We all love our cars, don’t we? Cars are something that we need literally every day – be it for going to the supermarket, work, or our favorite places.
But did you know that according to The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), more than 1 million cars were stolen last year? That means around 2739 vehicles a day!
Now, that’s a huge number, isn’t it?
So, let me ask you something, has it ever happened to you that you couldn’t find your car in some huge parking lot where you left it or you let someone else borrow your car and you wanted to know the location of your car badly?
Well, as car owners, most of us have felt the need to track our cars at least at some point in time. And that is where car GPS trackers come into the picture!
With this amazing technology, you can now track your car almost instantly, no matter how far your car is.
So, how exactly do these GPS tracking systems work? Are they reliable? Do they come with other features than location sharing?
To have all your questions about car GPS trackers answered, we would love to share with you this exclusive interview with Mr. Stefan Quartemont.
He is a skilled author with expert knowledge of GPS technology. With a degree from Texas A&M University, he is someone whom you can rely on when it comes to informative, engaging, and insightful pieces on this revolutionary technology.
Q. There has been a lot of buzz around GPS car trackers lately. How exactly do they work?
A: Do you use apps such as Uber? Then you might already be aware of GPS technology. There are GPS receivers inside your smartphones that let the drivers of Uber know your exact location.
A GPS-enabled tracking device works in a similar way. The only difference is that they provide much more accuracy than a smartphone. These devices can assist you in monitoring as well as tracking the location of your car by transmitting radio signals to satellites.
Q: What are the different types of GPS trackers for cars available?
A: There are different types of GPS tracking devices available in the market. Primarily, you can divide them into three kinds.
- Plug-In Car GPS Trackers (OBD GPS Trackers)
These trackers need to be connected to your car’s OBD ll port. A mechanic only needs to plug their computer into this port and get all the data from your car’s sensors.
You can install them easily. They are compact and can detect when your car is on and off. You can remove it without any hassle and use it on as many cars as you want.
- Hardwired Car GPS Trackers
These GPS trackers are connected to your car directly. You can use them in case you don’t have an OBD ll port in your car. One of the best things about these trackers is that you can keep them hidden in your car.
If you are a fleet manager or a business owner, hardwired GPS trackers would be your best bet.
- Portable Battery-Powered GPS Trackers
These GPS trackers are battery-operated and they don’t rely on the power supply of your car. They have extremely long-lasting batteries that power them. You don’t need to recharge them for months and sometimes, even years.
You can use them on trailers, dumpsters, cargo containers, and any other business vehicle.
Q: Does a GPS car tracker offer only real-time location sharing or can we use it for other things as well?
A: Of course, you can! A GPS tracking device is not limited to sharing the real-time location of your car. It comes with several other benefits. Let me share some of them with you.
- Prevention of theft and recovery
Let me tell you that your car is not safe with the increased number of car thefts in the United States. In 2022, it has increased by 7% than the year before it. But, if you get a GPS tracker installed in your car, you can at least track your car’s location no matter where on earth it is!
This will make car thieves stay away from your car as they know that even if they succeed in stealing your car, you are going to recover it with the help of police and that will just be a matter of time.
- Get help when there is an emergency
When you have a GPS tracker fitted in your car, you don’t need to worry at times of emergency. Your car sends your exact location to the emergency personnel, and help is sent your way immediately. This is especially useful when you are stranded on an unknown road.
- Get details and statistics of your trip
Most of these vehicle tracking devices provide you with statistics as well as trip details. This includes your average speed, how far you have driven your car, and the date and time of your trip.
- Monitor your teens
I have a friend who is always worried about her teenage daughter whenever she takes her car for a ride. If you too have a teen who has just learned to drive and you worry a lot about their safety behind the wheel, you can look for brands that offer built in GPS tracking in cars.
Q: Those are some great benefits a GPS car tracking device offers! So, if we want to get one, what are the features we should look for?
A: Different brands and models of GPS car trackers come with different features. I would suggest you go for features such as:
- Realtime car tracking and monitoring
- Geofencing
- Advanced reports and analytics
- Driver’s behavior monitoring
- Scheduling vehicle maintenance
- Integrated dashboard camera
- Route scheduling and optimization
- Trip history
Q: What should we consider while getting a GPS tracking device for our cars?
A: I suggest that you see if the device is compatible with your car, if the installation and maintenance process is easy, if they have a long battery life, and if the pricing plans fit your budget.
Q: How much do they cost?
A: The price depends on the number of features they offer. But I personally feel if you plan to invest in a GPS tracker, invest in a good one.
In that case, you might have to pay around $200. Also, there can be a nominal monthly subscription fee.
Q: It was great talking to you, Mr. Stefan Quartemont! Really insightful! But before we end our conversation here, can you tell us how our readers will connect with you if they have any other queries regarding GPS tracking systems?
A: Sure. If you have any other questions about GPS trackers, you can connect with me on Linkedin.
Final Thoughts:
Do you want to worry less about your car when it’s with someone else on the road, in a parking lot, or in your garage?
Then one of the best things to do is to get a GPS car tracker installed in it. With that, you can get all the information about your car at your fingertips at any time in the world.
So, are you ready to embrace this revolutionary GPS technology for your car?