GPS car tracking systems are getting popular these days. Vehicles are now an important part of our daily routine. You cannot allow anyone else to either steal or misappropriate your vehicle. This need led to the development of GPS car tracker systems.

These systems allow you to get regular updates regarding many important stats and matters inside your car. These stats include average speed, current speed, how brake and acceleration are applied, fuel consumption, and many more. businesses

You cannot imagine a car without a GPS tracker inside of it. It ensures better control over the fleet in most businesses. Although car tracking systems are installed in almost every business, certain types will find GPS car tracking systems more value-adding than others.

Construction business

The vehicles and machinery that a construction company normally uses are expensive and critical to their business operations. Most of the work is site-based, while the fleet managers often sit in their offices to monitor usage and fuel consumption. Such an easy monitoring process is possible due to the GPS car tracking system.

Before all this, construction companies used to have their fleet managers on the site. These managers had no other option but to stand and prepare manual time sheets. They also needed to check the vehicle running for total mileage and the fuel bar for accurate fuel consumption.

Despite so many efforts to update the record manually, inaccuracies were involved due to the inherent technicalities. The GPS car tracking systems have made the life of a fleet manager a lot easier.

Transport companies

Transport companies have a large group of vehicles in their assets. The fleet manager will handle thousands or millions of cars, vans, buses, trucks, and trailers. There is always a high risk that workers and drivers might misappropriate or steal these vehicles.

Fleet managers will find the GPS car tracking system very handy, especially when the vehicle is vulnerable to misappropriation. A GPS car tracking system can monitor the route the drivers have taken, the time they are taken to reach a destination, the total amount of fuel consumed per trip, the car status concerning maintenance, and the care with which the driver has accelerated or stopped the car.

Leasing business

Leasing companies provide owned vehicles to people for rentals. After the expiry of the lease term, the vehicle might go either to the lessee or the lessor (this depends on the contract). No matter what type of lease contract you sign, tracking vehicles is a mandatory thing that you need to do to keep them secure.

A lessor needs to know where the car is or how the lessee is using the car. A GPS car tracking device will help you get evidence and impose a fine if the usage and maintenance terms are breached. It can help you recover your asset if the lessee defaults.

Good delivering

Whether you are a manufacturer, dealer, distributor, or retailer, delivery can be a pivotal function of your operations. Delivering goods on time can be a critical factor in satisfying your customers. An efficient delivery service will ensure that your customer receives goods on time.

Most companies outsource the delivery function to a third party. Still, you can install a GPS tracking system in your vehicles to let the relevant delivery manager control the whole process. GPS car tracking systems will allow you to monitor how your drivers are doing their job. You can provide the tracking to your customers. This will let them know when the goods are expected to be delivered.

Service providers

Service providers such as repair, plumbing, welding, and carpentry companies have more or less the same operations as goods-delivering entities. Service-providing companies have several drivers and workers on the field. These drivers often do not perform up to the standard that the company demands. Keeping this in mind, You can switch to a more advanced method of monitoring vehicle usage.

Switching to a GPS tracking system will help you access your driver’s location. You can allocate drivers according to the nearest generated request. The person in need will get the work done from the nearest driver. This will ensure better customer satisfaction, and your company can save on fuel expenses.

Schools and colleges

Running a school or college is not an easy job. People often consider this an easy career option because there is less stress on the management and the pay is handsome. However, there is a lot more responsibility on the school management than any other business.

The best the school management could have done was to hire trustworthy drivers and impose physical controls. The world has changed, and the focus is now directly tracking vehicles. Schools and colleges invest in GPS car tracking systems by installing GPS devices in school vans and buses. This ensures that the driver does not drive rashly or the location is monitored until the buses return to the school.

Vehicles for personal use

Directors and other executives at well-established companies usually receive cars as a prerequisite. The company owns these cars, but the possession is temporarily handed over to the executives for personal use.

Personal use does not mean the employee can use the car however they like. Companies tend to monitor how the employees are using these vehicles. This is why there are GPS car tracking systems installed in such vehicles. GPS trackers record everything to communicate the exact status to the company.

Vehicle theft is one of the most common crimes committed throughout the world. It is not only a loss that the owner has to bear, but also the insurer has to take the financial hit. According to a survey, almost 0.8-0.85 million vehicles are stolen yearly. Thieves tend to steal older models more than newer ones because they do not contain inbuilt trackers.

