Best GPS Tracker for Car (No Monthly Fee)

A GPS Tracker Device for your car can be great for security and peace of mind.

Let’s say you’ve bought a car for a family member, and you want to know where they are in case of an emergency, or you run a fleet of vehicles that needs to keep track of those vehicles 24/7.

If you want to monitor a car or see where it has been—be it your own, a loved one’s, or a company vehicle—a GPS Tracker for your car is what you need.

In this article, we’re going to help you learn all about GPS Tracking for cars, which devices are best, and why it’s important to use one for your own car.

We’ll also provide some things to consider like, best hidden installation locations, and important features when choosing the best vehicle tracking device.

Lastly, we’ll introduce you to one of, if not, the Best Car GPS Tracker with No Monthly Fee on the market!

Are you looking for a 4G GPS Tracking device for your Vehicle?

How about one that can be 12v hardwired, and has No Monthly Fees.

7 Reasons to Use a GPS Tracker for Car

#1: Security, Anti-Theft

Having a GPS tracker will provide security, and peace of mind since the car’s location can be monitored at any time. So, if your car is stolen, you can get an alert and track its location.

Some GPS tracking devices boast advanced features like an automatic alert to the nearest police station contingent upon an accident or built-in access to emergency help. This is particularly helpful for rental vehicle businesses as their passengers will feel more confident knowing the car is being monitored.

#2: Improves Workforce Productivity

Commercial Vehicles can use GPS trackers to allow the business owners to effectively monitor routes, and personnel, reduce idle time, better scheduling, thereby improving productivity.

#3: Lowers Carbon Footprint

A GPS tracker for a car gives you information on the best and shortest route, saving on your fuel consumption. Also, taking shorter routes is a great way to minimize carbon emissions. And not just that, automated reports will further save paper, meaning you’re saving the trees as well.

#4: Happy Customers

Car GPS trackers offer delivery tracking in real-time, providing detailed information about the exact location of the delivery truck. This data can be used to provide clients an estimated time of arrival of their stuff. Sharing this data will certainly satisfy your customers and make them want to use your service again in the future.

#5: Saves Money, No Monthly Fee or Yearly Fee

Other GPS trackers have monthly fees or say they have no monthly fees, but have a yearly renewal fee or subscription. This is deceiving because if you divide a yearly fee by 12, you get your monthly fee.

If they truly have no monthly fee, then they are just a GPS logger, offering no real-time capability.

You can also give your client appropriate billing information.

Lower insurance cost, some insurance agencies provide a discount of 25% or more if your car has a tracking device installed. To lower the cost even more, consider getting a credit for having a front and rear dash cam.

#6: Helps Secure Your Assets

A vehicle GPS tracker will help prevent thieves from driving away with your stuff.

If your car, truck, or trailer is equipped with a GPS tracker, you may be able to locate and recover your items in case of theft.

#7: Improves Communication

A GPS vehicle tracking system logs data on your car’s arrival and departure time at particular places, so there is no need to call the driver or the office that the given task is completed, which reduces costs on phone bills and other administrative operations.

Setting up a vehicle tracker on your fleet offers several benefits. Reports generated by the tracker will help you evaluate the attendance and performance of your employees. No more needless overtime just because an employee got lost and it took them forever to deliver the goods.

Have an Old Cell Phone? They are Great GPS Trackers!

You can use an old cell phone or even get a used one and with a $5 /mo data plan turn a cell phone into a great real-time 12v GPS tracker for your car. You can even hardwire it in the vehicle for a permanent solution.

This makes it one of the cheapest ways to track a car.

Cell phones are even better than traditional GPS trackers because they can perform well when mounted almost anywhere in the vehicle, whereas smaller GPS trackers need to be mounted in certain parts of the car to get the GPS signal.

See more about how to track a car with cell phone.

Best Hardwired GPS Tracker for Car

A hardwired GPS tracker is great for your vehicle because there is no need to change batteries, and you can install it in a permanent location and get the best performance.

One of the best options to hardwire a GPS tracker in a car is a cell phone. If you have an old phone, then you don’t have to spend money.

All you would need is a cheap $5 data plan, see details on how to hardwire a phone GPS tracker.

