devices like Alexa
- Powered by OBD hence no need for a battery
CONS
- Doesn’t work globally
- Monthly fees
This Bouncie GPS navigation system can be used with a great variety of people, from parents looking to track their children who are first-time drivers to company owners looking to track the fleet. To set up this device, you just need to have an active subscription and connect it to your OBD plug as it is not battery powered.
This device updates location data every 5 seconds and then uploads it to the Bouncie server every minute. You can download this device’s mobile app whose interface will allow you to see your tracking data. Though there is no contract subscription with this device, you will need to pay a monthly fee of $8 which is significantly lower than other GPS devices that require a monthly fee.
7. AMERICALOC GL300W Mini Portable Real-Time GPS Tracker. XW Series
PROS
- Amazingly long battery life
- Easy to activate and use
- Reliable and geographically accurate
- Works globally
- Easily portable
CONS
- Monthly subscription fee
- Sensitive to obstacles like roofs and metal objects.
The Americaloc GL300W is a real-time portable GPS tracker that is an improvement of the GL300W. it not only tracks vehicles but also equipment and assets. This unit will cost you $25 per month but as a welcome package, Americaloc will give you 2 extra months to your first service purchase.
This version also has the longest battery life with a battery that can last days and can be extended with a battery pack. You will get alerts for things such as movement, parking, speeding, when the device goes off or is turned on and when leaving or entering zones with updates every minute when running. You can also configure it to receive more or fewer updates at no extra cost. It works in the US, Canada and almost all other countries in the world.
8. Rand McNally Intelliroute TND 520 Truck GPS with Lifetime Maps
PROS
- Team driving options
- Displays current weather conditions
- Shows fuel prices on the map
- Excellent route planning
- You can perform local searches to find restaurants and other places
CONS
- Poor battery life of about 1 hour
- Does not have its Wi-Fi
The Rand McNally TND 520 is designed to help truck drivers move efficiently and help as much as possible in avoiding issues that can prevent timely deliveries. Although it is smaller than its predecessors, its 5-inch display still has a clear display that is easy to use with updated graphics and fast processing. Its notable features include: it shows the current conditions and forecast with map overlays to help drivers choose the safest routes possible and change or stop if necessary.
The fuel log will help you view fuel prices on the map and track fuel purchases by date and state. You can also conduct local searches for restaurants and fuel stops and you can choose the fastest, most efficient routes by checking mileages on different routes.
Final Thoughts
Global Positioning Systems have gone a long way in making travel easier and more productive, ease the minds of anxious vehicle owners and generally make life easier. To put it in the words of Ed Burnette when he was developing Google’s Mobile Development Platform, “Right now there are thirty-one satellites zipping around the world with nothing better to do than help you find your way to the grocery store.”