Filing a police case and processing it is a difficult and complex process that one has to go through. However, this article will list all you have to know before reporting a case of car theft.

How do police track a stolen car?

What can you do?

The car theft can be reported by either the owner or a third person that witnesses the whole scenario. You need to report the theft immediately to ensure that the police can take action as early as possible.

The filing of a case includes the preparation and arrangement of paperwork to speed up the process. The next thing to do is to file a claim with the insurance company. You would need the policy number, chassis number, and other credentials.

What do the police do?

The police officers will demand pictures of your car or the CCTV footage from the crime scene. They will ask for the vehicle identification number for a more detailed investigation. If a third person reports the theft, the department will track the owner and even ask the manufacturer about the person who has purchased the vehicle. They will inform other agencies to gather information. 

If the vehicle has a car tracker connected, the police officers can solve the case quicker. Once they catch the stolen car, the driver will be charged with possessing the stolen asset. Moreover, a fine is imposed on the driver, and imprisonment is at the judge’s discretion. The vehicle will be returned to you after completing all necessary documents. 

What if the police fail?

The police contact the owner when a third person reports the incident. If the owner contacts and initiates the case by himself, the police will ensure that they communicate every single update regarding the theft. If there is no progress related to the case, the police department informs the general public and puts it as a cold case.

The department might refer you to a private detective who will put in all his efforts in the case and charge a nominal fee. When a car is recovered (in incidents reported by a third party), and the department fails to find the owner, the vehicle is auctioned.

Chances of getting your car back

Getting your car back is probable in most parts of the US. The overall recoverability percentage is 68, and the delivery trucks have the highest rate of 81%. Passenger vehicles have the lowest recovery rate of 63%. The recoverability ratio depends entirely on the safety features installed inside the car or the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies. 

 

If your mechanic has installed a GPS tracker in your car and wants to get rid of it, this article is precisely the information you need. The car trackers are external devices that are either hardwired to your car or attached to it externally. The detachment or disconnection process is simple, so you will not require an expert. We have detailed each step to inform you about the removal procedure. 

How to remove a GPS from a car?

Tracking the GPS tracker

Removing a GPS is a later exercise to perform. The first thing is to detect where the tracker is attached. Usually, this problem arises when you suspect someone has installed a GPS device inside your vehicle because you do not know the exact location. The detection process might differ according to your preference, but you can opt for one of these methods.

The GPS tracker detectors – the GPS tracker detectors or electric sweepers are efficient in finding GPS devices. They catch the radio signals from a device and vibrate to notify the user regarding detection.

Manual search – manual search is laborious, but it is more reliable than using an electronic detection device. You need to check the dashboard first and then the storage compartments. Search for any inconsistent wire thickness or color. Another useful indicator is electric tape. 

Mirrors – mirrors are the best for finding trackers underneath the car. There are places under your car that you cannot access or monitor regularly. Mirrors work great with detecting those areas.

Expert – you can hire an expert to detect and remove a tracker from your car. This would cost you more, but you can rely on it with your eyes closed.

Identifying the tracker

Identifying a tracker is usually a simple step to perform. Look for a small device connected to your car’s live or ignition wire. There are ideally two or three connections of wires. GPS trackers are electronic devices, so you might see the light blinking. Other than this, some tracker devices are wireless. These wireless are either placed or connected to the body of your car with a magnetic connection. These devices are easier to detect. 

Removing the tracker

The removal process seems trickier, but it is simple if you perform the steps correctly. After identifying a GPS tracker, you need to remove the tape. Once the tracker is set free, undo the electric connection with the help of a cutter or a tweezer (whichever feels more suitable). When the device is removed, make sure that you cover the wire with electrical tape. However, we suggest performing these steps cautiously because damaging the primary wire will disable the dashboard. 

Seeking professional service

If you have any problem performing the steps mentioned above, you should try seeking services from a technician. It is always better to spend a few more dollars instead of messing up the electric circuit of your car. Professional services are mandatory if the vehicle under consideration is a delivery truck or other business-related vehicle.

GPS trackers can be hard to find in a vehicle, especially when someone else has installed them. You might own your car, but the electric connections and small compartments are usually the most unexplored components.

However, if you doubt a car tracker is installed inside your vehicle, you do not have to learn much about the wirings and connections. The tracker detection techniques are simple, and the most effective methods are as under. 

How to find a tracker on the car?

