How to Track a Car with GPS: A Complete Guide to Real-Time Monitoring

Choosing the right GPS car tracker can transform how you monitor your vehicle, whether you’re looking for real-time updates, enhanced safety, or peace of mind. From versatile stand-alone trackers to integrated systems, this guide will help you navigate the best options to suit your needs and ensure you get the most out of GPS technology.

What Is GPS Car Tracking?

GPS car tracking uses satellite-based technology to monitor a vehicle's location in real-time. But it’s more than just pinpointing a spot on the map, it can provide turn-by-turn driving directions, monitor driving behaviors for safer journeys, and even assist law enforcement in recovering stolen vehicles. The specific features and capabilities you access will depend on the type of tracking device you choose, allowing you to tailor the solution to your unique needs.

5 Ways to Track a Car’s Location

There are several ways to track a car’s location. However, GPS car tracking offers the most precise option, especially when GPS devices have real-time tracking capabilities

Using a GPS Tracker Device

A stand-alone GPS device gives you a reliable, flexible way to track vehicles. A model like the LandAirSea 54 isn’t restricted to tracking a car. Thanks to its lightweight, compact design, you can attach it to practically anything you want to track.p>

The LandAirSea SYNC has the added advantage of plugging directly into a vehicle’s OBD-II port, so you never need to worry about recharging batteries.

Regardless of the model you choose, expect benefits like:

• Real-time location tracking
• Historical reporting for up to a year
• Geofence, InstaFence, and speed alerts
• ShareSpot, which lets you share location data with trusted people

Tracking Through Bluetooth or Tile Devices

While GPS devices use satellite signals to calculate locations, Bluetooth trackers like Tile or AirTags have limited ranges. Even Bluetooth devices developed for industrial applications have a 100-meter (about 300-foot) limitation. Tile-like devices have ranges closer to 10 meters (about 33 feet).

The limited range will significantly affect how, when, and where you can track a car’s location.

Built-In Vehicle Tracking Systems

Built-in vehicle tracking systems, sometimes called stolen vehicle recovery systems, are dedicated devices that only work in your car. They have some of the same benefits as GPS tracker devices. For example, most of them use a combination of satellite and LTE signals to improve location accuracy. Many also have features that send you alerts for speeding and other risky driving behaviors.

Since many of these systems are installed at manufacturing facilities, you don’t have much control over the features you get. Often, owners choose to forgo built-in systems so they can purchase GPS trackers that fit their needs better.

Smartphone Apps With Location Sharing

Since you already have a smartphone, you might assume using its GPS capabilities to track vehicles makes sense. Although convenient in some ways, relying on smartphone apps has some disadvantages.

For instance, they:

• Rarely offer the accuracy of stand-alone GPS trackers
• Only work when you have your smartphone in the vehicle (so they’re ineffective at asset recovery)
• Can eat into your data plan, so even free apps can become indirectly expensive

Insurance Company Tracking Devices

Insurance companies typically use GPS trackers to monitor driving behavior. If you follow safe driving habits, your insurance company might give you a discount. However, you won’t have access to the device’s features, so it’s largely ineffective for tracking personal vehicles.

How to Set Up GPS Tracking for Your Car

How you set up GPS tracking for your car will differ depending on the device you choose. Generally speaking, though, you can expect to:

• Activate the GPS tracker and give it time to start communicating with satellites
• Connect the GPS tracker with a compatible app
• Drive around for a few minutes so the tracker can start calculating its real-time location

Choosing the Right GPS Tracker for Your Car

You’ll find dozens of GPS trackers that might work for your car — hundreds, really, if you shop online. Which one is right for you?

Consider important factors like:

• Battery life
• Ease of use
• Available features (alerts, secure location sharing, etc.)
• Compatibility with your other devices, such as your computer or smartphone

Real-Time Car Monitoring: How Does It Work?

Real-time car monitoring requires a GPS device that can calculate and communicate its location frequently. LandAirSea trackers can transmit their locations every three seconds to three minutes depending on the subscription plan selected.

Remember that the more often the device updates its location, the more power it uses up in the battery.

Software also plays an important role in real-time monitoring. You’ll want software that can use location data to show you the vehicle’s speed and in what direction it’s moving. Wide gaps in location data will make it harder for software to show you a vehicle’s actual path. Think of it like making dots on a piece of paper. It’s easy to see a line when the dots are close together. If the dots are far apart, seeing the pattern becomes harder.

