How to Track Your Car Without Installing Anything
Most car trackers ask something of you before they work. Some are wired into the car's power supply, which usually means a trip to a workshop. Others plug into the car's diagnostic (OBD) port under the dashboard. If you simply want to know where your car is, whether it is the family car, a car you lend to a young driver, or one that sits in a car park for days, there is a simpler way: a small battery-powered GPS tracker that you just put in the car.
The short answer: use a GPS tracker that has its own battery and its own SIM card, place it somewhere in the car where it can still see the sky, and follow the car's location in an app on your phone. Nothing to install, nothing to wire, and you can move it to another car at any time.
Your three options at a glance
| Option | Installation | How it reports location | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wired or OBD tracker | Wired in, or plugged into the OBD port | Its own GPS and mobile connection | Powered by the car, but needs fitting and is tied to one vehicle |
| Bluetooth tag (such as AirTag) | None | Relies on nearby phones passing by | Cheap, but updates depend on who happens to be nearby |
| Battery GPS tracker with SIM (such as Tack GPS) | None | Its own GPS, Wi-Fi positioning and mobile connection | Reports on its own; needs charging, up to every 30 days |
How to track your car in five steps
1. Choose a tracker that covers where the car goes
A tracker with its own SIM only reports in countries where it has coverage. The Tack GPS Tracker roams in 31 countries across Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. If the car travels elsewhere in Asia, such as Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand, choose the Tack GPS Plus, which roams in 120+ countries. Check the coverage page before you buy.
2. Put it somewhere it can see the sky
GPS works best with a view of the sky, and metal gets in the way. Good spots inside the car include a door pocket, under a seat or in a seat-back pocket. Avoid places that are fully enclosed by metal, such as a closed boot. At 47 x 37 x 17 mm and 30 g, the tracker is about the size of a matchbox, so it fits almost anywhere.
3. Or fix it in place with a magnetic case
If you would rather the tracker stayed put, the Magnetic Wonder Case holds it in a robust case with two neodymium magnets that attach to a metal surface on the car. Still no wiring, drilling or tools. Choose a clean, flat metal surface that is not completely boxed in by metal.
4. Set up safe zones in the app
In the OurSphere app for iPhone and Android, draw safe zones around places like home, school or the office. You get an alert when the car arrives or leaves. You can also share a live location link with a family member so they can follow along without installing anything.
5. Pick how often it reports, then charge it monthly
How often the car's location updates depends on your Tack Cloud plan. On the Standard plan the tracker reports every 60 minutes in Standard mode, every 10 minutes in Active mode and every 2 minutes in Emergency mode, with 14 days of location history. Premium shortens those to 10 minutes, 5 minutes and 1 minute, with 90 days of history. The battery lasts up to 30 days per charge, and more frequent updates use more battery. Charge it over USB-C.
What a battery GPS tracker can and cannot do
- It can show the car's live location, alert you when it enters or leaves a safe zone, and keep a history of where it has been.
- It can move between cars, so one tracker can follow whichever car needs it.
- It cannot read speed, fuel level or engine data, because it is not connected to the car.
- It is not a theft-recovery service. If your car is stolen, contact the police and share the location information with them rather than trying to recover it yourself.
What it costs
Every Tack tracker comes with 30 days of Tack Cloud. After that, the subscription costs from US$3.75 per month on a one-year Standard plan, or as low as US$2.65 per month on a three-year plan. Premium starts from US$5.75 per month on a one-year plan, and you can switch from Standard to Premium later. There is no separate SIM card or mobile plan to arrange, and roaming data is included. Prices are shown in US dollars; your local price appears at checkout.
Common questions
Do I need a mechanic to fit it?
No. The tracker runs on its own battery, so there is nothing to wire or plug in. You place it in the car, or attach it with the Magnetic Wonder Case.
Will it drain my car battery?
No. It is not connected to the car at all. It uses its own 750 mAh rechargeable battery.
How accurate is it?
Outdoors with a clear view of the sky it is accurate to about 3 to 5 metres. In a covered car park it falls back to Wi-Fi positioning, typically 10 to 30 metres, or roughly 100 to 250 metres where only mobile network towers are in range.
Can I track a car I do not own?
Only track vehicles you own or have clear permission to track. Tracking someone else's car without their knowledge may be illegal where you live.
Get started
Pick the Tack GPS Tracker for cars that stay within its 31 countries, or the Tack GPS Plus for wider travel, and add the Magnetic Wonder Case if you want it fixed in place.
