Live GPS Tracker For Car Buying Guide

Live GPS Tracker Reviews For 2022

When it comes to the different live GPS trackers on the market, there’s a lot of information out there, so much so that it can be disorienting and confusing. GPS Tracking Review is here to help answer the real questions people and businesses have in a clean and clear way so you can find the best live GPS tracker for car, truck, or personal asset protection. Our experts tested the top-selling trackers on Amazon, as well as the highest-rated devices by other review sites to put together a list of the best real time GPS trackers for cars in 2022.

What Is The Best Real Time GPS Tracking Device?

The verdict? The best live GPS tracker for 2022 was the Spacehawk. The top reason? The mini GPS provides real-time updates as fast as every 3 seconds and is the best tool for discovering where a person is really going. 

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What made SpaceHawk stand above competitors such as Optimus 2.0, Spy Tec GL300 and Tracki devices are a number of unique features that include: 

• 100% waterproof design to protect the tracker from rain/snow
• Exterior surface magnet so you can easily hide the tracker
• User-friendly mobile app for iPhone and Android
• Free technical support is available 24/7 to help you get set-up
• Real time GPS tracking every single minute with no monthly fees

SpaceHawk GPS is the perfect vehicle GPS tracker for anyone who wants to catch a cheating spouse, find out if a teen driver is speeding, or monitor company drivers who could be misusing business vehicles. 

If you are interested in looking at a car GPS tracker for your family or your business consider these other 12 best live GPS trackers for car or trucks (in alphabetical order). 

Top 12 Best Live GPS Tracker For Car

AES RGT90 GPS Tracker. While one of the more expensive options out there, it also comes with features including a 90-day battery (assuming an hour of driving time each day), 6 months of free tracking data, and 70-pound heavy-duty magnets—as well as location accuracy within 2.5 meters.

Amcrest AM-GL300 Real Time GPS Tracker. Small and easy to hide, this device offers the additional advantage of allowing you to set geographical bounds, meaning you get alerts if a vehicle is driven outside of that area. The same goes for speed, meaning you can set alerts if the car is driven faster than 60 mph. It utilizes 2G networks, however, meaning you should check coverage maps to ensure you’ll still get good service.

CarLock Real Time Car Tracker and Alert System. While this system can utilize alerts tied to speed or geographical area, what really sets it apart is the alerts tied to vibrations, such as if a thief tries to use a power tool to break into your car. That makes it one of the most secure systems we’ve seen.

Flashback GPS Tracker. A GPS data logger with a long-lasting battery, simply place Flashback inside or underneath a vehicle and let it record driving activity every single second. When you want to review the travel history simply remove the GPS tracker from the vehicle and download data. With over 50 hours of recording time, Flashback is perfect for anyone seeking a high-quality no monthly fee GPS tracker.

LandAirSea GPS 54. Easily the most popular real time GPS tracker on this list, the GPS 54 makes it easy to track any vehicle instantly. Simply place the mini live GPS tracker on an automobile with the help of the exterior magnetic mount then track the car from your iPhone, Android or computer.

Logistimatics Mobile 200 GPS Tracker with Audio Monitoring. It could be a perk, or it could be creepy, but this device allows you to hear what’s going on in the vehicle. Simply text the device and it calls you with a one-way audio connection so you can hear everything in the vehicle.

Optimus Tracker GPS Tracker. The app is really the key feature here, as you can set all sorts of alerts from the app that comes with the device. The device itself is easy to use, small (and easy to hide), and holds a charge for around 10 days.

Optimus Tracker GPS Tracker with Magnet Case. While otherwise the same as option #5 above, this neat tracker comes with super heavy-duty magnets, making it great for mounting on the outside of the vehicle.

Spy Tec STI GL300 Real Time Vehicle GPS Tracker. One of the best parts about this you get a device is that it’s tiny—only about eight ounces and three inches, with a battery span of roughly two weeks, if left uncharged between. It bundles with Google Maps for easy use, and is relatively inexpensive, too, at only $50.

TKStar 90 Day GPS Tracker. The 90-day battery is a great selling point on its own, but this is also one of the cheaper top-of-the-line models out there. Simply text the device when you want to know where the vehicle is and it replies with Google Map coordinates.

Trak4 Mobile GPS Tracker. Trak4 offers both a high-capacity battery (up to a year!) and comes in a weatherproof case, both of which are pretty great perks. That the accompanying software is easy to use is just a nice bonus, as is the 3G network set-up.

Vyncs GPS Tracker. Vyncs offers one of the few devices without a monthly fee. Instead, you pay a $10 activation fee and then pay for the level of updates you want on a yearly subscription. It also is powered not by batteries, but directly from your vehicle.

Understanding The Basics Of GPS Technology 

When you’re in your vehicle and following the map on your Garmin or TomTom (or other GPS-equipped software), do you know how that software works? Or what legislation governs its use? 

GPS stands for Global Positioning System, which is a universal satellite-based system based on latitude and longitude. Using GPS data allows for a moving object (such as a person or vehicle) to track its movements, including setting those movements against a map backdrop, either in real time (think of map software such as a car GPS tracker, for instance) or later (such as when analyzing a route taken after the fact). Nearly any map you might use digitally in your vehicle will utilize a live GPS tracker, or real time GPS tracker, to help display where you are relative to where you need to go; that’s true for both devices installed in your car (such as a Garmin or TomTom) or mapping software on your phone.

 

What Is a Real Time GPS Tracker?

So what is a real time GPS tracker and how does it work? The basic concept remains the same as we discussed above, which allows for live GPS tracking of vehicles and other items.

