If you require a quick answer, the best car tracker is the Carlock GPS Device, which is powered via your car’s OBD port and comes with a dedicated application for real time tracking. However, if you need a tracker that’s completely hidden, the DrivePro System is the better option as it connects to the car’s battery with just two wires.
To rate the car trackers within this article, we based our recommendations upon plenty of research and a number of factors. The factors that we considered included their type, subscription model, ease of installation, smartphone application, additional functionality, monitoring, warranty and value for money.
Best Car GPS Tracker Overview
- Best Overall: Carlock Real Time
- Best All-Rounder: AutoWiz OBD
- Best Hidden: DrivePro IO
- Best Magnetic: Winnes 5000
- Best Magnetic Runner-Up: Rewire Security 104-Pro
- Best Budget: Vodafone V-Multi
Tracking your personal, family or even company car is as easy as it has ever been due to the advancements in technology. By far the most popular form is with the use of an OBD port, which is able to provide plenty of additional data. However, for cars without an OBD2 port, the magnetic, standalone or hardwired alternatives are more than ideal.
Below is a list of the best car trackers that can be installed with ease and come with real time tracking via a website or smartphone application.
The Best Car Trackers
1. Best Overall: Carlock Real Time GPS Car Tracker
The Carlock brand specialize in car trackers and their OBD model is by far their most popular option. As long as your car has an OBD2 port, you are able to simply plug this tracker in and connect to the dedicated application in minutes.
Another great benefit of this particular tracker is that it actively monitors the health of your car and reports back in a similar fashion to an OBD2 scanner.
- Easy to install and use
- Dedicated application
- Monitors the car 24/7
- Engine start, vibration and other alerts
- Hard acceleration or cornering detection
- Route history tracking
- 30 day money back guarantee
- Expensive in the long run with a monthly subscription
The Carlock OBD Tracker is a highly rated device that’s easy to install and use via the dedicated application. Considering that most OBD ports are under the steering wheel, it’s also hidden out of sight, which is another great bonus.
2. Best All-Rounder: AutoWiz OBD GPS Tracker
Another highly rated OBD car tracker is by the AutoWiz brand and although it’s more expensive than the Carlock alternative, it does come with a 3 month free trial. According to the brand, the device is able to capture real time data every 3 seconds and the application updates every 15 seconds to reflect the refreshed data.
- Detailed tracking and instant data output
- Anti-theft alarm
- Monitors driving behaviour
- Vehicle care and information
- Easy to use application
- No monthly fee for the first three months (trial period)
The AutoWiz OBD Tracker is very similar to the Carlock alternative but the inflated price that covers the 3 month trial makes it one of the most expensive. However, with that being said, the monthly subscription is much cheaper in the long run, which means if you intend to use it all year round, it would end up as better value for the money.
3. Best Hidden: DrivePro Hidden GPS Tracker
If you need a car tracker that’s truly hidden and one that doesn’t involve having to constantly change the batteries, connecting it directly to the car’s battery is the best option. The DrivePro GPS Car Tracker is the perfect device for the job and it only requires two wires to be connected to the battery for it to be up and running.
- Tracking via the website or dedicated app
- Easy to install and comes with a 12 month service
- Supplied with a SIM card that works across Europe
- Easy to install with just two wires
- Driver behaviour reports
- Waterproof rated at IP65
- Dedicated application is very basic (hopefully the brand update it in the future)
Compared with similar priced car trackers, the DrivePro offers great value for the money. The fact that it can be installed and hidden by the car’s battery with ease are standout features that make it such a highly rated tracker for cars.
4. Best Magnetic: Winnes Magnetic Car Tracker
By far the most popular car tracker in the UK is this magnetic tracker by the Winnes brand. Unlike other cheaper alternatives, this device comes with 5 built-in magnets for maximum stability and a big capacity charger, which can last up to 90 days in its power saving mode.
- Real time tracking via the website or app
- History route playback
- Multiple alarm modes
- IP65 waterproof rated
- Position accuracy up to 5 metres
- Easy to install
- No monthly fee
- Battery isn't fast to charge to 100%
The Winnes Magnet Car Tracker is a well-made device that’s easy to setup and can also be used in various other applications. Although there are cheaper devices available, none offer the superior build quality of this particular tracker.
5. Best Magnetic Runner-Up: Rewire Security 104-Pro Car GPS Tracker
Another magnetic car tracker that provides “pay as you go” tracking is the Rewire Security device. It has a built-in battery that can provide up to 3 months battery life but it also comes with accessories to install it permanently if required.
- Cloud based live tracking
- Flat plate magnetic base
- Tracking via the website or app
- Supplied with a SIM card
- Push notifications and alarms
- Made in the UK
- Pay as you go subscription model
Although more expensive than the Winnes tracker above, the 104-Pro offers the desirable option for a permanent installation. It’s also manufactured in the UK by a brand well-known for their GPS and telematic devices. If it wasn’t for the fact that there is a monthly fee, we would’ve rated it as the best magnetic option within our roundup.
6. Best Budget: Vodafone V-Multi GPS Tracker
One of the cheapest car trackers that’s actually worth buying and is suitable for multiple applications is the Vodafone V-Multi Tracker. According to the brand, it’s as light as a toothbrush and can be hidden virtually anywhere inside of your car.
- Multi-use tracker
- Supplied with a range of accessories
- GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi tracking
- Dedicated SOS button
- Built-in SIM
- Water resistant up to 1 metre for 30 minutes
- Requires charging every three days
If you require a cheap car tracker for occasional use, the Vodafone V-Multi is more than ideal and can last up to 3 days between charging. Due to the small size, it can also be hidden fairly easily within the car too.
How We Rated The Car Trackers
In order to rate the car trackers within this article, we based our recommendations upon hours of research and a number of factors. The factors that we considered included their type, subscription model, ease of installation, smartphone application, additional functionality, monitoring, warranty and value for money.
Conclusion
Tracking your car provides a range of benefits from potential savings on your insurance policy to peace of mind that your car is safe. All of our recommendations above are suitable for every car or van in the UK and can be installed in minutes. It’s important to note that many of the trackers come with monthly or annual subscriptions, therefore it’s worth totalling up the costs before deciding which is the best car tracker for your requirements and budget.
