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Top 7: Best Hidden GPS Tracker for Car 2023

Updated On January 12, 2023

Nowadays, the use of modern GPS trackers has made locating vehicles an easy task. Aside from preventing vehicular theft, GPS trackers are handy for commercial businesses that rely on GPS tracking to check on their drivers. The best hidden tracker for cars is handy pieces of tech that are portable, compact, and functional. Primarily, a good GPS tracker functions to keep your vehicle safe. Many of the best GPS trackers listed below are fitted with safety features that are essential. When considering other features to look for in a GPS tracker, a detailed buyer’s guide is provided below.

Our best overall pick is the Spy Tec GL300 GPS Tracker as it gives accurate results and has an extended battery lifespan.

We have also listed the best spy watch and spy camera for you. You may check it and consider getting one too.

Quick Summary: Top 7 Best Hidden GPS Tracker for Car


Our professional editors pick and rate these products specifically for each category and recommend the best product we can. We may receive a commission from affiliated links
Best Overall: Spy Tec GL300 GPS Tracker
“This tracker is awesome! It's pretty accurate and the price is great. I got the extended battery and magnetic waterproof case.“
"It supports both GPRS and SMS tracking, and you can trigger it by vibration, such as the car starting. An excellent little tracker!"
Best Security: GPS Car Tracker Locator
"It's compatible with any car, thanks to the wide input voltage range, and it can be powered by batteries or your car's cigarette lighter!"
Best Added Features: Wireless Anti-theft GPS Tracker
"Regardless of what you need it for, this GPS tracker is as good as it gets, and has all the functionality you need, and then some."
Best App: Bouncie GPS Tracker
"The Bouncie GPS was easy to install into the vehicle and easy to setup the APP on multiple Smart Phones for us to track the vehicle. The Bouncie GPS was very accurate and has many helpful alerts it can send."
Best Value: Amcrest 4G GPS Tracker
"I am very impressed by the accuracy of the tracker and the ease of use. Once I turned the device on and then activated it via the Amcrest website, the GPS began tracking even the tiniest of movements."
Best Installation: ShieldGOS Hidden Car Tracker
"Installed into OBD port and downloaded the app and had immediate connectivity. Swapped it between a few cars and it picked it right up. Has a lot of features like unplugged notifications, idling notifications, car on and off, overall a good unit."
Top 3 Quick Comparison
Product
Photo
Long Lasting Battery Life?
SMS Notification?
Audio & Video Recording?
Link
Best Overall

Spytec GPS GL300 GPS Tracker for Vehicles, Cars, Trucks,...

Yes
No
No
Best Size
GPS Tracker Trunk System
No
Yes
No
Best Security
GPS Car Tracker Locator
No
Yes
No
Our Reviews

Best Overall
Quick Specs
  • Size: 3 x 1 x 1.5 inches

Spytec GPS GL300 GPS Tracker for Vehicles, Cars, Trucks,...

The Spy Tec GL300 GPS Tracker is a compact device that can easily slide under your car seat or be kept in a side pocket or the glove compartment of a car. Its small size makes it easy to hide away and since the device does not rely on an external source, there are no wires to give away its presence. This GPS Tracker can last more than 2 weeks on a single charge.

This GPS Tracker is a simple rectangular device that is just 3 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. It is a slim device but it is able to provide reliable real-time GPS tracking. Spy Tec provides a downloadable software from which you can access your vehicle’s coordinates. The app also automatically alerts users when the device needs to be recharged. 

This tracker is essentially designed for various needs and purposes. Installing the device is simple since you only need to attach it to the vehicle. Since it has a smart charge-saving feature, the device stays on standby mode until it detects motion. This feature maximizes its battery life. Spy Tec, however, provides different subscription plans which users can choose from: Basic Tracking, Premium Tracking, and Elite Tracking. All the packages include text/email alerts when the tracker exits a set perimeter boundary, 4G coverage, and real-time map location. The main difference between these packages is that the Basic Tracking Package gives users updates every 60 seconds on the location, while the Premium and Elite Tracking Package gives users 30 second updates and 5 second updates respectively.

