Whether it is because you want to monitor your teenage kids, keep track of your company’s fleet movement or for theft protection, a car tracking device provides one of the most effective solutions for vehicle monitoring.

And this is more so if you install one of those modern ones that provide highly detailed real-time data.

But, as useful as a car tracking device might be, you will be faced with several models, brands, and technologies to choose from when it comes to buying one.

Unless you are willing to try out several of them, it is important to know how to choose the right one for you or something that suits your needs beforehand.

But, this should be easy once you understand what the different models have to offer and some of the best ones in the market.

Our top 5 reviews and buying tips below provide this and much more information.

Here are our choices

Spy Tec STI GL300 Mini Real Tim GPS Vehicle Tracker by Spy Tec

Our Pick

Pros

Ideal for a variety of tracking needs
Compact and easy to conceal
Real-time tracking with map
Waterproof magnetic case
Provides both email and text alerts
Zero activation or cancellation fees

Cons

Not as mobile friendly as other advanced models.

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Whether you want to keep track of your car, teenage kid, spouse or an elderly person, this vehicle tracker will be very useful.

It is a compact and lightweight tracking device that you can easily attach to the vehicle put it in a backpack or even attach it on the belt. And it is designed to provide real-time tracking with good maps and provide email and text alerts when a person or vehicle leaves a certain location as it has a geofencing capability.

The tracking device provides location updates every 5 seconds and is designed to make it easy to access Google maps information and reports from various devices.

This is a compact and easy to use car tracking device that is highly versatile and ideal for various applications.

You know what’s the most important feature of Spy Tec STI GL300 Mini Real Tim GPS Vehicle Tracker? One customer wrote details about this on Amazon. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

Vyncs Real-Time Car GPS Tracker by Vyncs

No-Monthly Fee

Pros

High accurate GPS
Real-time geofencing
Built-in sim card supports both 2G and 3G
No monthly fees or contracts to sign
Easy to install and use
Fuel cost tracking

Cons

iPhone app needs a lot of improvement.

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The fact that you will not need to pay any monthly fees when using this car tracker should be enough to convince you to try it out.

But apart from this, it is also a super easy tracker to install and use, and it is designed to make monitoring your vehicles an almost effortless task.

It has real-time geofencing and will provide instant alerts in case the vehicle leaves the areas and the built-in sim card will support both 2G and 3G to make it even more convenient.

And although the features that you get will depend on the plan you are using, there are certain things that you will enjoy with this device regardless of the plan such as highly accurate GPS tracking and fuel cost tracking.

If you hate paying monthly fees for your car tracker, this will be a good choice for you and it is still highly reliable.

If you’re interested in reading customer reviews of Vyncs Real-Time Car GPS Tracker, you should check from Amazon Now. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

MotoSafety OBD GPS Tracking Device by MotoSafety

Cheap

Pros

Highly accurate and real-time information
Geofencing capability
Provides daily driver report and scores
Easy to install and use
Free GPS mobile app
Relatively more affordable

Cons

Drains battery significantly.

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Sometimes a cheap car tracking device is all you need to monitor your vehicle’s movement or your teen’s driving habits.

This MotoSafety car tracker is one such device, and it has been designed to be super easy to install and use, and it will always provide highly accurate and real-time information.

With this tracker in your vehicle, you will always know when your kid drives the car dangerously, and it will also provide daily driver reports and scores.

This highly affordable car tracker also has the geofencing capability which always makes tracking easier with real-time alerts.

This is a basic and highly affordable tracking device designed for ease of use and convenience.

If you’re interested in reading customer reviews of MotoSafety OBD GPS Tracking Device, you should check from Amazon Now. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

Linxup OBD GPS Tracker by Linxup

Fleet Management

Pros

100% accuracy with Google maps
Unlimited text and email alerts
Easy installation and use
Geofencing capability to create virtual boundaries
Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

Only works in the USA.

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Another relatively affordable car tracking device designed to offer 100% accuracy using Google maps. Also, it ensures that you always get real-time monitoring of the vehicle by providing unlimited alerts via texts and emails.

This car tracking device is quick and easy to install and set up the app in your phone and using it is also a straightforward process.

Like most other top-notch car trackers, it will also allow for geofencing which creates a virtual boundary and alerts you when your vehicle leaves it.

