How to Detect If A GPS Tracker Is Placed In Your Vehicle? (2024)

In today’s fast-paced era, we often need to be assured about the security of our near ones and their valuable things.

For that, the solution is to install a GPS tracking system that gives you the security assurance.

But sometimes, a tracking device can be used to keep tabs on a person’s location without their information. But how would you know if anyone is using these devices to track your vehicle without your concern?

Here, we have put some points to help you do a self-inspection for locating a GPS tracker in your vehicle.

How to Detect If A GPS Tracker Is Placed In Your Vehicle? (1)

1.Inspect the Exterior of the Vehicle

Check the wheels. Carefully check the wheels on both the sides of the vehicle. Use your hands to inspect the invisible area. Also, look behind the plastic covers that you can’t remove from the vehicle.

Look below the vehicle. You can even use the reflection of the mirror to check the areas. The beneath area usually gets dirty, and if the tracker is present there, it may get skipped from your eyes due to the layer of dust on it. So, be cautious while searching for the GPS tracker.

Look behind the bumpers. Most bumpers don’t have enough space to hide a tracking device. But it can be the safest spot if the small area is found within it.

Check under the bonnet. Lift the bonnet and search for the tracker fixed to the firewall, the strut bar, behind the radiator, hidden among the air ducts or batteries. However, the possibility of a tracker placed under the bonnet is less as it may get exposed to the higher temperature resulting in damage of electric components.

2.Inspect the Interior

Check the data port. Some trackers are facile and can be plugged straight into the data port below the dashboard of the driver’s side. Check if there’s a small box attached to the data port. If it’s present, you can easily remove it.

Search in the trunk. The storage compartment of your car is what you could miss while searching for a tracker. If the tracker is inside the truck, you could find it hidden beneath any spare tire or any small space inside it.

Don’t miss any seat. Thoroughly look for anything that you find misplaced in your car, whether it’s a small wireless electric module or a wired component. Move the car seats and look underneath. Also, check the edge of the seat covers that may hide the tracker.

Examine the area beneath the dashboard. In most of the models, you can detach the glovebox compartment including the panel under the steering wheel.

Check if there’s a loose wire that isn’t tied to other cables and use your hand below the dashboard to locate an antenna if that’s been taped on it.

3.Use a Bug Sweeper

Electronic bug sweepers are used for detecting electromagnetic signals similar to mobile phones and radio transmitters. If you don’t find any GPS tracker through manual inspection, you can use bug sweepers to find well-hidden active trackers, if any.

What Next?

In case you don’t find any GPS vehicle tracking device even after trying the above ways, but you are still suspicious that something is going on, in reality, there is only one thing. Bring someone else to check the vehicle. Car alarm installers can help you with what you’re looking for.

Find a trustworthy installer and call them up. Most of the time, these professionals are beneficial because of their vast experience with the issue. They know what the devices need and where those could be possibly located.

If the installers find a hidden GPS tracker, removing it is secure and easy. As most of the trackers are operated through a battery, those won’t be wired to your vehicle.

If there are no attached wires, you can disconnect the device without any hassle. In case the tracker is tied or taped, you need to attentively cut it loose without damaging any wiring in the vehicle or its components. If the device is magnetic, you can gently pull it to remove.

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How to Detect If A GPS Tracker Is Placed In Your Vehicle? (2)
How to Detect If A GPS Tracker Is Placed In Your Vehicle? (2024)

FAQs

How to Detect If A GPS Tracker Is Placed In Your Vehicle? ›

One way to find a GPS tracker is to use a bug detector that can scan both the inside and outside of a vehicle. It is also possible to physically detect a GPS tracker in known locations, such as in the OBD port, under the backseat or underneath the car.

How do I detect a GPS tracking device on my car? ›

Perform an exterior inspection: Use a flashlight and mirror to check areas like the wheel wells and under the vehicle. Most trackers are hidden in easy-to-reach locations. The tracker may be dirty and difficult to see. Perform an interior inspection: Check the data port first.

Can a cell phone detect a GPS tracker? ›

An unknown tracker alert is sent when someone else's tracker device is separated from them and if your Android phone detects the tracker is traveling with you and out of Bluetooth range from the owner. The notification alerts you to the tracker and tells you how to find it and what to do next.

Is there an app that can detect a tracking device on a car? ›

tracker detect on the App Store.

How do I know if my car has been fitted with a tracker? ›

First thing is to check the body of your car mainly the underside for any magnetic stuff. These could be holding a tracker onto the car. Another way is to check on the car battery. Any additional wires around the battery call for your wire chasing.

How to tell if someone is tracking you? ›

10 Signs to Tell If Your Phone Is Being Tracked
  1. Unknown Apps Installed on Your Phone. ...
  2. Your Phone Gets Overheated. ...
  3. Higher Data Usage. ...
  4. Increased Battery Consumption. ...
  5. Your Phone Is Jailbroken or Rooted. ...
  6. Sudden Performance Deterioration. ...
  7. Unusual and Peculiar Permission Requests. ...
  8. Unusual Noise During Calls.

How to find out if you have a tracking device in your body? ›

The best way to check for an implant would be to have an X-ray performed. RFID transponders have metal antennas that would show up in an X-ray. You could also look for a scar on the skin. Because the needle used to inject the transponder under the skin would be quite large, it would leave a small but noticeable scar.

Can someone track you if your GPS is off? ›

A device that is infected with malware or spyware can track your location even if your location settings are turned off. Malware can also record your online activities, allow cybercriminals to steal personal information, or slow down your operating system.

Is my car tracking me? ›

The average vehicle nowadays has over 1,400 microchips in it. Because your car is connected, it can also collect a lot of data about you. Your car is like your phone, computer or tablet now — always listening. Here's what you need to know and how to stop this privacy invasion.

Can my car be tracked without me knowing? ›

Most of the trackers are added by the owner, but any person can equip a vehicle with such a device without the knowledge or consent of the owner.

What type of signal does a GPS tracker use? ›

When a GPS tracker receives location information from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), it is receiving microwave signals containing location, speed, time, and direction information.

Is there an app that can detect a phone? ›

Nearby Device Detector is advanced network tooling that can help you search for suspicious devices in your network and fetch device's details and protect your privacy to make sure you're in a safe environment. It's easy to use and can be applied to detect hotels, bathrooms, public places, etc.

What does a car GPS tracker look like? ›

Curious about their appearance? GPS trackers often resemble small boxes with antennas or magnetic casings.

How do you tell if your car is bugged? ›

How to Tell If Your Car Is Bugged
  1. Signs Your Car Might Be Bugged. ...
  2. Checking for Bugs and Trackers. ...
  3. Strange Noises and Buzzing Sounds. ...
  4. Inspecting the Interior and Exterior of Your Car. ...
  5. Looking for Wires. ...
  6. Looking for Out of Place Everyday Items. ...
  7. Checking Under the Hood and Behind Your Radio. ...
  8. Checking the Data Port.

Can you track a vehicle that has GPS? ›

Tracking a vehicle with GPS can help provide real-time or historic navigation data no matter the journey. Even if the satellite signals get blocked, the GPS tracker can use cell tower signals to estimate the vehicle's location instead.

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