GPS tracking protects vehicles against theft and boosts the likelihood of recovery. In today's era, most cars are fitted with GPS devices. But if an owner's new car isn't fitted with this device, they don't need to worry as it is not mandated by the law to have GPS in cars. Still, car owners can benefit much from GPS.
Places to check include under the seats, in the rear pockets of the front seats (if they have them), in or behind the glove box. It might sound like looking for a piece of hay in a stack full of needles, but remember you're looking for a suspicious looking box, often with wires coming out of it.
GPS technology tracks the vehicle's location, speed, and other data points in cars. This can be useful for various reasons, including fleet management, theft prevention, and safety monitoring. While GPS trackers are becoming more common in new cars, not all vehicles come equipped with this technology.
Most of the trackers are added by the owner, but any person can equip a vehicle with such a device without the knowledge or consent of the owner. If you suspect that your vehicle has been outfitted with a GPS tracker without your knowledge, there are some simple steps to take to determine whether you are being tracked.
GPS navigation for vehicles began officially in 2001 from private companies due to the growing technology and shrinking receiver size, which in turn brought about personal navigation devices inside civilian vehicles such as Garvin and TomTom.
In the current era, most new cars come with a pre-installed GPS. Still, a new car owner can remove their GPS if they don't like it. According to research, approximately 78 million vehicles have GPS systems, and approximately 98% of cars will have them within the next five years.
It will typically look like a small box with a magnetic side. It may or may not have an antenna or a light on it. It will be small, usually three to four inches long, two inches wide and an inch or so thick. Be sure you have a flashlight for peeking into dark spaces in your car.
If you want to know, “Can you track a car without GPS.” Yes, you can use your smartphone to track your car's location. There are several apps available that can do this, such as Glympse and Find My Phone. These apps work by using the GPS on your phone to track your car's location.
With your active Safety Connect® subscription and the police case number, Toyota Safety Connect® will initiate tracking of your vehicle and report the location to the police.
If you purchased your vehicle new from an authorized dealer, then NO, your vehicle most likely does not have any aftermarket tracking devices installed.
You can rest assured that your car has a factory-fitted immobiliser if it was manufactured after October 1998. However, if your car was made before that date and you want to check if it has an immobiliser, the easiest way to check is to contact your car's manufacturer or consult your owner's manual.
Is there an app that can detect a GPS tracker? Yes, there are many apps that can detect if a GPS tracker has been installed on your cell phone. If you have an Android phone you can download Certo Mobile Security for free from the Play Store and quickly scan your phone for GPS tracking apps and other malware.
To opt-out, you must contact us (1) by calling (800) 331-4331, (2) via the Toyota app, or (3) by replying “STOP” to such text communications.
So can a GPS tracker be blocked? Yes, the GPS signals can be blocked by wet trees, aluminum foil, plastic containers, or even a tin box filled with thick materials can block GPS signals.
You can place the trackers inside the dashboard, usually below the steering wheel. If you use your car regularly, then this is the best place to hide, as many people don't know about this space. To hide it under the steering wheel, you have to make sure that the GPS tracker is small and hardwired.
If you want to remove a hardwired GPS tracker from a car, the best option is to ask your local auto repair mechanic to help you out. They will ensure that the tracker is uninstalled properly and is viable for further use.
GPS trackers for vehicles use satellite navigation data to provide real-time information about your car's location, speed, direction, and distance. Personal vehicle tracking benefits include theft protection, improving teen driver safety, and insurance discounts.
Typically, the information provided by GPS trackers is accurate to within three meters. However, any obstruction on the line of sight between the device and the sky can affect the accuracy of the location data it transmits, such as tall buildings, bridges, tunnels, or dense forests.
Semiconductor chips are essential components in modern cars and their use is only expected to increase in the future. The ongoing global chip shortage has significantly impacted car production and automakers are taking various measures to address this issue.
Most modern cars have a dash light that indicates that the anti-theft system has been triggered. The icon for the anti-theft system looks like a car and a lock combination. When this light is on and flashing (it will be either or blue), it will indicate that your car's anti-theft system is activated.