How can i find a tracker on my car

However, because of how GPS trackers work, there are several places on a vehicle where you should always look if you suspect that someone is monitoring your location with a GPS tracker. To look behind a bumper, we recommend you use a mirror on an extendable pole while illuminating the area with a flashlight.

Finally, carefully inspect under the hood. The easiest GPS trackers to find are those that plug directly into either the OBD data port behind the dashboard or the 12V cigarette lighter receptacle. These will likely be visible from the cab of the vehicle and will not require any special inspection techniques.

Electronic bug sweepers detect the presence of GPS and radio signals and can point you toward them, helping you find a GPS tracker in no time. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts.

Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Grab your flashlight and owner's manual. The cheapest trackers are fairly large magnetic boxes. Not all devices are this obvious, though. In some cases the only sign is an out of place wire. Unless you're very familiar with your car, keep the manual handy to stop yourself yanking out a vital part.

Check the undercarriage. Get on your back and shine your flashlight onto the underside of the car. Most trackers link to GPS satellites, and won't function deep under your car where metal blocks the connection.

If you see something odd, give it a light tug. Most tracking devices are magnetic and will detach easily. Check the gas tank first. Its large metal surface makes it an easy spot to attach a magnetic device.

Inspect the wheel well. Check under the plastic guard of each wheel well, especially if it feels loose or bent. Any tracker should be obvious here — your car did not come with any weird boxes in this location.

If someone had extended access to your vehicle, you could remove the tires and check behind them, but it's not too likely a location. If you do look there, be aware that some brakes have a wired sensor behind them that is supposed to be there. Check inside the bumpers. The front and rear bumpers are the last common exterior locations to place a cheap tracker.

A device under the front bumper may be wired to the car's electrical system. Always compare the wiring to the manual before you remove anything. Inspect the roof. This is only a feasible location in two scenarios. First, an SUV or other tall vehicle can host a device perched in plain sight.

Second, a sunroof can hide a small device inside the retraction slot. Leave the hood for last. The front of a car is a hot, solid metal box regularly inspected by the driver. This makes it a terrible spot for a tracker. It's not impossible, but the average jealous partner or paranoid neighbor is unlikely to try this.

Give it a quick glance and move on to the interior. Out of place wires to the car battery may lead to a tracking device. Compare the wiring to your manual's diagrams before jumping to conclusions. Part 2. Look inside upholstery. The stronger the signal, the brighter the LEDs get. As you walk around the car, pay attention to those lights.

Since most real-time tracking devices work while the car or tracker is in motion, have a partner slowly drive the car around while you scan the vehicle for a signal. If the tracker sends an update once every 10 seconds, you should notice a big spike in signal exactly every 10 seconds. Every tracker is different, so the interval could be set to every 15 seconds, 30 seconds, and so on. You can see how it would be difficult to find a tracker when you can only detect a signal once every 5 minutes!

However, the LM-8 also comes with a special lens that can find hidden cameras. Its RF detection range is only 20MHz - 6GHz, but it is more affordable and has the added benefit of the hidden camera finder. That makes it a perfect choice for people who are also concerned about hidden cameras.

Some of these devices can be hardwired and the mechanics usually know where such a GPS tracking device can be installed. Professionals such as these may be able to identify GPS tracking devices, in case you fail to find them and you still suspect that you may be subjected to spying.

Most trackers are battery-operated, instead of hardwired, so try to confirm no wires are attached to the unit. Otherwise you may want to have a mechanic take a look at it.

You may want to take the tracker to the authorities. They might be able to find out who put it there or take other action. Be sure to contact us at SpyGuy for any product inquiries, thoughts, opinions, or just to share your experiences.

Taxi companies want to properly conduct vehicle dispatch. Also called real-time GPS devices. Stalkers may seek to track the movements of their victims with GPS. They are compatible with smartphones and laptop computers. The limitation of most active tracking devices is that they need to be hard-wired into the vehicles they track to have a constant power supply. Passive GPS tracking devices A passive tracking device keeps a lot of the places your vehicle has been.

Passive data can be output as points on a grid. But the user must retrieve the device and connect it to a computer to find out where you have been. Diagnostic Port A good place to start is the diagnostic port inside your car. Simply unplug the tracking device from the port. The Underside of Your Vehicle Look for any suspicious boxes with or without antennas that attach to your car with a magnet or tape.

The fuel tank is a common spot for a person to hide a GPS device. Wheel Wells and Bumpers Inside the wheel wells and under the front and rear bumpers are also common hiding places for devices. Use your hands to extend your reach.