Instructions apply to all modern consumer and commercial vehicles.
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.
Most GPS trackers are small, so don’t overlook hidden areas such as the trunk.
Be aware that some trackers only transmit when the vehicle is moving and sweepers can’t detect passive trackers.
Technicians specializing in automotive electronics, car audio, and car alarms often have the necessary expertise and equipment.
Using a flashlight, check inside both the front and rear wheel wells.
Someone may have loosened the liner to attach a magnetized tracker to the frame or body behind it.
Your flashlight and telescoping mirror will also come in handy in checking underneath the vehicle.
Trackers can also be hidden under, or inside, bumpers.
You’ll need a flashlight and mirror to perform a thorough inspection here as well.
In some cases, you’ll have to reach up and inside the bumper to feel around.
While trackers can be hidden inside the engine compartment, it isn’t common.
Trackers can also be hidden in seat pockets, between seats, behind sun visors, and elsewhere.
These devices can also be hidden in a trunk.
If you have a spare tire, remove and inspect it.
Since sweepers rely on detecting transmissions, they aren’t useful in finding passive GPS trackers.
However, they can be a great help in finding well-hidden active trackers.
That’s your cue to go over that area with a fine-toothed comb.
In some cases, you may run into a tracker that transmits only when the vehicle is moving.
The same is true of trackers that plug into acar diagnostic toolconnector or thecigarette lighter socket.
Cutting the wires may do the trick, although wires cut like that may short out in the future.
Why Use a Hidden GPS Tracker?
Like many other forms of technology, GPS trackers have both legitimate and less savory uses.
Law enforcement agencies often use these devices, with an appropriate warrant, as do private investigators.
FAQ
The most discreet car GPS trackers are battery-powered, so they can be installed virtually anywhere.
Others plug into the car’s cigarette lighter or onboard diagnostics (OBD-II) connector.
Law enforcement authorities must have a warrant to install one.
The options are many and range in price from about $25 to $100, depending on features.
Lifewire testers recommend theSpytec STI GL300MA GPS Trackeras an overall favorite.