You can install it and forget about it. Then follow your vehicle’s location and its previous tracks from the free Trakkit App or desktop browser.

A simple 2-wire connection can be routed directly to the 12-volt battery terminals, or tapped into the fuse panel usually on the driver’s side.

Real-time Vehicle Tracking without Monthly Fees

No one wants to pay monthly fees for using a vehicle GPS tracking device. Most trackers say they include 1 year of service, then you need to pay a fee to “recharge” the sim card for the next year.

This can be a headache and expense that you may not want, and it adds up if you need to track more than one vehicle.

In addition, the Trakkit GPS tracker can record or log the routes taken by the vehicle and automatically upload the data when it returns home.

The data recorded includes time, location, speed, heading, and voltage. The voltage can also allow for monitoring the vehicle battery and Engine-On hours or run-time, allowing for preventative maintenance (with optional power cable).

Best GPS Tracking Device for Trucks and Heavy Equipment

Trakkit is perfect for GPS tracking of Trucks, Vans, Fleets, even Heavy Equipment, and Vehicles of all sizes.

In the picture shown above, you can see the GPS tracker and the waterproof, magnetic case attached to the metal frame just in front of the radiator of a heavy-duty tractor truck.

The Power Cable can then be routed along the metal bracket and connected to the battery bridge terminal on the passenger side of the truck above the wheel well.

In some cars or trucks, if the brackets in front of the radiator are aluminum, then just flip the magnetic case upside down and use industrial velcro or wire ties to attach.

There are many advantages to a GPS tracking system for your vehicle. We have shown you one of the better ones that don’t require a monthly fee.

As a Heavy Equipment GPS Tracker, you can use Trakkit to Log/Record where your equipment has traveled and for how long. For example, you get billed for work done in certain areas, so you want to be sure the equipment has covered that area that you are billed for.

These Logs could then be automatically uploaded, via WiFi, to your account and viewed on the map, or you could even retrieve the Logs in the field by using your phone’s mobile hotspot.

Monitor All Your Vehicles on One Account

See all your vehicles and monitor the logs, and even set Alerts and Geo-Fence
for each vehicle. Also, each vehicle GPS tracking device you install can be viewed from the same account.

Use a desktop browser or cell phone to manage your GPS tracking devices for each vehicle.

Important Features of a GPS Tracker

#1: GPS Logging (Stealth) vs. GPS Tracking (Real-Time)

Passive GPS trackers (GPS Loggers) store data in the unit itself. This data can be uploaded automatically or retrieved once the car returns home.

On the other hand, a real-time GPS car tracker transmits its location immediately (when a signal is available), but may not always have a signal in some areas.

It’s best to choose a GPS tracker that does both Logging and Real-time Tracking.

#2: Low Cost (No Subscription)

The expenses included in passive and real-time GPS solutions are almost identical. Although many assume the costs of real-time vehicle GPS tracking are higher compared to passive solutions, with enhanced infrastructure and technology, the costs of these devices have reduced dramatically.

However, almost all GPS Trackers have a monthly or yearly cost. See below for a GPS tracker without subscription or monthly fees.

#3: Access Control and User Management

If you own a fleet vehicle, working on access control, user management, and commercial end are essential features of car management in your everyday business activities. With these nifty features, you can make additions and modifications to each user profile.

Furthermore, you can control your access privileges via roles. You can assign one or multiple roles to a user. On top of that, you can categorize specific users into a group and view data related to the entire group.

#4: Notifications & Alerts

Real-time alerts and notifications are critical, and this is possible with all GPS trackers. These devices allow anyone to track cars 24/7.

#5: Accidents

When it comes to accidents, a GPS Tracker may record information such as the car’s speed, direction, and time as well as transmit in real-time the last known location.

#6: Easy Installation

When choosing a GPS tracker for your vehicle, you should consider the ease of installation and maintenance. Your device should be handy and installed beneath your car’s dashboard, under a seat, or in the trunk.

There are four comprehensive types of GPS: Portable Outdoor GPS, Marine GPS, Car Navigation GPS, and the GPS/PDA hybrid. Opt for the standard GPS tracker that can be easily installed, is small, and lightweight.

