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Where To Hide A GPS Tracker In A Car: Top 10 Best Hiding Spots
Discover the most effective and discreet places to install a GPS tracker in your vehicle. GPS trackers are essential tools for safeguarding assets, managing fleet operations, enhancing compliance, and monitoring vehicular movements efficiently. These devices leverage GPS technology to pinpoint the precise location of a vehicle and, by extension, its driver. Strategic placement of a GPS tracker can significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of location data.
Finding the ideal spot to place a GPS tracker in a car or any other vehicle is crucial. The chosen location must offer clear access to GPS signals for optimal tracking accuracy and remain hidden to ensure the device goes undetected in covert situations.
In this guide from LandAirSea, we'll show you where to place a tracker on a car for the best location accuracy. Knowing the right spot helps the GPS tracker work its best. At LandAirSea, we believe in using technology responsibly and legally. Make sure to follow all laws and guidelines when using GPS trackers, whether you're tracking a vehicle, something valuable, or someone's whereabouts.
Why Hide A GPS Tracker In A Car?
Individuals and businesses often have unique reasons for hiding GPS trackers in cars. However, there’s some overlap.
Private vehicle owners might want to put GPS trackers in cars to:
- Protect their assets from theft
- Monitor young drivers to ensure safe habits
- Improve personal security by letting trusted friends and family members track their locations
Businesses frequently use GPS trackers to:
- Manage fleets to find efficient routes and coordinate the activities of multiple vehicles
- Monitor employees for unwanted driving habits, unapproved routes, and unplanned stops
- Protect vehicles and assets from theft
- Inform customers when to expect deliveries
Is It Legal To Hide A GPS Tracker?
For the most part, it’s legal to hide a GPS tracker in any vehicle you own. If you’re a private citizen with a car, nothing prevents you from attaching a hidden GPS tracker. It’s your vehicle, so you can do as you please.
It can however get more complicated when businesses use GPS trackers in vehicles. Laws vary from state to state, so it’s important to talk to a lawyer familiar with the laws in your operating area.
Typically, businesses can install GPS trackers as long as they only track employees during work hours. If your employees take vehicles home after their shifts, it’s a good idea to stop monitoring them as soon as they clock out. Again, not every state requires this. Still, keeping employees informed about how you plan to use vehicle trackers can help build trust, so open communication is often a good idea.
In some cases, you must tell employees that you track vehicles in your fleet. Even if your state doesn’t require this, telling people you can track them might improve driving behaviors. When employees know you can monitor everything from location to speed, most will follow the rules to avoid negative repercussions.
Currently, the federal government has no laws about using GPS to track vehicles. Talk to a lawyer who knows your operating area’s laws. And if your vehicles cross state lines, make sure you conform to the laws of every state drivers enter.
How GPS Tracking Works?
GPS trackers have existed since the Cold War, when the military used them to track Soviet submarines. These accessories receive GPS signals from satellites orbiting Earth, relying on a process called ‘trilateration’ to determine the location of someone or something to a great degree of accuracy.
When you know where to place a tracker on a car, you can access GPS information about the vehicle from wherever you are in the world. You can find out how long a vehicle takes to get to a destination, how many stops it makes, and how much time it spends idle. The best GPS trackers let you access this information from your computer or smart device, so you don’t need to collect a tracker from a car to view its data.
Consider the LandAirSea 54, for example. This device is one of the most popular LandAirSea products because it is waterproof and dustproof, making it suitable for all kinds of vehicles. Designed and assembled in the USA, the LandAirSea 54 offers real-time geofence, speed, and InstaFence alerts. Its unique ShareSpot™ feature allows you to share the tracker's location with family, friends, or colleagues via your computer or smartphone. This means that everyone in your circle can access the same vehicle location insights as you.
Where To Place A Tracker On A Car
The best place for a GPS tracker on a car depends on the vehicle itself. While smaller vehicles have fewer “hiding spots” than trailers or larger cars, there are still plenty of opportunities to conceal your tracker without getting caught.
Consider objects inside a vehicle that might affect the accuracy of GPS readings or the quality of GPS reception on your tracker. That includes car radio antenna masts or other in-built gadgets that use GPS. Like all GPS devices, an affordable LandAirSea tracker works best when its receiver has as few obstructions as possible, allowing it to receive GPS signals from the sky.
Another consideration for placing a tracker on a car is the different materials inside a vehicle. Generally, GPS signals travel unobstructed through glass, rubber, fiberglass, cardboard, carpets, and plastic. However, trackers sometimes struggle to receive signals when surrounded by thick metal.
Pro-tip: If you have time, place your GPS tracker in several locations inside a vehicle to determine the best location. You might find that some areas of the car receive stronger GPS signals than others.
Top 10 Hiding Spots For A Hidden GPS Tracker On Your Car
Most vehicles have ample hiding places to keep a GPS tracker out of sight. Here are some of the best GPS placement locations for your personal and business vehicles:
1. Inside the Front Bumper
If made from steel, the front bumper frames and brackets are valuable locations for GPS tracking systems. If you place your device near the engine compartment, keep it away from heat sources that can cause performance issues for tracking solutions.
2. Under the Car’s Undercarriage
You can attach your vehicle tracking device to the undercarriage steel frame with magnets or adapter cables and receive location information about the driver’s whereabouts. However, placing the tracker directly behind the rear or front tires is a bad idea because it exposes the device to road debris.
3. Inside the Wheel Wells
Car manufacturers design wheel wells to take an exceptional amount of abuse. Their sturdy materials provide protective areas for the suspension, brakes, and other critical components. This also makes them excellent places to hide GPS trackers.
