Are you looking at choosing a car tracking device – what are the costs and the installation options available?
GPS trackers can be easily installed into any car.
When it comes to installation there are two main types of tracking devices:
- Hardwired tracker models
- Trackers that connects to an existing socket in your car (plug-in models).
Both of these have their advantages and disadvantages (read below)…
Picture courtesy caradvice.com.au
Hardwired GPS car tracking device
A hardwired tracking device is exactly that – the wires from the tracker have to be connected to the car’s electrical system.
There are advantages and disadvantages to doing this as described below:
Advantages:
- More reliable power-connection
- The tracking device can be better hidden from view
- The tracking device usually comes with a better GPS antenna (external) giving more accurate vehicle location
- The tracker can be connected to the car alarm, car ignition for the remote disable features and other inputs and outputs like fuel sensor monitoring, automatically wind up windows, lock doors, etc.
Disadvantages:
- Need to pay to have it fitted (though just a once-off cost per vehicle installation).
- De-install effort to remove the GPS tracking device to fit it to another car (depends entirely how long you plan to keep the car, so in most cases fixed installation is fine.)
Installation:
The fleetminder car tracker (FM NxtG-V) only needs three wires – power, ground and ignition. Though it’s highly recommended a suitable car stereo installer or auto electrician fit the tracker.
If you plan to use the additional features such as alarm triggers and remote disable then extra wiring is required – and best left to the professional installer or auto electrician.
The fleetminder FM NxtG-V is a hardwired model and is very popular
Plug-in GPS car tracking device
A plug is GPS car tracker needs to have access to power so the only two ways to do this on modern vehicles is via the cigarette lighter 12 volt power or via the vehicle’s diagnostic port – called OBD.
The cigarette socket obviously is in a very visible location so it cannot be used for anti-car theft purposes. That leaves the OBD port.
The OBD port is there for the car’s mechanic to check the car’s computer error codes during the car servicing or maintenance checks. So it’s not used that often, hence it being available to source power for the car tracking device.
All cars post 1986 have an OBD diagnostic socket (port) – see above picture right. A OBD plug in device is shown being held (picture left).
Advantages of a plug-in GPS tracking device:
- Plug-in, with the GPS tracker ready to use in less than 2 minutes
- Can easily be moved from car to car
- No installation cost – you can easily plug it in yourself (still advisable to hide the GPS car tracking device within the dash with a suitable OBD extension cable).
- Some OBD GPS trackers like the fleetminder OBD-300 can also obtain and transmit engine data
- Great for hire cars, personal staff cars, etc.
Disadvantages:
- Depending on the car make and model the OBD port can be in limiting space making it difficult to fit and/or hide the GPS car tracker.
- Cannot be connected to the car alarm or any other vehicle electrics for remote disable.
The fleetminder OBD300 GPS car tracker (plug-in model)
Which one would suit you?
The main reasons for choosing either the hardwired or plug-in model depends on these factors:
Would you like to have the vehicle theft/movement alert functions? If yes, choose a hardwired model.
Would you like to be able to remotely disable the car? If yes, choose a hardwired model.
Is theft recovery / protection the biggest concern? If yes, choose a hardwired model.
Do you have a requirement to move the tracker from car to car, e.g. sharing the tracker in your family, or for a car sale lot? If yes, choose the plug-in model.
(this also depends on how secure the tracker needs to be – if potential car theft is the biggest issue, then use a hardwired model.)
Do you only require a tracker for OH&S for protection of staff in the field if they are using their personal car? If yes, choose a plug-in model.
Summary
As you can see in this article the installation of a GPS tracking device to a car is fairly straightforward.
Car tracking and car asset protection has become an ever increasing concern for motorists and thankfully tracking devices have become available and affordable for every car owner.