It may be a passing thought for you. Or, maybe, buying a car tracking device is looming large in your mind but you are not sure to put your hands on it. But, if you share a great bond with your car and want to protect it at any cost, then I would suggest, do not wait long. A GPS tracker is a great device, not just to update you about your car’s location but also, to ensure that your car gets an extra layer of security. Many of the latest GPS trackers come with features like geo-fencing, remote locking of the car, and shutting off the car power.
How does a GPS tracker operate?
A GPS tracker uses several methods simultaneously to properly locate your car. You get to see the end result and you find them often accurate but a lot of things work together to deliver that result. It is not just a very useful tool for any personal car user but fleet management services as well who handle a vast network of logistics and transportation systems.
The tracker often uses multiple satellites to detect the proper location of a car. This system is known as trilateration that determines the distance of the car from three different satellites. It shares similarity with the portable or in-car navigation systems. The only difference is that the latter is used for guidance in terms of destination, whereas, GPS records the location or transmits it to other receivers using the real-time feed. Its precision increases in the urban areas as cellphone towers help the device in calculating the location.
How can you track your car using a GPS tracker?
You have to choose how you want your car to be tracked- with real-time feeds or you want the log report later. If you are in favor of real-time feed, then opt for active GPS trackers. These devices use SIM and a GSM transceiver to deliver data in real-time to the user. The information gets routed via a GSM cellular network and allows receivers to monitor their fleet.
If you buy a passive tracker, then you have to take out the device and connect it to a computer where you can download all the information regarding the car’s location.
How much does a GPS cost for a car?
Before considering a car tracking device like GPS, you have to understand the way its pricing works. Just buying the device would not be the end of it. The price of the GPS tracker depends on the model you choose but it would also incur additional costs like monthly subscription and installation charges. You have to subscribe to a monthly plan as well to ensure that the system works without any halt. On average, the installation cost would be somewhere around $75-$100. There is one extra thing to check how quickly it updates. Trackers, with a 3 seconds window, would cost you more than trackers, with a 1-minute window.
You can also opt for rental services. As that would lower down the investment cost remarkably. It would cost you somewhere around $14-$30 per month. But if you are buying in bulk, then expect some discounts in the price. However, passive trackers often come with no monthly charges.
Can you track a car by VIN?
Yes, it is possible but the process is quite lengthy. VIN or vehicle identification number has 17 characters, which you can find in your registration documents, information documents, and owner’s manual.
The next step would be to get a detailed history of your vehicle from proper sources. Sometimes, you will get sites where they would claim the service is free. But the results are often generic. Hence, it is best to seek support from some proper site. The report would be a chronological record of all the places your car was in the past few days using which you can narrow down the possible locations.
Go for the VINCheck database. This would give you details about whether your car was involved in any accidents or others.
But the final step would involve the police. Contact them with all the necessary documents using which they would start their investigation.
