The safety of cars, people in them and their performance has increasingly become a topic of conversation. Many insurance companies have even chimed in offering discounts to those who use tracking based systems. These GPS vehicle trackers determine the location of a vehicle in the event of a theft. Features like this improve the chances of getting it back.
Whether you’re looking for personal interest or to lower insurance premiums, car tracking apps provide better knowledge of your car’s safety. With so many different features, it can be confusing to make a decision. We’re here to help to break down what the car tracker industry offers to help you navigate the landscape.
What are car tracker applications?
A car tracker app can be downloaded to your mobile device or accessible through the web. These applications are sometimes paired with a hardware device that tracks various elements of your car. The core function of all solutions though is the GPS location.
Beyond location, many offer speed, driving performance, and more. Another difference between many of these systems is the frequency in which they update the location. Some offer live tracking, some push updates on an interval basis, and others pass the information along after the fact. Depending on your use case the frequency of updates can greatly make a difference.
Many available applications require some external hardware (beyond your mobile phone) to pick up information. These hardware devices take the form of OBD dongles that plug into your car or GPS transmitters that sit in the cabin of your car. Others offer an exclusively mobile tracking ability leveraging the internal ability of your mobile device’s sensors.
With an app-only solution, some accuracy and data may be lost as a mobile device’s purpose is not tracking cars. These tracking solutions are only helpful when your phone is in the vehicle. This means when it comes to security they’re not likely the solution to pick.
Why would I need a tracker app?
By using a tracking system in your car, you can lower insurance premiums. If you live in an area often impacted by theft you might consider purchasing a tracking system that also acts as an anti-theft device. More advanced systems can even help catch a break-in suspect.
These systems are also incredibly beneficial for small businesses that have vehicles on the road. Their cost is heavily outweighed by their benefit time and time again. There is major value in knowing what employees are up to and whether their driving abilities are strong.
Things to consider when choosing a car GPS tracker
Price
When it comes to price GPS trackers can range greatly starting for as little as $25 and increasing up to $1000. Such a large range requires you to know what features you’re looking for and to set your budget.
Beyond upfront costs of the hardware or application, you may want to consider if you’re willing to commit to a monthly subscription. Many products require a service plan to function fully.
Be sure to also take a look at the terms of commitment for your selected solution. Some solutions require a contract while others operate monthly. Those providing month-to-month service allows users to cancel if they’re no longer in need of such services.
Features
If the only feature you’re looking for is tracking, the buying process should be pretty straightforward. If you’re looking for something more substantial, many solutions can provide a broad mix of features. Some of these features include diagnostic trouble codes, driving reports, route and driving history, security alerts, video footage, navigation, and more. Chances are unless you exclusively want to track your vehicles location, you’ll benefit from a more advanced solution.
Power supply
As we mentioned, there are three types of GPS tracking devices;
- Plugged into your car,
- Placed in the cabin, or
- Powered through an app on your phone.
When using a GPS tracking app, you’re reliant on the charge of your mobile device daily. It also only gathers information while you’re in the car and driving.
Beyond solely app-based trackers, solutions can either be battery-powered or plugged directly into the vehicle. Some fear that a tracker would drain their car battery while others would rather not think about battery life at all. This decision ultimately comes down to preference. It’s best to do your research and see what the solutions policy is.
Best Free Car Tracking Apps:
Google Maps
If you’re looking for the minimal amount of effort to track your car, Google Maps is it. Chances are you already have the app downloaded on your phone. A tracking app like Google is excellent if you’re concerned about forgetting where you’ve parked. It tags the location once parked automatically so that you can easily follow their well known navigation experience after leaving it for any duration. If you’re already using this app, you should start leveraging it for your vehicle.
Vehicle Manufacturer Apps
Many vehicle manufacturers have come out with their own mobile apps in recent years. While some connect and control their cars, including remote start or locking doors, many haven’t been terribly useful. However, there is one feature you might find useful: car tracking. If your car is new enough and the manufacturer offers a mobile app, chances are pretty good that you already have car tracking built into your vehicle.
If you are looking for a real-time GPS tracker with additional features, check out our smart car device, Raven Connected. It plugs directly into your car’s OBD II port and offers a complete connected solution with a mobile app. This solution includes live tracking, security alerts, dual cameras, vehicle diagnostics, navigation, Wi-Fi hotspot, driving history, and much more. It’s a clear stand out when it comes to any aftermarket tracking solution.
If you are looking for a real time GPS tracker with a few more features, check out our smart car device, Raven Connected. It plugs directly into your car’s OBD II port and offers a complete connected solution with a mobile app. This solution includes live tracking, security alerts, dual cameras, vehicle diagnostics, navigation, Wi-Fi hotspot, driving history, and much more. It’s a clear stand out when it comes to any aftermarket tracking solution.
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