Pros

  • Long-lasting Battery Life
  • Simple Design
  • Easy To Hide

Cons

  • High Monthly Fees
Product Reviews:
"This tracker is awesome! It's pretty accurate and the price is great. I got the extended battery and magnetic waterproof case."
Best Size
Quick Specs
  • Size: 1.4 inches
GPS Tracker Trunk System
This small GPS TRacker Trunk System is one of the smallest GPS trackers on this list. Its compact size makes it extremely easy to hide under the trunk of your car. The device is designed to connect to your vehicle’s battery. After setting it up and putting in a sim card that is capable of supporting GSM networks, this GPS tracker is ready to go. The package comes with a few other instructions to download an app. The manufacturer provides a QR code to download the app and access the platform with the given IMEI account and password. After this setup process, the device can now be tracked via the Map system. (1)

This GPS tracker has sensors that sense vibrations, which automatically turn the device on to start tracking GPS location. When the vehicle is parked, the device also puts itself into standby mode. Through the app, users can get real-time tracking information, and playback previous drives as well. 

Pros

  • Small and Compact Design
  • Supports SMS Notifications

Cons

  • Complicated Setup 
  • Requires SIM Card
Product Reviews:
"It supports both GPRS and SMS tracking, and you can trigger it by vibration, such as the car starting. An excellent little tracker!"
Best Security
Quick Specs
  • Size: 3.5 x 1.7 x 0.4 inches
GPS Car Tracker Locator
This GPS Car Tracker Locator is car-powered and app-controlled. Installing this tracker is easy since the device is a small and compact unit that can be attached to either the car cigarette lighter power supply or directly to the battery power supply. It is compatible with almost any vehicle because of the wide input voltage range (12-24VDC). When setting up, the tracker is able to function automatically after the app and SMS settings are set up. The process can be a bit complex but the tracker comes with a manual that provides detailed instructions on how to connect the tracker to your smartphone. 

On the road, the tracker provides real-time location tracking, intelligent reporting location and alarm status to the platform and center number. Users can access GPS coordinates via Google maps or receive SMS notifications on the location. An added layer of security is set into the device because there is a password protection system in place to prevent other people from using the data from the device.

Pros

  • Small and Compact Design
  • Supports SMS Notifications

Cons

  • Complicated Setup

  • Requires SIM Card
Product Reviews:
"It's compatible with any car, thanks to the wide input voltage range, and it can be powered by batteries or your car's cigarette lighter!"
Best Added Features
Quick Specs
  • Size: 1.9 x 1.4 x 0.59 inches
Wireless Anti-theft GPS Tracker
The Wireless Anti-theft GPS Tracker supports a wide global frequency range (GSM850, GSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900). The device is compact and easy to place in small spaces around your vehicle. Some of the key features that this tracker provides, aside from the GPS sensors, include motion detection features, a built-in alarm system, and video or audio recording features. 

The tracker is packed with an infrared sensor alarm that alerts the owner whenever someone gets too close to it. Aside from that, the motion detectors also trigger an alarm system when movement is detected. This is a handy device that can be used for either your car or your home. 

In order to start using the tracker, you will need a memory card and sim card with a data plan. The tracker will send you SMS notifications when there is movement. In order to track location, users simply need to text the device the letter “W” and in turn, they will receive a link to a Google Maps coordinate. While this can be done multiple times, the device does not provide any real-time tracking. Instead, you can set up a constant notification system to track vehicles.

Pros

  • Video and Audio Recording
  • Easy Installation and Setup

Cons

  • No Real Time Tracking
  • No App or Software
Product Reviews:
"Regardless of what you need it for, this GPS tracker is as good as it gets, and has all the functionality you need, and then some."
Best App
Quick Specs
  • Size: 1.75 x 1.87 x 1 inch

Bouncie - GPS Car Tracker [4G LTE], Vehicle Location,...

The Bouncie GPS Tracker is a small and compact tracker that can be plugged in directly to your vehicle’s OBD port for an easy and quick installation. When plugged in, users only need to download the App which is compatible with either iOS and Android. The GPS Tracker is an affordable gadget that comes with multiple features aside from GPS tracking. However, Bouncie offers an affordable subscription plan that you need to get in order to use the GPS tracking service.

