My girlfriend drives a Camaro ZL1. After leaving a store, she noticed a vehicle parked diagonally nearby. As soon as she got into her car, that vehicle started up and drove away, which made her wonder whether someone might be tracking her. There is no other evidence suggesting a tracker is installed, but we would like to check just in case. What are the best ways to detect a GPS tracker, and which areas of the car should we inspect?
4 Answers
A consumer detector can help, but only if the tracker is actively transmitting. Some devices store location data and transmit only occasionally, so they may not be detected during a quick scan. If someone installed a unit for later retrieval, likely locations would include the underside, wheel wells, or another place that is easy to access.
Start with the easy-to-reach areas: underneath the car, inside the wheel wells, around the battery, beneath the dashboard, and in the trunk. Some trackers plug into the vehicle’s diagnostic port, while others are wired into the electrical system. A Bluetooth-scanning app may find certain consumer tracking devices, but it will not detect every type of GPS unit. With no other warning signs, the nearby vehicle may simply have been a coincidence.
A car starting nearby and leaving when someone gets in is not, by itself, strong evidence of tracking. Check the vehicle methodically, but avoid taking it apart based only on that coincidence. If anything suspicious is found, photograph it in place and have a qualified mechanic or law enforcement officer examine it before removing it.
The most reliable option is to have an independent automotive repair shop put the car on a lift and inspect it. They can check the underbody, wheel wells, engine compartment, battery area, diagnostic port, and wiring for anything unusual. There may be a small inspection fee, but it is generally more dependable than guessing from a brief visual check.
Thanks—that makes sense. We’ll inspect the dashboard and other accessible areas carefully, even though we have no reason to think anyone entered the car.