If you are considering buying a GPS tracker, take these considerations into account. To ensure the safety and security of your possessions, choose a car tracking GPS device that meets all the above-mentioned criteria.

The next step is to help you find the Best GPS Tracker for Car in 2023. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into it.

Trakkit™: Why Trakkit is the Best GPS Tracker

Hidden GPS Tracker for Car (No Monthly Fee)

Trakkit is one of the few Car GPS Trackers with no monthly fee or yearly subscription renewal. It offers an innovative tracking solution for all types of vehicles, like commercial vehicles.

It uses Wi-Fi rather than Cellular for GPS Tracking and includes motion detection and alerts.
See how the Trakkit WiFi GPS Tracker works.

Best Locations to Hide a Vehicle Tracking Device

Most GPS Trackers need to be installed in a hidden location, but not all hidden locations are good places to install a GPS Tracker.

Let’s take a look at popular locations to install a GPS Tracking Device.

1. Under the Dash. This is a great location however, the install time and expense are considerable because you need to take parts of your dash apart or hire a professional.
   You would need to hardwire the Tracker unless you want to dig under your dash just to change the batteries.
   
2. In the Trunk. This is a good location, but may easily be discovered, and is difficult to hard-wire since there are no 12-volt wires to connect to. Be careful as the heat inside the trunk can damage the lithium batteries used by all GPS Trackers.
   
3. Outside the car in a wheel well. You can use a magnetic case and attach it to the inside wheel well, without having access to the inside of the car.
   
4. In Front of the Radiator. This is one of the best hidden locations for Trakkit GPS, since it offers the best performance, and is easy to install.
   Also, no one will easily suspect a tracker in front of the radiator, and the ability to hard-wire is easy because the battery terminals or fuse box are close by.
   This also keeps the internal batteries of the GPS from being exposed to the extreme heat inside the car or trunk.
   
   Because of its small size, (only 2.25″L x 1.3″W x .75″H), Trakkit is very easy to conceal, this makes Trakkit the best hidden GPS tracker for a car.

Front of Radiator Installation

Most vehicles have radiators, and we’ve found it is the best location for our tracker, for a few reasons:

Easy to Install

Most other trackers require you to install the tracker in your dash which means taking the inside of your car apart or having to hire someone to help. You can install it standing up, no need to crawl underneath the vehicle or under the dash.

By installing in front of the radiator, you may only need to lift the cover plate or facia grill to attach the tracker, with a magnetic case, to the braces that run in front of the car’s radiator.

Performance

We have tested many locations and the performance is the best for our tracker when installed in the front area of the vehicle. Other locations, such as inside taillight might also be used.

Concealment

We discovered this location by accident when we noticed the support braces around the front of the radiator are perfect to attach the magnetic tracker case to. So, we tried it and saw great results.

Not many people realize a tracker can be in front of the radiator area. So, this makes it perfect as a hidden location for your tracker.

How Trakkit GPS Communicates

Trakkit receives GPS satellite signals to pinpoint the location, then communicates or transmits that location over WiFi.

Since most GPS trackers are capable of broadcasting “real-time location” using the same technology your phone does to make a call or connect to the internet, they require a monthly subscription fee.

WiFi Enabled GPS Tracker (No Sim, No Cellular)

Trakkit is a true WiFi GPS Tracker, which can also track your location in real-time using WiFi Location Tracking methods even if GPS signals are not available.

You can also upload logged information and data to the cloud over Mobile Hotspot or Wi-Fi connection (faster).

You can Track a Car without GPS

There are a few ways to track a car without using a GPS:

• A radio signal transmitter requires special equipment for both the tracker and receiver.
• Cellular signals will work too, but only give a broad area location, maybe a mile or two, and uses more battery than other methods.
• Trakkit also uses WiFi location based on the location of the router that is closest and can track a car wherever wifi exists (which is just about everywhere).

Trakkit allows you to track a car even without GPS, using WiFi only, in case the GPS signal is lost or jammed.

