{"id":184782,"date":"2025-10-20T17:55:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T00:55:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?p=184782"},"modified":"2025-10-20T17:55:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T00:55:27","slug":"what-does-a-car-tracker-look-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-does-a-car-tracker-look-like\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does a Car Tracker Look Like?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>\n<div class=\"summary-widget\">\n    <h3>Summary<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"summary-grid\">\n            <li class=\"summary-grid-list\">\n            <div class=\"sm-item\">\n\n                                    <p class=\"sm-title\">\n                        Most car trackers are small rectangular or cylindrical devices with LED lights, roughly the size of a bar of soap or a small TV remote. Some resemble a battery or a thick pen.                    <\/p>\n                \n            <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n            <li class=\"summary-grid-list\">\n            <div class=\"sm-item\">\n\n                                    <p class=\"sm-title\">\n                        Aftermarket trackers are compact GPS-and-cellular units that may be hardwired, connected via OBD-II, or battery-powered with strong magnets. Some are poker chip&ndash;shaped tags that can be taped on and hidden under the car or in a wheel well.                    <\/p>\n                \n            <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n            <li class=\"summary-grid-list\">\n            <div class=\"sm-item\">\n\n                                    <p class=\"sm-title\">\n                        Modern cars often include built-in GPS services for navigation, crash alerts, and stolen-vehicle assistance. Aftermarket trackers monitor location for theft protection, fleet management, and rentals, but can also be misused for surveillance.                    <\/p>\n                \n            <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"730\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/different-kinds-of-car-trackers-1024x730.jpg\" alt=\"different kinds of car trackers\" class=\"wp-image-184783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/different-kinds-of-car-trackers-1024x730.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/different-kinds-of-car-trackers-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/different-kinds-of-car-trackers-768x547.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/different-kinds-of-car-trackers-1536x1094.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/different-kinds-of-car-trackers-150x107.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/different-kinds-of-car-trackers.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Different kinds of car trackers | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Most car trackers are rectangular or cylindrical devices with LED lights. Rectangular ones look like small boxes, while cylindrical trackers resemble a battery or a thick pen.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>That said, GPS car trackers can come in a range of shapes, but they&rsquo;re typically around the size of a bar of soap or a small TV remote.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These trackers are different from built-in trackers in many modern cars. The extent and purpose of these GPS tracking systems can vary widely depending on the manufacturer and model. Most modern infotainment systems include built-in GPS for real-time navigation and traffic. Systems like GM&rsquo;s OnStar or Toyota&rsquo;s Safety Connect can help locate stolen vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In case of a crash, some systems automatically send your location to first responders. Apps like FordPass, Tesla, or BMW Connected let owners check location, lock\/unlock doors, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, aftermarket vehicle trackers are compact devices that use GPS and cellular technology to monitor a car&rsquo;s location and movement, whether for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/are-thieves-targeting-your-car\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"theft protection\">theft protection<\/a>, fleet management, or personal peace of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on the type, some GPS trackers are hardwired and powered by the vehicle&rsquo;s electrical system, while some are also connected to the OBD-II system via wires.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GPS trackers are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-find-a-gps-tracker-in-your-car\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"easy to hide\">easy to hide<\/a>, making them ideal for surveillance. Some can stick to surfaces using strong magnets and are battery-powered, so they have no protruding wires. Car trackers can also come in the form of a device like an Apple Air Tag or a Tracki, which are small, poker chip-shaped devices that can be taped onto vehicles. Good hiding spots include the vehicle&rsquo;s undercarriage and wheel well.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GPS trackers can track the location of the vehicle it&rsquo;s on using GPS satellite tracking and cellular technology. They&rsquo;re typically used in rental services to track vehicle fleets and monitor routing, driver behavior, and authorized use.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, this tracker can also be used for nefarious purposes. Understanding what a GPS tracker looks like can help you keep on the lookout if there are any attached to your vehicle.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Most car trackers are rectangular or cylindrical devices with LED lights. Rectangular ones look like small boxes, while cylindrical trackers&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-does-a-car-tracker-look-like\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1651,"featured_media":184783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,52,3758],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":{"0":"post-184782","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-auto-repair","8":"category-diy","9":"category-electrical-system","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Does a Car Tracker Look Like? - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Car trackers can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. 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Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust."},{"term_id":2985,"user_id":1646,"is_guest":0,"slug":"richardmccuistian","display_name":"Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/","last_name":"McCuistian","first_name":"Richard","job_title":"ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","description":"<div class=\"auth-social-links\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\/\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"linkedin\" aria-labelledby=\"linkedin\">LinkedIn<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/McCuistian\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"instagram\" aria-labelledby=\"instagram\">Youtube<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\nRichard McCuistian grew up in Alabama learning from his father who ran an automotive repair shop. Richard has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others (published every year since May 2000). He has developed training courses and written or edited training material for companies in the U.S. Canada, and the Netherlands, and even Bulgaria. He maintained an \u201cask a mechanic\u201d website for 10 years answering questions emailed to him from all over the world.\r\n\r\nRichard has an instructional automotive YouTube channel \u201cMcCuistian\u201d with 13,500 subscribers and over 1,300 videos. Much of his professional work requires photography and videography in shop environments, but Richard also enjoys taking pictures of landscapes, skyscapes, old barns and houses, small towns. He has produced a coffee table book of digital watercolors called \u201cMemories of South Alabama\u201d created from his personal photos, along with a dozen Christian fiction short original novels and a collection of short stories, all available in Kindle or softcover format. Richard has written a 2,500-word Bible study every week for the past 20 years and uses it to teach a small group at his church every Sunday morning.\r\n\r\n<strong>Credentials:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"author-list\">\r\n<li><p>ASE Certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Professional Mechanic\/Technician for 25 years with experience on diesel and gasoline engines, vehicles and equipment (including hydraulics).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Spent 5 years in fleet maintenance, 20 years in independent shops and dealerships (VW, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln), specializing in driveability and electronics for the last 14 years of his career at the same dealership.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Senior Contributing Editor at Motor Age Magazine, first published in Motor Age in May of 2000 and every year since. He has won two International Automotive Media Awards for technical articles published in trade magazines.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has attended hundreds of hours of automotive training from OEMs including GM, Volkswagen, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Chrysler, as well as additional training at events like KC Vision and MACS (Mobile Air Climate Systems Association).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Taught college level auto mechanics for 19 years.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has written for automotive training companies (including course development work for training companies in Canada and the Netherlands) and has been hired to teach professional trade show technician courses at multiple training events in Texas and Alabama.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>While still teaching at the college level, Richard launched a new automotive program in Geneva, Alabama, setting up a dual enrollment department in a new building, organizing the shop and classroom, teaching morning classes to high school students for 2 years while still teaching at the college in the afternoon.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Richard\u2019s college program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College worked at professional shop speed during his tenure to prepare graduates for production level work in the real world.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=184782"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184782\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/184783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=184782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=184782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=184782"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=184782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}