We’ve written a bit about GPS-tracking your car, and the latest post as of today is about the tracking devices that the FBI uses to keep tabs on…well, those that they feel needs keeping track of. Those of us who own a vehicle should definitely go for the first option, but how do you find out if anyone is using one of these devices to track your car without you knowing (or wanting) it?
The question is perhaps not as irrelevant to you as you might think. The FBI can, according to a 9th Circuit court judge, place these devices on any vehicle they see fit, no warrant or warning necessary. Also, there’s that jealous girl-/boyfriend, controlling parent, etc, etc. that might want to keep tabs on your whereabouts – what do we know. In any case, a GPS tracker is the method most used to track a vehicle, and though there are other methods out there (plain following you, radio beacon, etc) it’s by far the most versatile and cost effective way to do it.
So here’s how to find out if your car is being tracked – a.k.a. “Where to Look for It”. Please remember that this write-up is for a “manual” search – no fancy electronics, expensive or otherwise. Those won’t help you find a passive, GPS/GSM module without radio transmitters anyway.
One thing to remember is that a GPS tracking device needs to “see” the sky in some way. While GPS signals will penetrate thin (-ish) plastic or similar materials, they will have a tough time with metal. That’s why the device will have to be placed in a location that will both protect it and still provide a semi-clear path to the satellites above. So where should you look? Take a look at the picture below. We’ve put some helpful arrows on a cut-away view of a relatively normal car – the locations are transferable to any car that rolls on the roads today, at least.
Okay, those arrows might be a little bit confusing, so here’s a bullet list of what they mean – we’ll start from the front, and work our way back to the rear end of the car, and outside points first.
– Front Bumper Area.
This is an unlikely place, since it is a risk to whatever device is placed there, but it’s not impossible. Take your flashlight and get a good look in all the nooks and crannies that are up under there. One thing that speaks for this location is easy access to your car’s battery, in most cases. This would provide a device with uninterrupted power, and it could stay there, running, for weeks. Look for wires that doesn’t seem to fit, small black boxes and other things that look placed there. If it’s bolted to the car, don’t remove it – it could be something that’s supposed to be there. Keep in mind that wires in this location can be power for your lights, external temperature sensors, etc. Be sure before you remove anything.
– Wheel Wells.
This goes for all four of them, of course. Again, this is unlikely, but not impossible. Look for boxes, cylinders, etc. that doesn’t seem to be doing anything. The only things that should be behind your wheel (yes, you should remove the wheels to look in here) are brakes (there might be a wire going to a sensor behind the brakes – don’t touch that), springs and your dampers. That’s it. You can even see some of that in the above cut-away. There will be some kind of load-bearing structure under there too, but you won’t be able to confuse that with a tracking device. If you manage that, you should get a diploma for…something.
– Rear Bumper Area.
Just like with the front bumper area, there might be wires under here. In most cases they’re powering lights and external sensors that tell you stuff when you drive. Some people even have cameras mounted here, but in most cases those go in the rear door. Look for the usual suspects, and be careful not to remove anything that actually belongs there. You should be aware that most equipment in and on a modern car is interconnected in some way, and removing things that you should have left alone might make it hard or impossible to operate the car – i.e. get it to start…
-General Areas.
You should go over all other “outlying” areas of the car’s undercarriage. Remember that satellite signals won’t pass through metals of normal thickness, and so any antenna needs to “see” the sky in some way or other. Make that flashlight work for you, and make sure you’ve seen the whole “outer square” of the car’s underside.
– Internal: Dashboard Area.
There’s a lot of room under the fancy dashboard inside the car. There’s stuff in there, sure, but there’s plenty of room to hide stuff too. The easiest way to gain access, in most cases, is through the glove compartment. Remove the “compartment” itself – in most cars, this is a matter of opening it, unscrewing some screws and pulling out the whole thing (mind the cables for lighting, etc). Shine your light in there. There will be a lot of wires. Those that are installed in the factory, however (the car’s “harness”) will be taped together, or held together with plastic strips. You should check any wire that has a strange color or is loose inside the dashboard. Feel with your hand up underneath the dashboard – are there antennas up there (most of them can be glued to any flat surface)?
Next, do the same for the driver side. It should be possible to take off the panel under the steering wheel. Make that flashlight earn its keep – it’ll be dark and dusty up there.
– Internal: Consoles and Such.
If you have a sunroof or if your car’s a convertible, the devices and antennas can be installed in other locations than under the dash. Check for wires, unscrew any covers that you can (remember, these were, in most cases, made to be removed if necessary – you won’t break anything unless you use force). Check for odd wires under the carpets in the car, and under the rear seats, and follow them to their source(s). Be careful not to damage any seat heating equipment.