Detector 

The GPS detector is available on the internet and is a reliable detection method. GPS trackers use radio or electromagnetic waves to transmit your location to the satellite from where the data is sent to the receiver, which is connected to the tracking device. GPS tracker detectors trace the signals transmitted from your car.

These detectors buzz or vibrate when the signals are detected. This method is the most effective for finding hidden GPS trackers. However, you must know that specific advanced tracking devices turn off in a few minutes when the car stops. This means that you have to be quick with the detection process.

The manual exterior search

GPS trackers can be connected to your car’s exterior or body. The most common places where you would find these devices are either the rooftop, wheel wells, or the base. It would be best if you had a torch and a concave mirror to help you with this exercise.

You can use the torch to examine the readily accessible parts like the roof and wheel wells. The bottom of the car cannot be examined easily, so you must use a concave mirror to help you with this. Security agencies use these mirrors to detect explosives fixed below the cars. 

The manual interior search

The interior is often harder to scan when compared to the exterior. The interior has a lot of room to hide the tracker because there is a lot of wiring available to connect a tracker to any place he wants. The most obvious place where a tracker usually is connected is the dashboard.

Besides this, the area below the driver is also an ideal place to hide a GPS tracker. The storage compartments near the gear have a high probability of containing a tracker. You can use a torch to inspect all the parts we have named.

The most effective way of finding a tracker connected to the interior is to check for wires of unusual thickness and color. Another thing that you can rely on while searching for a GPS tracker is searching for electric tapes. The electric wiring map provided by the manufacturer serves as a helpful guideline for exploring the places where a tracker can be connected.

Expert

After searching for a GPS tracker by the methods mentioned above, you can hire a security expert or an agency if you do not find it. These experts might charge you more than purchasing a detector, but the services will be satisfactory. 

GPS tracking systems are in demand due to vehicle theft and monitoring. These devices efficiently maintain a close eye on where the vehicles go. It serves as sufficient control over the fleet in the delivery business.

However, users tend to spend hundreds of dollars to install a GPS tracker in their cars. The process is not difficult and is entirely DIY if the necessary steps are performed properly.

Type of GPS systems

Portable

Car owners widely demand portable GPS trackers, and companies produce the most accurate and durable ones. The portable GPS trackers require no installation. You need to purchase it, put batteries inside it, turn it on, and place it anywhere you want.

These GPS trackers are easy to move, and you can also take them to any other vehicle. The best place to keep portable GPS trackers is near the windshield, where they can receive and send readings to the satellite network.

Portable GPS trackers are easy to install, but batteries can run out quickly. This thing makes it essential to check the batteries every day. You can opt for wired GPS trackers to overcome this flaw.

Wired

Wired GPS devices are more orthodox and reliable when compared to portable ones. These GPS trackers are connected to the power cables of your car. You will find the installation process a bit trickier. However, there will be no batteries to worry about. Wired GPS trackers make your life a lot easier and safer.

How to install it?

Expose the wires under the dashboard

The installation process starts with searching for the best place to connect your wired GPS tracker. In most cases, the dashboard is an ideal place to install it. Grab a screwdriver and open/unscrew the dashboard cover.

Once the dashboard is opened, a cluster of wires is fixed inside. Search for the ignition wire and the live power cable using the vehicle wire map provided by the manufacturer. If you cannot find them on the map, trace them via the ignition plug. To ensure the current flows through the wires, detect it using a tester or a voltmeter.

Connecting the GPS tracker

You need to peel the live wire with a cutter of the appropriate size (make sure you do not cut the wire, or your dashboard will stop functioning). Use a pick tool to set the wires apart. GPS trackers usually contain either red or red and orange wires.

Connect the red wire’s exposed end to your car’s live wire and the orange wire to the ignition wire. Make sure you firmly connect the ends and wrap/twist the copper wire to make the junction more reliable. Cover the exposed end area with insulation tape.

Fixing the tracker

The last step is an important thing to perform. The functionality of your GPS tracker is not entirely dependent on the electric connections. The placement of your tracker is a critical factor in determining if it will function correctly. Fix the tracker under the dashboard with tape.

Do not make permanent attachments as you might need to change the location later. Also, avoid placing it inside a metallic layer because metals block GPS signals. Also, keep the device upright to ensure prompt detection of signals. Close the opened dashboard and fit the wires properly to prevent inconvenience later.