And you can be confident that it is a well-made and highly durable product as the manufacturer backs it with a limited lifetime warranty.

With real-time alert of various things like speeding, idling and off-hour use this will be a perfect car tracker for managing a company's fleet.

You know what’s the most important feature of Linxup OBD GPS Tracker? One customer wrote details about this on Amazon. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

Carlock 2nd Generation Real-Time 3G Car Tracker by CarLock

Pros

Convenient teen monitoring
Quick and easy to install
Work for all cars
Provides alerts even for unusual vibrations such as with power tools
Low monthly fees

Cons

Maps are not as highly detailed as you might wish.

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If you have teenage kids around, you need this 3G tracker for their safety and your peace of mind.

It is designed to offer efficient monitoring of fast acceleration, hard braking, sharp turning and much more, and so whatever form or careless driving that your kid engages in you will get real-time updates.

This car tracker is also designed to be quick and easy to install, and using it is also quite straightforward.

And it will also come in handy for theft protection as it will provide alerts for any unusual vibrations and when someone tries to pry the car with a power tool.

This tracking device will work for almost all cars, and although you still need to pay monthly fees, they are way much lower than what you pay for other car trackers.

This is an advanced 3G car tracker designed to provide real-time alerts and will be excellent for monitoring teens.

You know what’s the most important feature of Carlock 2nd Generation Real-Time 3G Car Tracker? One customer wrote details about this on Amazon. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

Things to consider

Picking a car tracking device can sometimes be a confusing and tedious process as there are just too many options in the market.

However, once you understand your needs or what you want it to do for you, things should be much easier.

All in all, you need to watch out for the following things to ensure you end up with a top-notch quality gadget.

01. Purpose

One of the first things that you will need to take into account when shopping for a car tracking device is the purpose for buying one.

Do you want a device that will help you keep track of teens, manage your fleet or for theft protection?

The answer to this question will have a massive effect on your choice of tracking device because different tracking devices will come with different features to suit their intended purpose.

02. Discreetness

If you want a car tracking device for theft protection, it will be a wise idea to go for something that is discreet enough for passive tracking.

However, if the device is for keeping track of your delivery or other business vehicles it will not be a kind gesture to keep track of the drivers without their knowledge.

But because most of these devices will serve different purposes most will be made in a small and compact size to make them easy to hide.

03. Budget

Some car tracking devices can retail for hundreds or even thousands of dollars while others will only cost a few bucks.

Hence before you go out to buy one, you will need to come up with a budget.

But, it is important to note that the more advanced the features and capability, the pricier the gadget will be.

Also, note that some may require monthly subscriptions and other fees which also mean extra cost.

And so you will need to decide how much cash you are ready to spend on the tracking device.

04. Controls

The controls on the tracking device need to be super easy to use for it to serve you well.

Look at the location and size of the buttons to determine whether they are easy and convenient to use or not. Also, because most will use phone apps, the applications should also have a good and user-friendly interface.

Conclusion

Car tracking devices are a must-have for theft protection and monitoring your teens. And with all the information above, choosing one should now be super easy.

For those that prefer to get straight to the point, the Spy Tec STI GL300 is our best choice overall while the MotoSafety OBD GPS Tracking Device is the cheapest option.

See also our picks for 2019 best car backup cameras.

Buy Now

01	Spy Tec STI GL300 Mini Real Tim GPS Vehicle Tracker by Spy Tec	This is a compact and easy to use car tracking device that is highly versatile and ideal for various applications.	Buy now on Amazon
02	Vyncs Real-Time Car GPS Tracker by Vyncs	If you hate paying monthly fees for your car tracker, this will be a good choice for you and it is still highly reliable.	Buy now on Amazon
03	MotoSafety OBD GPS Tracking Device by MotoSafety	This is a basic and highly affordable tracking device designed for ease of use and convenience.	Buy now on Amazon
04	Linxup OBD GPS Tracker by Linxup	With real-time alert of various things like speeding, idling and off-hour use this will be a perfect car tracker for managing a company's fleet.	Buy now on Amazon
05	Carlock 2nd Generation Real-Time 3G Car Tracker by CarLock	This is an advanced 3G car tracker designed to provide real-time alerts and will be excellent for monitoring teens.	Buy now on Amazon

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