After The Inspection – What Next?
If you’ve done these checks and found nothing, but that feeling is still there that something is going on, there’s only one thing to do, really. Get someone else to look over the car. The people who should be doing this if you’re looking for something that shouldn’t be there are car alarm installers. Find a reputable installer, and call’em up. In most cases, they’ll be very helpful, and it’s even likely that they’ve had the same kind of request before, and have had some experience with the problem. These people also know how to install tracking devices, and know what those gadgets need, so they know where they’ll be.
Still nothing? Chances are that there’s no one tracking you, buddy. Rest easy.
driving car certain times of day you can hear three faint beeps. drive car and park and you can hear the beeps again. any ideas.
Hi Rich. What’s your car’s make, model and year?
Yes I have been having people following me each and every day, and if they are monitoring me. I moved out of my girl friend place because I told here that when ever I go out side and people look for me and take off. Like late at night I would take the trash out maybe 11pm and there is a school in front of my girl friend car port, and there would be a flash of light of some one young and they would make whisling noised, and people always taking pictures of me as well and following me each and every moment, and this has been happening for over a year now. At first I thought it was my job because of wrongful termination. But also I had a issue with the sheriff dept where they used a taser on me while having a siezure and I sued them but we settled, and my attorney said that it would not be them becaused we settled. But I am being tracked and the police will not help at all with the pictures that I have.
Now also I did purchase the car and I did notice after a few weeks it had “DNA Tracking” sticker and a lot of them in the arm rest, and then I started noticing them everywhere under the trunk/engine hood, all of the doors and this a cadilac cts. I will use the pictures as describe and if you know of any electronics places let me know. thanks
Yikes.
A good rule of thumb is that if you’ve got nothing to be paranoid about, your paranoia is just paranoia.
There’s no such thing as DNA tracking – well, there is, but that’s when you use DNA profiles to track meat shipments and batches… not Cadillacs. It’s highly probably that you (and your girlfriend) would be better off if you saw a professional (i.e. a psychologist or counsellor of some sort) to help you with your paranoia.
This is SnallaBolaget, saying; Just because you’re paranoid, it doesn’t mean they’re not following you! But see a shrink just in case.
I just fouund this website.I am glad i did.I havebeen in a few car accidents hit from behind.I have a lawyer.I see people outside with camara,s and taking pictures and wrighting things down.They even sit outside my home.If i go any were they come out of no were.I was at a stores parking lot and with in 5 min a car was their the same one.I have the plate numbers and they are the same.I looked for a tracing device but cant seem to find one.i notice the my clock light in the cariis not working,I did look on the right cback tire under the frame of the car and did feel and see were a piece of a rubber plug was removed pushed up in the cage.Impossbile i say.Have any thoughts of were to look.Are they using my cell phone to track me?I guess since i have lawsuits pending they are doing this.I feel like these people need to get a life.I did drive by a school last night and they have a electronic display board.It was flashing lights.I find this very weird.Any thoughts or advice?
I’m not being paranoid lol but I think a repo guy has a tracker on my car we are filing chapter 7 and they keep finding my car is there any way for me to pick up the signal they have on my car with out paying 300 for a decetor thanks
So glad I found this site. I have been fighting with a BHPH dealer while filing Chapt 7. He is insisting on installing a GPS on my vehicle. My car has been sitting somewhere he may/or may not know where, if found on private property could GPS have been installed during the night while homeowner was sleeping and would disconnecting the battery for about a week disable it if it were?
So ya lets just keep bulding freeways .i and co will give um something to name them hahahahaha rest in piss pigs.
Man!!! Toward the end you fools really started sounding 100% tweaker mental cases LOL ! Calm down Beavises. Christ! I was like “whaaa?” “ugghhh lol” Listen dudes – get yourself into a child custody dispute and then comeback and tell me about what people will stoop to. No one cares about your crap enough to track you lol. And WTF man – “DNA Tracking” ?? LOL that’s retarded not real – and they were “stickers” ?? you sound geeked or actively manic lol go chill the fuck out your delusional
put the pipe down fools lol
lights blinking – yeah they were going to such stupidly elaborate lengths because your so interesting to follow.
jeesus.
😉
i drive a scion and.hear an occassional beep that sounds lile it comes from the left side door mirror but I could be mistaken since I drive with the windows up. Theres a small speaker on the.upper part of the left door (driver side) and maybe the beep comes from there.
Very curious to know what this single beep is. I am suspiciously thinking theres a tracking device
Hi Curiois.
If there’s some kind of tracking device in your car, one would think whoever put it there would make sure it was quiet. It could be any number of things – some kind of status beep from your radio, your gps system, mirror heating on/off, perhaps?
