If you are suspicious that someone has placed a tracker in your car, it doesn’t hurt to do a thorough inspection inside and out. Start with obvious places, such as the glove box, center console, or cargo area.
Then move on to areas like under the seats, seatback pockets, or behind any carpet or trim panels that are easy to move. Check underneath the car and in the engine compartment as well. Now, let’s go over how to find a tracker on your car in detail!
Contents
Where to Find Hidden GPS Trackers
Interior
- In the diagnostic port
- Under the seats
- Underneath floor mat
- In the truck or hatchback
Due to their modest size, hidden GPS trackers can be hidden in almost any place in a car or truck. You should pay attention to potential hiding spots for such a gadget, but sometimes that won’t work.
Simpler systems are made to link straight into a vehicle’s data port, whereas most covert trackers are battery-operated. The data port is typically located under the dash, close to the driver’s knees. If you can find it and see that something is plugged into it, it is cause for alarm.
Use your flashlight and mirror to look behind the seats, behind the dash, inside and behind the glove box, and in the center console if you don’t see anything immediately apparent. Other places where trackers might be concealed include between seats, beneath sun visors, and in-seat pockets.
Because it could mix in with other parts, finding a hidden GPS tracker inside a car can be challenging. Small modules, such as the one that controls the power door locks, for example, could easily be mistaken for something more sinister.
Someone who is determined for their surveillance device to remain undiscovered may conceal a tracker beneath a seat cushion, behind a door panel, or in other awkward places.
These gadgets may also be stowed away in a trunk. Remove and examine your spare tire, if you have one. You can also remove the trunk liner at that time, which can be used to conceal a small GPS tracking device.
Exterior
- The undercarriage
- Under the hood
- The bumper
- The wheels
Small GPS trackers can be buried practically anywhere; however, they are typically concealed in places that are reasonably simple to get to. Therefore, the first step in locating a hidden GPS tracker on your car is to visually check for potential hiding places that someone may easily and quickly access.
Inside a tire well is a popular area to conceal a GPS tracker, and it is also simple to check. Examine the interior of the front and rear wheel wells with a flashlight. To gain a clear view, you might need to use a telescopic mirror. You can also use your hand to feel around in areas where you can’t see.
Try to pull down the hard plastic wheel well liner if it is loose so you can peek or feel inside. It’s possible that someone unfastened the liner so they could fasten a magnetized tracker to the body or frame behind it.
You can inspect underneath the car with the aid of your flashlight and telescoping mirror. Use a creeper to slip beneath the car if the ground clearance is high enough and you want to give it a full check. Pay attention to places where a tracker could be quickly and cheaply hidden, and bear in mind that the tracker might be covered in road grime and grit.
Trackers may also be tucked within or beneath bumpers. A flashlight and mirror are also required for a complete inspection of this area. You might occasionally need to reach up and feel around within the bumper.
Using A Bug Sweeper To Find The Tracker
The Bug Sweeper is a portable device that can pick up electromagnetic signals, such as those from telephones and radio transmitters.
Sweepers aren’t helpful for locating passive GPS trackers because they depend on detecting signals. However, they can be quite useful in locating active trackers that are well-hidden.
If you can, turn on the bug sweeper before taking a cautious stroll around your car. You might need to hold it close to each of the areas specified in the preceding sections, depending on the sensitivity.
A bug detector will normally alert you by lighting up, vibrating, or buzzing when it detects a suspicious signal. Now is the time to use a fine-toothed comb to thoroughly go over that area.
You can come across a tracker that only sends when the car is moving. This kind of tracker is passive when the vehicle is stopped, so a bug sweeper cannot find it. Therefore, if you initially don’t see anything, have someone else drive the car while you keep an eye on the sweeper.
Related
- Best Car GPS Tracker you should buy
- How to track a car with GPS
- How to Find a Hidden GPS Tracker in Your Car
- How to track a car without a tracker
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