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4 min read
Reviewed ByRebecca EdwardsFor over 12 years, SafeWise has conducted independent research and testing to write unbiased, human reviews (not robots). Read our methodology.
Kasey is a trained Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member, an expert writer in emergency preparedness and security, and the mother of four kids.
The SpyTec Atlas Mini is our pick for the best GPS vehicle tracker. It features geofencing, real-time location tracking, a long-lasting battery.
We also like the Vyncs GPS Vehicle Tracker for its unsafe driving alerts, maintenance alerts, and free roadside assistance.
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Product | Equipment price* | Monthly fee starts at | Learn more |
| <$20 | $14.95/mo. | View on Amazon | |
| <$90 | $0.00 ($39.99 activation fee) | View on Amazon | |
| <$25 | $25.00/mo. | View on Amazon | |
| <$90 | $9.00/mo. | View on Amazon |
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
The two-inch SpyTec Atlas Mini GPS Tracker is small enough to be tucked into a pocket or attached to the undercarriage of your vehicle.
Small enough for pockets and bags
Available with 30-day cancellation policy
Able to track more than vehicles 
Battery-powered and requires charging
Not compatible with vehicle OBD port
More money for faster tracking This tracking device is battery-powered, so you'll need to charge it periodically, about once a month.
Monitoring will cost you between $14.95 and $29.95 a month (depending on whether you choose an annual or three-month plan), and you'll get location updates only every 60 seconds unless you pay more for faster tracking. There are no contracts or cancellation fees, and we like that SpyTec offers a 30-day, no-hassle cancellation policy.
The Vyncs GPS tracks location, unsafe driving practices, engine diagnostics, battery life, maintenance needs, recall notices, and fuel levels. Plus, it's the least-expensive GPS on our list, and it can help you save on car insurance.
Engine alerts
Low yearly fee
Driver scoring system
Mileage tracker app
Roadside assistance
Long-term commitment
Delayed location updates
Activation fee Vyncs evaluates your driving to give you a Tip Performance Index (TPI) score which can help you save money on car insurance. Its free companion app, VyncsMiles, is compatible with Amazon Alexa; it can track mileage and categorize it by personal or business use.
You can also check out Vync's Basic, Premium, and Pro plans which sweeten the deal with services like roadside assistance. Vyncs also has a Fleet service for commercial customers who might want to monitor their employees during deliveries or routes.
The OBD plug-in GPS device costs around $90 and comes with a one-year basic plan subscription (and a one-time activation fee of $40). Yearly renewal costs are about $79, which works out to around $6.58 a month. That's a steal!
We don't like that the default refresh time is three minutes—the fastest refresh time (15 seconds) is available only for an added fee. The user interface is also a little tricky to manage.
With a driving education course for teens, Google Maps route replay, geofencing, and customizable location alerts, the easy-to-install and inexpensive MOTOsafety GPS Tracker earned our top spot for new teen drivers. Whether they're out with friends or extracurriculars, having a GPS tracker like this can make it easier to enforce their curfew.
Google Maps route replay
Geofencing
Curfew
Teen driving course
Sensitivity to acceleration
Inaccurate speed limits This tracking device costs around only $25 with a monthly fee of $25. You won't have to sign a contract or pay a cancellation fee, but you will have to call the company if you want to cancel.
We like the included driver training program, with access to educational content and practice quizzes to help your teen prep for their driving test.
We also like the daily driving report card on the mobile app, but metrics can be confusing. Speed limits aren't always accurate on Google Maps, so MOTOsafety might say you're speeding even when you're not.
Image: Katie McEntire, SafeWise
Likewise, normal rapid acceleration—like when you're merging onto a busy highway—can also count against you. We recommend taking it out for a test drive and checking the sensitivity before taking away your teen's car keys for a bad grade on their MOTOsafety driving report.
Check out our full review on MOTOsafety to learn more about this vehicle GPS tracker or watch us put it to the test.
Bouncie is new to the GPS tracking game, but it has all the best parts of other popular trackers like smart assistant compatibility. So. we expect to see it rising to the top.
Vehicle maintenance alerts
Geofencing
Mileage tracking
Low monthly subscription fee
Real-time vehicle operation alerts
Flashing light
Alexa command glitches Bouncie plugs into your car's OBD port and offers standard geofencing and real-time alerts for speed, hard braking, and acceleration. It also helps you keep tabs on gas levels, vehicle maintenance, and routine car-related tasks, like annual emissions inspections.
We like that you can use your Amazon Echo to check the gas in your car or ask when your registration is due.
The device also tracks your mileage and stores the data, which is a great feature if you need to track mileage for business purposes.
Image: Kasey Tross, SafeWise
Bouncie charges just around $10 a month for its tracking services. It's a close second to Vyncs when it comes to pricing, but without the long-term commitment.
The only downsides to this device were the green flashing light that never seems to go off (black electrical tape to the rescue) and some occasional glitches with the Alexa commands.
Like the sound of Bouncie? Get the full scoop in our in-depth Bouncie review.
Whatever your reasons for wanting to purchase a car GPS tracking device, it's important to make sure you're staying within your legal rights. In most places, as long as you are putting the device only on vehicles you own, you're safe. If you want to track a loved one out of genuine concern for their safety and well-being, the best approach is to talk to them about it first.
To make your vehicle even safer, consider other devices such as dash cams and rearview (backup) cameras. These devices can improve your viewing angle and keep a valuable record of your time on the road.
Talk to your teenager about driving responsibly before considering a GPS tracker.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and learn how to protect your home, loved ones and belongings.
Our search for the best GPS vehicle trackers started with investigating top-rated location trackers to see which consistently performed best. We then did our own deep-dig research to see what users were saying about each device so we could choose the best of the best. Check out our full methodology to learn more about how we rank and review products.
Sometimes. GPS tracking devices triangulate their location by sending and receiving satellite signals. Just like your cell phone, your GPS tracker might also experience some interference that can knock the location accuracy off.
Learn more about how GPS trackers work.
When you’re in an area with a lot of buildings, your GPS tracker’s signal can bounce off different surfaces and cause false alerts. It can be annoying and worrisome to get an alert in the middle of the night telling you your car has moved from the garage, Still, it’s not uncommon for this to happen with GPS trackers.
If the alert shows that the car has just moved a short distance, like down the street, it’s usually a false alarm.
A GPS tracker for a car is either freestanding or designed to plug into the OBD-II port.
A freestanding car GPS tracker can be put anywhere in or under the vehicle.
A plug-in GPS vehicle tracking system attaches to a special port called the OBD-II ("on board diagnostic") on the driver's side, typically under the steering wheel and slightly to the left. You may need to remove the plastic dash cover to access the OBD port.
If you live in an area where cell service is spotty, then you’ll likely experience some spotty GPS coverage as well.
This doesn’t mean the GPS isn’t working. It just means it’s unable to get the location information to your phone because there aren’t enough cellular towers around to send the signal.
It depends on the device you buy. Most of the devices we studied were for US use only, but a few worked outside the US in Canada and Mexico.
If you’re not sure if your device will work outside the country, contact the manufacturer.
Overall, the SpyTec Atlas Mini GPS Tracker is a great choice if you want to keep your car (and its driver) safe and sound for under $200 per year.
Need to keep an eye on more than just your car? Be sure to check out our list of the best GPS trackers for all kinds of situations.
*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Product prices and availability are accurate as of this date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any prices and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
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