Benefits of Real-Time GPS Tracking for Personal Vehicles

Some benefits of real-time GPS tracking for personal vehicles include:

• Monitoring the activities of young drivers so you can encourage safety
• Getting accurate driving directions based on your location and current traffic patterns
• Potentially lower insurance rates and faster claims processing
• Helping law enforcement recover stolen vehicles

Advantages of Real-Time GPS Tracking for Businesses

You get many of the same benefits when you use real-time GPS tracking for businesses, although you will likely use them in different ways. Some of the advantages include:

• Helping law enforcement recover stolen assets
• Choosing the most efficient routes
• Monitoring the driving behaviors of employees
• Knowing whether drivers took approved routes
• Managing vehicles in large fleets

How to Monitor a Car Using a GPS Tracking App

Using a GPS tracking app to monitor a car is straightforward, provided you choose a reliable app designed for everyday users. Often, the GPS tracker communicate with a smartphone or web app, allowing you to track movements in real-time and receive alerts when needed. Keep in mind that if the GPS tracker relies on a mobile app, it will likely need a cellular signal to transmit location data effectively.

Setting Up Alerts and Notifications to Track a Car’s Location

How you set up alerts and notifications will depend on the device and apps you use. With a LandAirSea device connected to the SilverCloud app, you can create geofence, speed, and battery alerts.

Within the SilverCloud portal, click on the logo in the top left corner of the screen. Navigate to “SilverCloud Alerts” and select “Geofence Alerts.” Choose “Draw a New Geofence” and drag the boundary to match your preference. SilverCloud will message you via text or email when your device crosses the border you create.

Watch this video demonstration of how to set up alerts and notifications in SilverCloud.

Legal Considerations When Tracking a Car With GPS

You can generally track a car using GPS as long as you own the vehicle. However, laws vary from state to state.

Legal considerations typically affect businesses more than individuals. In some states, you must inform employees that you have GPS trackers installed in vehicles. You don’t necessarily need permission, but you need to inform them.

States with some of the strictest privacy laws only let you track your company vehicle during work hours. If employees take company vehicles home, you must stop monitoring them at the end of their shifts. Tracking cars outside of work hours could be seen as violating privacy.

Also, remember that you might need to follow laws enforced by more than one state. If, for example, you manage a fleet with vehicles that cross state borders, you’ll need to follow the laws of every state those vehicles enter.

It’s always a good idea for businesses to consult lawyers to avoid legal complications.

Keep in mind that you can’t attach a tracker to a vehicle you don’t own. In fact, electronic stalking has become such a problem that several states have enacted harsher penalties for anyone found guilty of tracking someone without consent.

Understanding Privacy Concerns

Meeting legal obligations is mandatory, but you should also consider addressing privacy concerns regardless of what your area’s law requires.

You may not have to inform employees that you can monitor their driving behaviors. However, telling them could help build a trusting relationship. It could also encourage them to drive safely because they know you have data about speeds, routes, etc.

Similar benefits could apply to your personal relationships. When you tell them you plan to use GPS car tracking, young drivers might get upset. A frank discussion about the enhanced safety of tracking could set them at ease.

Remember that most people value their privacy. If you want to track them, explain why it makes sense for them to give up a small piece of that privacy.

Troubleshooting Common GPS Car Tracking Issues

You might encounter some challenges when you track a car using GPS. Common issues include:

• Weak signals
• Inaccurate location data
• Inconsistent syncing with tracking apps

You can often solve these problems on your own.

Weak Signals

If you have a weak signal that makes it hard for your device to communicate with satellites and apps, try:

• Moving it to a place where it has a clear “line of sight” with the sky
• Placing it somewhere thick metal won’t interfere with the signal
• Turning off unnecessary electronic devices that might disrupt satellite and LTE signals

Inaccurate Location Data

If your GPS unit doesn’t track a car’s location correctly, try:

• Restarting the device and any apps it communicates with
• Updating any maps you have saved on your smartphone or computer
• Updating your software to get the latest version and remove unexpected incompatibilities

Inconsistent Syncing

If your GPS tracker isn’t syncing correctly with the apps you use, try:

• Updating your apps to ensure you have the most recent versions
• Consulting your owner’s manual to make sure the app is compatible with your tracker

How to Ensure Accurate GPS Tracking

Inaccurate data can severely reduce your GPS tracker’s effectiveness. To ensure accurate GPS tracking, make sure you:

• Properly install the tracker (different models, even from the same manufacturer, could have unique installation instructions)
• Give the GPS tracker a clear line of sight with satellites
• Update software so you have the latest version

Unlock the Full Potential of GPS Car Tracking

GPS car tracking is more than just a tool, it's a game-changer for safety, efficiency, and peace of mind. From ensuring your teen is driving safely to optimizing routes for your business fleet, the right GPS tracker offers unmatched reliability and control. With real-time location updates, instant alerts, and advanced features, you can protect what matters most.

Ready to elevate your tracking experience? We can help!

If you want more information on GPS trackers, contact LandAirSea, and a member of our friendly team will answer any questions you may have.