Trakkit™ GPS Features:

• Real-time Tracking and Data Logging of GPS Location
• Hardwired – Trakkit can be hardwired and offers a permanent install.
• Hidden – small enough to be hidden in most areas of a vehicle
• Easy Install – don’t take your dash apart, Trakkit can go under the hood
• No Monthly Fee – Trakkit has no monthly fees or yearly subscriptions
• Battery Backup – internal battery backup is necessary in case the vehicle battery dies or is disconnected.
• Non-Rechargeable Batteries – you can replace the batteries immediately, no need to re-charge

Specifications:

• GPS Logging/Tracking, Motion detection, and Alerts
• Automatically uploads log data to your office/home Wi-Fi
• Long battery life (lasts for months)
• Runs on 2 Energizer AAA Lithium Batteries (pre-installed)
• Optional micro USB power cable for maximum performance and permanent install
• Works without Cell Service or SIM card
• Best Hidden GPS Tracker for Car with No Monthly Fees.

For Parents (Kids Backpacks):

• Better security for your children
• Small enough to put in your kid’s backpack
• Works as a Personal GPS Tracking Device, Hiking, etc.

For Travelers (Suitcase and Luggage):

• Put one in your Suitcase or Luggage
• Trakkit will find your bag outside the country
• Works in any region as GPS and Wi-Fi are Global standards
• The Proximity feature of the app helps you locate your travel bag at the airport terminal

For Motorcycles and Bikes:

• Conceal it on your Motorcycle or Bike
• Automatically connects to your Mobile Hotspot or Wi-Fi to send an alert if the bike moves
• If your bike gets stolen, Trakkit will send you its current location

Access from Anywhere

The Trakkit App for iOS and Android connects to your Trakkit GPS device via Wi-Fi and the internet. You can also access your Trakkit from web browsers.

Trakkit gives you Alerts on location changes or vibration/movement. It provides the last location of your device, can auto-upload GPS logs using your smartphone’s Wi-Fi or hotspot, and sends auto-alert to the Trakkit™ community if the device gets stolen.

You can further set a geo-fence zone to define the safe or regular area. This way, whenever your Trakkit moves outside the specified area, you’ll receive an alert.

Easy to Set Up Your Trakkit GPS

Setting up Trakkit is as easy as it gets. Simply download and install the app from Google Play or App Store and follow the steps mentioned below.

Before we get started, you should know that the Trakkit app lets you activate your account and register new devices, receive notifications, tracking alerts, and firmware updates, and manage your subscription. You can also use the web app at trakkit.us.

Step 1: Sign Up and Add Your Trakkit GPS

Upon installation, hit the Sign Up button to create your Trakkit account. On the main menu, select Add Device, type in the MAC ID (check the back of your Trakkit), and choose a Name. Do this for all your new Trakkits.

Step 2: Connect to Your Trakkit GPS

Plug in a micro USB cable to put your Trakkit GPS into Wi-Fi Setup Mode, this is required for the first-time activation. Once the lights are flashing, jump to the third and final step.

If you notice a solid yellow light, gently double-tap the Trakkit until a blue light shows up, then double-tap again (within 5 seconds), and the yellow light should start flashing.

Step 3: Configure Your Trakkit GPS

• Open your Phone’s Wi-Fi settings and look for “Trakkit-XXXX” (the “XXXX” represents your MAC ID)
• Connect to it
• Once connected, Open the Trakkit App and you will see the Setup page.
• Type or copy-paste the SSID and Password of your Home Wi-Fi and select Add Profile
• When finished, select Test Profile to see if the profile works.

Your Trakkit GPS is now ready to use!

Try Trakkit GPS for Your Car or Truck

We’ve shown the features that make Trakkit the best GPS Tracker for car, and trucks.

For some, it has done wonders as people can be at peace, knowing the whereabouts of their loved ones. For businesses, it’s become the third eye, and nothing can be booted from it—be it everyday business tasks or analysis of bundles of data. It also helps in saving costs and brings efficiency to your business operations.

However, GPS trackers are often used to spy on others, which may be illegal in some states. In fact, some jurisdictions and states have cyberstalking laws that precisely address GPS tracking. If you have any legal concerns, seek advice from a professional.

Even in the case of tracking an employee or a teen driver, the main goals are safety, efficiency, and accountability, not spying.

Typically, if you own the vehicle, you can track it.

See Also:

How to Track a Car with a Cell Phone

FAQs: