GPS trackers are small, inexpensive and can run for weeks on a battery, which makes them a common tool for tracking a person's movements. Here's how to check your car and what to do if you find one.
Signs your car may be tracked
- Someone knows where you've been or turns up where you are
- Someone else had access to your car or keys, such as an ex-partner, a valet or a repair shop
- Loose panels, new wiring or scratches near bumpers, wheel wells or under the dashboard
- An unfamiliar device plugged into the diagnostic (OBD-II) port under the dashboard
Where GPS trackers are usually hidden
Outside the car
Battery-powered trackers are often in a magnetic case attached to the metal frame: under the bumpers, inside the wheel wells, or along the underside of the car. Check with a flashlight, and feel along edges you can't see.
Inside the car
Wired trackers are often plugged into the OBD-II port or connected behind the dashboard, under the seats, in the trunk or near the spare tire. Look for anything plugged in that you don't recognize.
Phones, tags and apps
Small Bluetooth tags and shared location settings on phones or connected-car apps can also reveal where you go. Check your phone's alerts for unknown tags traveling with you, and review who can see your location in your car's app.
What to do if you find a tracker
- Don't remove it right away. Removing it alerts whoever placed it and may affect evidence.
- Photograph it in place and note where and when you found it.
- Speak with an attorney or law enforcement. Many states restrict installing a tracker on a vehicle you don't own without consent. This is general information, not legal advice.
- Get a full sweep. One tracker is sometimes paired with others, or with listening devices in a home.
Why a professional vehicle sweep finds more
Modern cars are full of electronics, so trackers can hide among factory wiring. A professional vehicle sweep combines a physical inspection of the exterior, interior and electronics with RF analysis that can detect trackers when they transmit. We also inspect boats and private aircraft.
This guide is general information, not legal advice.