While the device can’t be hidden in other areas of the car, the OBD port is actually hidden from plain view so this device is not visible unless someone checks that area. The Bouncie GPS Tracker is small and compact. It seems like a simple device but it has a powerful chip and GPS sensor inside it. The initial drive with the app and tracker set up might need a while to sync but when it does, it operates quite smoothly.

The app actually provides a lot of data on your driving. Aside from just GPS coordinates and location tracking, the app comes with an integrated Map to show other locations. You can easily zoom in and out, while also shifting between satellite or street view. The app tracks each drive and summarizes a ton of useful data, such as vehicle speed, acceleration, idle time, hard braking, and the like to show drivers their driving habits. It is a good way to review how you drive. Additionally, the app also shows other vehicle diagnostics so you can track your vehicle needs, and scheduling of your license and registration as well.

Pros

  • Easy and Simple Setup
  • Multifunctional App

Cons

  • Monthly Fees
  • Cannot Hide in Other Areas
Product Reviews:
"The Bouncie GPS was easy to install into the vehicle and easy to setup the APP on multiple Smart Phones for us to track the vehicle. The Bouncie GPS was very accurate and has many helpful alerts it can send."
Best Value
Quick Specs
  • Size: 3 x 1.5 x 1 inches

Amcrest GPS GL300 GPS Tracker for Vehicles (4G LTE) -...

The Armcrest 4G GPS Tracker is a slim battery-powered tracker that comes with an iOS and Android compatible app. In order to use this tracker, a monthly subscription fee is required. The actual cost of the subscription will depend on the specific type of package you need; the options include the basic package that sends 60-second updates, and with higher-tier packages that provide 30-second updates, 15-second updates, and 5-second updates with faster updates costing a higher monthly fee. Aside from the actual cost of the product and the subscription fees, there are no other costs involved.

This GPS Tracker relies on a fast 4G LTE connection to provide updates on location tracking. In order to access the tracking data, users need to download an app. Using the app is quite easy since it has an intuitive user interface set with basic controls. The app mainly utilizes Google Maps to provide tracking. Other things that you can do with the app include setting Geofencing points, monitoring driving activity, and checking on summarized driving reports. 

The tracker is housed inside an IPX5 waterproof case and is powered by a 2600mAH battery which can typically run the device for 10-14 days. The small size of this unit makes it easy to hide in a vehicle by placing it under a car seat, inside one of the side pockets, or inside the glove compartment. (2)

Pros

  • Long-lasting Battery Life
  • Simple Design
  • Easy To Hide

Cons

  • High Monthly Fees
Product Reviews:
"I am very impressed by the accuracy of the tracker and the ease of use. Once I turned the device on and then activated it via the Amcrest website, the GPS began tracking even the tiniest of movements."
Best Installation
Quick Specs
  • Size: 1.26 x 1.89 x 0.98 inches

ShieldGPS VO1 - 4G GPS Vehicle Tracker with Smart Anti Theft...

The ShieldGOS Hidden Car Tracker is a small tracker device that can fit easily into the palm of your hand. Installing this device into your vehicle is a simple process because you only need to plug it into the OBD port which is usually at the lower portion of your dashboard. It is a small and secure spot that is not easy in view. Although the tracker needs to be plugged into that area, not many people check their OPD ports.

Setting up this car tracker is a 2-step process that involves plugging in the actual device into the car’s OPD port and then downloading the TrackSolid app on your smartphone. The app is available on either the Google Playstore or the iOS App Store. On a PC, the app is accessed on a web browser. Setting up an account is quite easy and when you have everything synced, the app will automatically provide real-time GPS tracking with consistent 10-second updates.

Aside from GPS tracking, the app also allows users to check location history and playback previous driving routes. Driving speed is also summarized. Users can actually set up a speed alert that sends users notifications when the car is being driven too fast. This is a great feature if you’re looking to monitor your teen’s driving habits.

In order to use the app and GPS tracking on the device, a low monthly subscription fee is also required. This covers the sim card, and the data and tracking app usage. ShieldGOS actually offers one of the best deals in the market in terms of the device cost and monthly subscription fees.