4. In the Glove Compartment
The glove compartment in a vehicle is another option to place a tracker on a car. If the driver keeps lots of items in the glove compartment, such as papers, they’ll be unlikely to find your tracker if you place it at the back of the compartment. Even though the glove compartment will remain closed, a good-quality hidden GPS will still be able to receive GPS signals from the sky and provide you with the location data you need.
5. Underneath the Seats
Placing a tracker under the driver’s or passenger’s seat is one of the easiest ways to monitor a vehicle without getting caught. Few people check under their seats, so this location provides peace of mind, as well as accurate GPS readings.
6. Behind the Dashboard
Placing a GPS device behind the dashboard of a car can be a good idea; however, this location isn’t as discrete as the rear window panel. You should also consider any other GPS-enabled devices located on or near the dashboard that might affect your tracker receiving high-quality GPS signals.
7. Inside the Trunk
A car’s trunk offers plenty of hiding places to keep your GPS tracker out of sight, such as under the carpeting, inside storage areas, behind access panels, etc. Also, it’s difficult to break into most trunks. If someone stole your car, they probably wouldn’t even look in the trunk—at least not until they reach a “chop shop” where they feel comfortable taking the vehicle’s pieces apart.
8. Inside the Rear Bumpers
A vehicle’s rear bumper has just as many places to hide GPS trackers as the front bumper. You can attach the tracker with a strong internal magnet depending on the bumper's material. Most LandAirSea trackers have strong internal magnets that attach securely to metal surfaces.
9. In the OBD-II Port
Your car’s OBD-II port probably has a prominent location, although some companies cover the ports with plastic shields. Regardless of how well a vehicle hides its OBD-II, it offers an advantage over other places to hide GPS trackers. Notably, a GPS tracker plugged into an OBD-II port will never run out of battery power. The GPS tracker can draw enough electricity to provide seamless location updates as long as the vehicle has power.
If this option appeals to you, check out the LandAirSea SYNC. Its discrete exterior keeps it hidden. Plus, its plug-and-play design makes it easy to connect the tracker and start tracking your vehicle in real time.
10. Under the Hood
Another great place to conceal a GPS tracker in a car is under the hood near the windshield wiper motor. You can attach one of these trackers to the plastic grate near the windshield and hood. LandAirSea devices are waterproof and dustproof, so any liquid leakage or dust won’t interfere with GPS readings. Make sure not to place it on or near excessive heat sources.
Other Tips For Where To Place A Tracker On A Car
Here are some other tips for GPS location placement in a vehicle:
- Always place a tracking device on a flat, clean surface. Dirt and debris might interfere with GPS reception or make attaching a device to a surface difficult, even when using magnets or adapter cables.
- As previously mentioned, always place your GPS device in a location where the driver (or passengers) can’t see it if you’re covert tracking.
- Take care when attaching your tracker to a magnetic mount; you can stress the battery and damage your device. When removing a tracker from a mount, tilt it slightly to the side before pulling it off.
If you plan to track a vehicle (or the person driving it) for an extended period, invest in a tracking device like the LandAirSea Overdrive that comes with one of the longest rechargeable battery lives on the market. For short tracking operations, consider the LandAirSea 54, which has a rechargeable battery that lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Ranked #1 on Amazon for GPS trackers, the LandAirSea 54 is one of the most popular devices of its kind on the market.
How To Detect A Hidden GPS Tracker
GPS trackers can give individuals and businesses more control over their vehicles. Unfortunately, some people use GPS for nefarious reasons.
High-tech stalking has become such a problem that several states have passed laws to address the issue. According to a recent bill introduced in Pennsylvania, criminals found guilty of using devices to secretly track others could face up to 90 days in jail. Other states are considering laws that would increase punishments for anyone found guilty of using electronic surveillance to stalk individuals.
Obviously, this is a scary situation. The good news is that people have options to protect themselves. You can start by inspecting your vehicle’s interior and exterior. If you don’t find anything — but want to take additional precautions — you can use GPS detectors to spot well-hidden devices.
Using A GPS Detector
The instructions for using a GPS detector — also called a bug detector — can differ slightly depending on your device. Generally, though, you can expect to get positive results from following these instructions:
- Choose a device that can detect several types of signals, including GPS, Bluetooth, and WiFi.
- Read the device’s owner's manual so you know how to operate it.
- Turn on the GPS detector and set it to the type of signal you want to detect, assuming your device can search for multiple signal types.
- Hold the device and slowly walk around your car, taking time to place the device in areas where criminals commonly hide GPS trackers.
- Use the device inside your vehicle, including under the hood and in the trunk.
If your device detects a signal, inspect the area carefully to locate the GPS tracker. At this point, you might want to remove the tracker or contact local authorities for advice.
Staying Aware Of Hidden GPS Trackers
GPS trackers are powerful tools that can provide peace of mind for both individuals and businesses. They help in managing assets effectively and ensuring safety. However, it’s important to use these devices responsibly and to be aware of their presence for both personal security and privacy.
Regular checks for any hidden GPS trackers in your vehicle can be a good practice, tailored to your needs and peace of mind. Such vigilance helps you stay proactive about your security without feeling overwhelmed.
Wrap-Up: Using GPS Trackers Effectively
In this guide, we’ve covered how to place GPS trackers in vehicles to ensure reliable performance while maintaining discretion. We also discussed the importance of following legal guidelines and using GPS trackers responsibly. Whether you’re safeguarding your car, managing a fleet, or monitoring valuable assets, understanding where to place a tracker can help you get the most accurate results. By using GPS technology wisely, you can enhance security and peace of mind for yourself and those you care about.
If you want more information on GPS trackers, contact LandAirSea, and a member of our friendly team will answer any questions you may have.