Where to place a GPS Tracker in a Car
Whether it's for insurance purposes, peace of mind, security, or keeping track of your vehicle or fleet, there are numerous reasons why you might be considering installing a GPS tracker in your car.
In this article, we'll explore the best places to covertly and overtly install your car GPS tracker.
Things to Consider
The most important thing to bear in mind when installing your GPS tracker is signal strength. If it cannot receive an adequate GPS satellite and cellular signal, the device will not work.
Most GPS signals travel through plastic, fiberglass, foam, wood, and glass, but not all solid materials, so it’s usually a good practice to allow your GPS tracker to have a line of sight to the sky. Places like the roof, dashboard, or windscreen are obvious choices, but whether you want your tracker to be visible or not is the real decider. Let's look at the options.
Where to Hide a GPS Tracker in a Car?
If you are looking for covert positions, there are a few possibilities available:
Dashboard
According to several experts, attaching your car GPS tracker under the dashboard can serve many purposes at once. First, the GPS tracking device will be hidden and therefore less likely to be uninstalled or tampered with.
Secondly, a car tracker under the dashboard can get a good signal from the satellite and work seamlessly. Lastly, the GPS tracker will be away from natural elements and offer you services for a longer time.
Under the Seat
People who want to hide their car GPS tracker device can keep it under the car seat. If this trick interests you, you will have to take out the vehicle’s seat and again install the same after hiding the tracking device under it. You also might have to stitch the seat cover to make the device more discreet.
You can explore the best place to hide your tracking device inside the seat by checking the side cover and the upholstery. You will indeed find a patch where you can easily place the gadget. If you install the device on the sides, it will be difficult for someone to find it.
Under the Car
You've seen it in the movies, but is positioning a tracker under the car a good idea? It depends on placement! If you place the tracker on the metal frame of the vehicle, on either the driver or passenger side, the GPS signal will bounce off the road and be detectable by the tracker. With the correct placement, under the car is the best all-around covert method of placing a tracker. It offers strong reception and is not immediately visible.
Also, one thing that you need to make sure of is that the device should be waterproof. It is a common scenario when the car passes through a minor water pit, and the bottom of the car gets wet.
Front or Rear Bumper
It might be challenging for someone to think that a car tracker is in the front or rear bumper. No one can see the same. It is nestled in the cobweb of wires, temperature, light, and more, making it one of the best places to hide the GPS tracker. To do this, you might have to take the help of a car mechanic.
The rear bumper also has wires, and again, it is easy to conceal a GPS tracker there. In the colony of the cables, it will be challenging to find out the car tracker.
Under Carpets
Hide the tracker under the carpets below and also between the seats. Isn’t this a great option for a place to keep your GPS tracker in the car?
Other than these places, you can get a bit more innovative and think of several other sites for installing the device. Such as, no one will believe that you might have hidden the device in the wheel well. You can also keep the device besides the cylinder or your toolbox.
Where to Place a GPS Tracker If Privacy Is Not a Concern
If you're not trying to hide your tracker, installation is more straightforward, and there are many more possibilities for placement. The first thing to look for is a clear line of sight to the sky to give you the strongest GPS signal. This leaves several great options:
On the Dashboard
On the Dashboard or Rear Shelf
With only a glass panel in the way, this option offers robust signal strength. To avoid interference, make sure it is not too close to any other location-based devices.
Attached to the Roof
This may be a cosmetically unappealing option, but it offers tremendous signal strength. Use a magnetic box to secure your tracker to the top of your car. This way, it's always pointing up to the sky. It is important to remember that mounting in this location may increase the likelihood that your GPS tracker is stolen!
Making Your Choice
When selecting the placement of your GPS tracker, you have to consider both visibility and signal strength. If covertness is not your primary goal, then you have a lot more options. Whatever you decide, make sure your tracker is secure, safe, and able to detect a GPS signal.
But be careful with the portable GPS tracker, as it carries a lithium battery, do not place it in an overheated area that may risk triggering an explosion, such as inside the hood.