How to Find a Tracker On Your Car (2024)

AirTags and their ilk do have limitations—mainly that they are passive devices. To update the location, a tracker needs to be near a compatible phone. If your car gets driven into the wilderness, these kinds of trackers won’t be any help. They also chirp when marked as lost by the owner or when they can’t connect to the owner’s phone for a certain period of time, which could alert thieves that they’re being digitally followed. Still, it’s good enough that some car insurance companies will offer a small policy discount for cars carrying an AirTag or similar tracker.

There are also GPS-based trackers that can report a vehicle’s location independent of a smartphone. GPS trackers usually require some kind of subscription and either need to be wired into the vehicle’s power or recharged regularly, because they are actively tracking GPS satellites and pushing location to a server on a regular basis. In addition to tracking a stolen car, these are also useful for monitoring driving habits of fleet vehicle drivers or teens, for example.

But what if someone puts a tracker on your car without your knowledge or consent? In December 2021, police in Canada’s York region reported five instances in which would-be thieves surreptitiously placed AirTags on cars in order to later break into and steal them after the owners drove home and left the vehicles unattended.

While troubling to think that a tracker could be used for nefarious reasons, the good news is that most trackers have precautions built in to discourage stalking. AirTags, for example, will emit a noise when separated from the owner after 8 to 24 hours, alerting anyone else to their presence. Apple phones will also alert you if you’re moving with a nearby AirTag that doesn’t belong to you. If you click on that notification, Apple’s Find My app will show you where you first picked up the unwanted tracker. To make sure you get notified, you must have location services and other settings enabled on your phone, and have Bluetooth turned on.

Android users can scan for nearby AirTags (and AirPods) if they download the Tracker Detect app in the Google Play store. Similarly, Tile has a feature in its iOS and Android apps called “Scan & Secure” that will help locate any nearby trackers that are moving with you. It does require downloading an extra app, but this feature works even if you don’t have a Tile device or account.

Soon, it will be easier to find nearby trackers. Earlier this year, Apple and Google announced a proposal to standardize tracking devices so that they can be monitored and discovered on multiple platforms, not just in their specific apps or phone operating systems, and several companies that sell trackers have already signed on to participate.

GPS trackers might not give themselves away as easily, although most battery-powered ones will make noise when they run low on power. And, once a GPS tracker runs out of juice, it stops tracking. They are also generally larger in size and harder to conceal.

If you are suspicious that someone has placed a tracker in your car, it doesn’t hurt to do a thorough inspection inside and out. Start with obvious places, such as the glove box, center console or cargo area. Then move on to areas like under the seats, seatback pockets or behind any carpet or trim panels that are easy to move. Check underneath the car and in the engine compartment as well.

If you think that you picked up the device by accident, the apps that alert you to the tracker can also help you notify the owner. You don’t need to return it in person, as you can leave the device almost anywhere for the owner to track and collect it.

If you find a tracker in your car or other belongings and suspect that someone is tracking you without your consent, the first thing to do is contact help and get to a safe location. Bear in mind if someone is tracking you they can likely see where you’re going, so use your best judgment on the safest course of action. For example, it might be more prudent to go to a public area and wait for police to meet you rather than go straight to a police station.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline, at 888-799-7233, also provides 24/7 support for people who believe they may be at risk.