Where To Place a Tracker on a Car When Monitoring a Vehicle

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Tracking devices are, hands down, the best way to identify lost and stolen vehicles and monitor drivers. These accessories use GPS to determine the exact location of a vehicle and the person driving it. However, the proper placement of a GPS tracker in a car can result in even more successful location insights.

But where should you place a tracker in your car? Under a seat? On the dash? On the front bumper? Or somewhere else entirely?

Knowing where to place a GPS tracking device in a vehicle can be tough. The tracker needs to be in a location to receive GPS signals with high accuracy and, in cases of covert tracking, a place where other people can't find it. In this guide from LandAirSea (LAS), learn where to place a tracker on a car so you can identify vehicle locations in real time.

How Do Vehicle Trackers Work?

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 triangulation to determine the location of someone or something to a great degree of accuracy.

When knowing where to place a tracker on a car, you can access GPS information about the vehicle from wherever you are in the world. Find out how long a vehicle takes to get to a destination, how many stops it makes along the way, and how much time it spends idle. The best GPS trackers, like those manufactured by LandAirSea (LAS), 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.

Take LandAirSea 54, for example. It's one of LAS' most popular products because it's waterproof and dustproof, making it a good fit for all kinds of vehicles. Manufactured in the U.S., LandAirSea 54 provides real-time geofence, speed, and InstaFence alerts when you place it inside a car. Its unique ShareSpot feature shares the device's location with family, friends, or colleagues through your desktop or smartphone. That means 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. Smaller vehicles have fewer "hiding spots" than trailers or larger cars; however, there are still plenty of opportunities to conceal your tracker without getting caught during covert operations.

Consider objects inside your vehicle that might affect the accuracy of GPS readings or the quality of GPS reception on your tracker. That includes things like car radio antenna masts or other in-built gadgets that use GPS. Like all GPS devices, an affordable LAS 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, plastic, and other materials. However, trackers sometimes struggle to receive signals when placed next to metal or concrete.

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. This process might take a little while, but you can improve GPS performance and get more value from your device. 

List of Best Locations To Place a Tracker on a Car 

Here are some of the best GPS placement locations:

Inside the Vehicle

• Rear Window Panel: Access the rear window panel through the trunk of the car and position your GPS tracker between the carpeted panel and support frame near the third brake light. The rear window panel is a discreet, safe place to keep your device for covert tracking, as it's unlikely the driver or passengers will check this area.
• Under the Dashboard: Placing your GPS device under the dashboard of a car can be a good idea; however, this location is not as discreet as the rear window panel. Also, consider any other GPS-enabled devices located on or near the dashboard that might affect your tracker's ability to receive high-quality GPS signals.
• Under the Seat: Positioning your tracker under the driver's or passenger's seat is one of the easiest ways to monitor a vehicle without getting noticed. Few people check under their seats, so this location provides peace of mind, as well as accurate GPS readings.
• Glove Box: The glove box in a vehicle is another great location to place your tracker. If the driver keeps lots of items in the glove box, such as car manuals, they will be unlikely to find your tracker if you position it at the back of the compartment. Even though the glove box will remain closed, a good-quality GPS tracker like the LandAirSea 54 will still be able to receive GPS signals from satellites and provide you with the location data you need.

Outside the Vehicle

• Undercarriage Steel Frame: 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, it's a bad idea to place the tracker directly behind the rear or front tires because of exposure to road debris.
• Inside Engine Compartment: Another great place to conceal a GPS tracker in a car is inside the engine compartment near the windshield wiper motor. You can attach your device to the plastic grate near the windshield and hood. LAS' trackers are waterproof and dustproof, so any liquid leakage or dust won't interfere with GPS readings.
• Bumper Frames and Brackets: Bumper frames and brackets, if made from steel, make valuable locations for GPS trackers. However, you should keep your device away from heat sources if placing it near the engine compartment.

Pro tip: The great thing about LAS surveillance trackers is that they come with industrial-strength magnets or adapter cables free of charge. That makes it simple to attach a device to almost any location in a car. LAS trackers can be much easier to connect to your vehicle than Apple Airtags, which require an additional adhesive.

Extra Tips for Where To Place a Tracker on a Car 

Here are some other tips for attaching a GPS tracker to your vehicle:

• Always place a tracking device on a clean, flat surface. Dirt and debris might interfere with GPS reception or make it difficult to attach a device to a surface, even when using magnets or adapter cables.
• As previously mentioned, always place your GPS device in a location where the driver (or passenger) can't see it if you are covert tracking. So don't place your tracker on the dash! 
• Take care when attaching your tracker to a magnetic mount, as 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 with a long-lasting battery. LandAirSea 54 devices, for example, come with batteries that last up to one year, which is one of the longest battery lives on the market. LandAirSea Overdrive has even more juice, with a battery that lasts for up to four years. If you don't want to bother with batteries, consider the LandAirSea SYNC, which plugs directly into your car's OBD II port. 

Why Choose a LAS GPS Tracker? 

Now you know where to place a GPS tracker in a car, consider a device made by LAS to improve location intelligence. LAS trackers offer these benefits:

• Protect vehicles and other assets from theft 
• Track driver performance and speeding behavior
• Receive geofence alerts, speed alerts, and arrival and departure notifications
• Share location insights with others via Sharespot technology
• View historical and real-time location information

LAS has manufactured surveillance products since 1994. The company prides itself on its excellent customer service and offers GPS devices up to 80% cheaper than similar products on the market. Other reasons to invest in GPS trackers from LAS include a money-back guarantee, simple device installation, online tutorials and guides, and a pay-as-you-go pricing model on selected models. Plus, there are no activation fees or hidden costs!

Where To Place a Tracker on a Car: Final Word

There are multiple places to place a tracker on a car vehicle if you want to monitor a vehicle and the people inside it. However, you'll get more accurate readings and location insights by following the tips above. LAS devices make this process even easier by providing adapters and cables free of charge or allowing you to plug your device directly into your OBD II port. 

Contact ian.conley@landairsea.com to learn more about GPS trackers, or order GPS products from LAS now!