Vehicle Tracking Device: Keeping Your Car Safe

A vehicle tracking device keeps your car safer by reporting its location to your phone and alerting you when it moves outside a geofenced safe zone, which helps you recover it quickly after a theft and keep an eye on how it is being driven.

Vehicle tracking devices are installed or placed in a vehicle and used to track its location and movements. They are useful in cases of theft, because the tracking device tells the owner where the vehicle has gone. Vehicle tracking devices are available in many types and can be placed in different parts of a car.

For instance, they can be kept on the dashboard, in the glove compartment, in the boot or fitted under the bodywork. Some can also be integrated with a navigation system so that a user can see where their car is.

The primary benefits of having a vehicle tracking device

There are two primary benefits associated with using a vehicle tracking system: safety and convenience.

Safety benefit

The most obvious benefit of vehicle tracking devices is that they help you respond quickly if your car is taken. Vehicle tracking devices give drivers peace of mind, which is valuable when you consider how quickly a thief can gain access to a vehicle.

Convenience benefit

A second benefit of vehicle tracking devices is that they make everyday driving easier. Being able to see where your car is parked helps you find it in a large car park and keep an eye on how a shared family car is being used. If the car is taken, you also have location information you can pass to the police.

The pros of having a vehicle tracking device

A lot of drivers have family members who are new to driving. A tracking device on the household vehicles makes it easier to check in on a new driver and talk through their driving habits.

It also helps you keep track of your vehicle when you are not in it, so that you know sooner if it has been moved or taken.

Types of vehicle tracking device you can choose

There are two main types of vehicle tracking device you can buy: the GPS tracking system and the transponder system. We discuss each below and give an overview of their benefits and drawbacks.

GPS tracking system

The first type of vehicle tracking system is a GPS tracking system. It works out its position from satellite signals and reports that position over a cellular network, so you can see where the vehicle is from your phone. Because the location data is sent while the vehicle moves, you can respond faster if there is an emergency, a breakdown or a theft.

The advantage of this system is coverage. As long as the tracker has a cellular signal, you can follow a vehicle well beyond the range of any local radio system.

Transponder system

The second type of vehicle tracking system is a transponder-based system, which uses radio frequency signals to locate your vehicle. This system is less common than GPS tracking, largely because it has a much shorter range.

The drawback of this system is that it does not have nearly as much coverage as GPS-based systems. As a result, if you have several vehicles to track, it may not be the best option for you.

Size and functionality of the tracking device

Vehicle tracking devices come in different forms and sizes, from stickers to hard plastic tags to small, battery-operated sensors. Some devices are portable and some are permanently fitted. They are used for many different reasons and applications.

If you want a vehicle tracking device that helps keep your car safe, look for one that can alert you when it moves beyond a boundary you have set.

Tack GPS comes with geofencing and safe zones. You can create multiple boundaries, and you will receive alerts in the OurSphere app automatically when the tracker moves in and out of these zones.

Tack GPS has a compact form factor and is durable. With its ultrasonic welding and weatherproof design, Tack GPS is built to last.

Network connectivity

A vehicle tracking device works out its position from satellite signals, but it still needs a mobile network to send that position to you, so what matters is whether the countries you drive in are covered by the tracker's roaming.

With Tack GPS NB-IoT/Cat M1 connectivity, you get coverage in every country the built-in SIM has a roaming agreement with, and our hybrid tracking technology combines GPS with Wi-Fi positioning and cell-tower fallback so the tracker still reports indoors, for example in a basement car park. Expect roughly 3 to 5 m accuracy outdoors, 10 to 30 m indoors via Wi-Fi, and 100 to 250 m when only cellular positioning is available. The Tack GPS Tracker roams in 30+ countries and the Tack GPS Plus Global in 120+, listed on our coverage page.

Warranty of vehicle tracking devices

When it comes to vehicle tracking systems, one factor to consider is the warranty provided by the manufacturer, because each company offers its own terms.

Tack GPS is an independent GPS tracker with a SIM preinstalled for everyday use, and it comes with a manufacturer warranty. Check the product page for the current warranty terms.

Cost and battery life

Every manufacturer of vehicle tracking systems has a slightly different price range. The best way to find out what you will pay is to visit their website and look at the product page, which will also tell you what the device includes.

The Tack GPS Tracker is US$59.95 and the Tack GPS Plus Global is US$79.95, both with a SIM preinstalled and 30 days of Tack Cloud included. Unlike many other vehicle tracking solutions with pricey monthly subscription fees, Tack GPS has a low cost of ownership, with location service subscriptions starting from US$2.95/month on a two-year Standard plan.

Using a rechargeable battery with smart sensors that optimise power consumption, Tack GPS has a long battery life that lasts up to 30 days.

Tack GPS device

Find your peace of mind with the Tack GPS multi-purpose tracking device and its 30-day battery life.

Keep track of your vehicle in any of the countries your Tack tracker roams in. Click here to buy now.