Pros

  • Easy and Quick Installation
  • Multiple Features on App

Cons

  • Monthly Fees
  • Cannot Hide in Other Areas
Product Reviews:
"Installed into OBD port and downloaded the app and had immediate connectivity. Swapped it between a few cars and it picked it right up. Has a lot of features like unplugged notifications, idling notifications, car on and off, overall a good unit." (3)

Things to Consider Before Buying Hidden GPS Tracker for Car

Hidden GPS trackers are small but very useful gadgets to have in your car whether you need it for private or commercial purposes. In order to keep track of your vehicle’s location, getting a reliable GPS tracker is essential. However, there are so many GPS trackers in the market and it can be difficult to find a good one. The list above is just a few of the best hidden GPS trackers for a car but there are still more out there. In order to spot a good GPS tracker, there are just a few things you need to consider.


Case

Most people put their hidden GPS tracker in almost any spot in their vehicle. While some prefer keeping it inside, placing the tracker outside of the car can actually help improve the signal and also keep it better hidden. However, outside placement will leave the GPS tracker exposed to several outdoor elements that, since the GPS tracker is an electronic device, could potentially damage it. Because of this, a good exterior case is essential if you plan to place the tracker outside. 

Some trackers already come with a weather-proofed case while others will require that you purchase an add-on. An exterior case should also have a built-in mounting system to attach it to the car. Although adhesives may seem like a good option since it will prevent any damage to your vehicle, these are not as durable as actually screwing the mount onto your car. 


Geofencing

Aside from providing GPS coordinates for real-time tracking, there are also some GPS trackers that have a Geofencing feature that sets a boundary around a specific area. Whenever the vehicle goes beyond the set perimeter, the owner will automatically receive a notification. This is a nifty safety feature, especially for those with car rental businesses. For private car owners, it could also be a useful feature to keep track of where your teens are driving.
 

Proximity Alerts

Quite similar to Geofencing, Proximity Alert features allow users to set certain points of interest. Whenever the vehicle approaches these locations, a notification is also sent out. This is a handy feature for when you need to know when a vehicle reaches a specific destination. Aside from letting you know that a car is approaching a destination, proximity alerts also let you know that a car is leaving a certain area. 


Control

When it comes to the amount of control that users are able to have on their GPS trackers, there is a wide range of functions depending on the specific tracker. There are some trackers that do not provide much control aside from setting the main point of contact. These types of trackers are usually easier to set up, however, there are definitely some limits to the amount of information you can get from it.

On the other hand, GPS trackers that come with an App or some kind of software provide a platform where users can control different settings, modes, and functionalities. Aside from just setting up Geofencing and Proximity Alerts, there can also be other features such as an Alarm system, SMS Notification Alerts, and many others. With improved control on how the GPS tracker is used, there are usually a few drawbacks such as an added monthly fee for an app or data subscription.


Battery Life

A hidden GPS tracker will need a reliable battery life in order to function for days or weeks at a time. While there are GPS trackers that can be plugged into the vehicle through the cigarette lighter power supply, these cannot be hidden since the wires are a dead giveaway. Thus, a decently hidden GPS tracker should have reliable battery life.

An alternative, however, would be a tracker that can be directly connected to the car’s battery. With this kind of tracker, no one will be able to find it unless they pop open the hood and check the engines. Having a direct power supply will also mean that recharging the tracker is no longer necessary, which can be more convenient.
Our Top Pick Again
The Spy Tec GL300 GPS Tracker is a compact device that can easily slide under your car seat or be kept in a side pocket or the glove compartment of a car. Its small size makes it easy to hide away and since the device does not rely on an external source, there are no wires to give away its presence. This GPS Tracker can last more than 2 weeks on a single charge.

Spytec GPS GL300 GPS Tracker for Vehicles, Cars, Trucks,...

Resources

(1) GSM Networks – https://www.lifewire.com/definition-of-gsm-578670
(2) IPX5 – https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/what-is-ip-water-resistance-headphones-speakers/
(3) OBD port – https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/obd-ii-port-used/

About the author 

Angela Otero

Angela Otera is a spy camera professional that has been in the industry as a advisor for security and camera installations all around the Los Angeles Area. Over the years she has developed a unique technical expertise in the sector that allows he to write and give suggestions on services and security related issues. She enjoys hiking and spends her free time with her 2 children.