Models differ somewhat, but in most cases, real time GPS tracker software and hardware are designed to work in tandem so you or your company can readily both track and locate. For instance, let’s say you or your company utilize real time GPS tracker software and hardware to track company vehicles and driver performance. If so, odds are good the programs utilize both data pushing and data pulling.

For instance, many live GPS tracking systems are set up to report every 10 minutes or so when the vehicle is in operation and moving, but only once an hour when the vehicle is off and the program is battery-powered. This means that organizations utilizing real time GPS tracker programs can both monitor their drivers’ performance and locate vehicles at any time they need to do so. Similarly, this means that organizations can readily determine which driver might be closest to a location, making real time GPS trackers a great part of managing a delivery fleet, for instance.

What Is GPS Live Tracking?

How Real Time GPS Tracking Works

But how does real time GPS tracking work? The basic GPS system remains the same as we discussed earlier, making use of trilateration to determine location. In general, real time location GPS tracking uses both data pushing and data pulling, depending on the power source available and how often the location of the object being tracked needs to be ascertained.

Real time GPS trackers are also sometimes known as active trackers because they can be used to continually send and record location data. For instance, if you have a “Track My Phone” app, it likely uses real time GPS tracking to continuously monitor the location of your phone.

Similarly, because real time GPS tracking can continuously monitor the location of an object (such as a vehicle, for instance) it can be invaluable in security and is often used as an anti-theft strategy.

Really, this ability to remotely locate an asset or object within seconds cannot be undervalued. Not only is it great for security, but it can also be applied to child safety, managing delivery fleets, and more. The big difference between active GPS tracking systems and passive GPS units is often a cellular data module, which allows the GPS unit to quickly transmit (or push) stored data to off-site servers; once the data is in the off-site servers, it can be recalled (or pulled) at any time and from anywhere utilizing an online platform. And because the online platform is web-based, it can generally be accessed from any smartphone, computer, or another device with an internet connection.

Live GPS Car Tracker

What Are Car Tracking Devices Used For?

The short answer? Car tracking devices allow you to always know where your car is.

The longer answer? Depending on the car GPS tracker device you use, that GPS tracking can help you determine whether or not the vehicle is being driven safely and efficiently.

For instance, if you are a parent, you can use tracking devices to keep track of where your kid might be driving as well as how safely they are driving, as some car GPS tracker devices will note when a vehicle is speeding or brakes aggressively, among other things.

Similarly, if you are a fleet manager, you can keep track of where your drivers are, and if a driver needs to be reassigned to a new location, for instance, you can note which driver is closest and send that driver. Similarly, you can use those driving statistics to track how safely your drivers are driving and help those drivers that need to improve get the training they need. Live GPS tracker programs can also help automatically determine mileages and correlate reimbursements for accounting purposes, as well.

On the flip side, however, car GPS tracker devices have occasionally been used inappropriately, such as by stalkers. If you think that might be you, you can always try to locate any GPS trackers that might be hidden on your vehicle.

One last caveat when it comes to live GPS tracker devices: In order for real time GPS tracker programs to work, you have to have cell service for that real-time location data to remain current.

Are GPS Trackers For Cars Legal?

The short answer when it comes to the question are GPS trackers for cars legal is it really depends.

The longer answer? Yes and no. If you’re placing a car GPS tracker on your own vehicle, for instance, that’s definitely legal. If you’re hiding a real time GPS tracker on your ex-girlfriend’s vehicle after she got a restraining order, however, that might be a big no-no.

The truth is, statutes vary from state-to-state, and because GPS trackers are still relatively new, the laws surrounding them aren’t always all that clear, either. There are a few standards, though, that might serve as a guide. Police, for instance, are not allowed to place a GPS tracker on a vehicle without a warrant expressly allowing a tracker on that specific vehicle. Private investigators have thus far mostly gotten away with using GPS tracker devices, but they also haven’t been expressly challenged on this, either, and privacy laws in some states could lead to lawsuits, for instance.

So if you do decide to invest in a real time GPS tracker, for instance, make sure you do your homework surrounding the laws that govern their use in your area.

If you do get the all-clear, though, you’ll need to use an app to track that device. Check out what we think are the 10 best GPS tracking app (in alphabetical order).

10 Best Live GPS Tracker Apps

1. FamiSafe GPS Location Tracker. FamiSafe offers location tracking, geofences (so you get alerts when out of safe areas), and exact real time GPS.
2. Find My Friends. Simply add people you want to track to your friends’ list, and as long as they’ve also friended you, you can track their location.
3. Flexispy Phone Tracker. Flexispy won’t just track current locations, but also past, allowing you to determine when and where your kids were previously.
4. FollowMee GPS Tracker. FollowMee allows you to track multiple devices at the same time and records location data even when out of service.
5. Glympse GPS Tracker. Though free, Glympse works off location sharing to keep you connected with the location of other phones and also offers iMessage and Apple Watch connectivity.
6. HoverWatch. HoverWatch additionally utilizes Wi-Fi hotspots, so you’re not stuck with just GPS signals when keeping an eye on your kids.
7. iKeyMonitor. Not only does iKeyMonitor track location, but it also records audio, meaning you can hear what’s going on in your kids’ lives.
8. Mobistealth Mobile Tracker. Mobistealth adds latitude and longitude to your display, as well as offers full location histories.
9. mSpy Phone Tracker. Not only can you get alerts when your kids enter or leave certain areas, but you can track routes as well.
10. TheTruthSpy GPS Phone Tracker. Like Flexispy, TheTruthSpy tracks historical data as well as current data.