– Find out where the sound is coming from, under what circumstances. If there’s a beep, there’s a speaker.
– If you don’t know what the device is when you find it, take your car to a dealer, or check a workshop manual. Many of those can be downloaded online.
– If you do find something unknown, and you don’t want to draw attention, send us a pic and we’ll find out what it is for you.
My hunk-of-junk car was broken into a few weeks ago. My car has many cosmetic issues, including both rear windows held up by door stops. 🙁 I noticed after getting in my car from work one night, that the screwed on-flashing light-theft deterrent that was mounted near my hood latch had been unscrewed and missing. Also the cover for the fuses where missing from same location.
Since then I’ve been experiencing what seems like people following me. I even tested this theory, and baited 4 cars to a dead end, far from houses.. Making this theft even more suspicious.
An alarm system was found in my car recently. In the same area as before, but hidden in the wiring under my dash.. The car is old, and durt-covered.. Yet the 2 devices looked new. After opening the case, I find a microphone that seemed hidden.. Cylinder mic: cylinder plastic glued to the circuit board, covering the mic..
My question to the knowledgable…
Anyone know if the Mic in an alarm system is supposed to be covered for a particular reason? Or does it sound as if it’s been tampered with?
Thanks,
Lollercopter
Hey Lollercopter.
That sounds weird. Usually, alarm systems have mics to detect breaking glass, etc, and in some cases they’re covered simply to filter out the sounds that shouldn’t set it off. So that might be all right.
The rebuild and the new-looking components are something else, however. If you like, go ahead and send us a couple of pics, and we’ll ID the components for you.
If you’re really paranoid, just get an easily available GPS L1/GSM jammer. That would block both GPS and the GPRS data packets sent through the GSM/3G network, and are available for less than 50 dollars.
That’s not a bad idea, but not necessarily a good one either. A jammer would be illegal, it would be detectable in itself and it would also mean you wouldn’t be able to use your own GPS or phone. That solution will also not work if it’s a radio tracker… a radio jammer would have to jam the receiver, not the sender.
The SRS light for safety restraint system came on all of a sudden a while back. He works for honda and said that sometimes when you bump poles and anything it might activate a sesnor warning you that it may not work in an accident. the light is still on and he has never even looked at it. my clock light is out, my car battery somehow got drained over a few days. it starts but barely and one night i had no cables and he opened the hood and touched something and it started. i figured it was a mechanics secret. today i did some surfing aboutl this tracking they can do legally and also listen in. lets just say my friend has friends that do things and they have all been in trouble. i wouldn’t be at all surprised if the cops are tracking me because i drive him everywhere because i’m legal. and when we talk on the phone it’s like he puts me on mute, it’s just weird. today there were two calls to my school that i didn’ t make because i was getting ready for work. I’ll check my car real good and take my phone in. Maybe it is just paranioa but i’ll likely trust him more if i don’t find anything. thanks for the suggestions and information.
the guy on this site, ken gordon, hearing whistling is under surveillance by people affiliated with police … that’s one signal they use for communicating. other signals are blinking lights/colored lens sometimes red (my unit was issued this standard equipment for similar use so i am familiar with it when i see these)..? ken has been going through this for a year but i have been going through it about 5 years. ken will also experience vandalism on auto, small thefts made to seem amateur to avoid appearance of police activity . he is probably not aware of the hidden listening and video devices, and not so covert laser cameras etc… they want to case him up criminally. i have a private detective compiling info as to events pertaining to me. i wish him the best and feel his pain. its not in his head, america has changed in a bad way
I found a 1/2 inch loop of a bare wire sticking out from the seal on the side of my car battery.
Any thoughts? How do I send you a photo. A bit scary because my headlight has been working on and off recently (clearly an electrical issue), until now has gone out. I disconnect the battery during replacement today and found that peculiar wire, however, now the headlamp won’t work at all.
Hi Winit. Send a pic to contact@snallabolaget.com, and we’ll take a look at it for you. 🙂
Hi, every time I start my X5, I get 10 beeps from the drivers (rhd) footwell.
Its driving me crazy. Any thoughts?
thanks
Hi Justin.
That sounds a little like a GPS tracker we’ve got mounted on a couple of vehicles ourselves. It’ll beep (or “blip” – very short beeps) 10 times when external power kicks in (i.e. you turn on the car, and it doesn’t run on its batteries anymore) when there’s an antenna problem, or when it has some other trouble it needs you to look at. Do you have any more info than just “10 beeps”?
Hi, not really, just beeps 10 times, short pips
Uploaded to youtube
see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3QVDox3eo8
A mechanic did find a small black box velcrod to the panel above the drivers foot well, when fitting a final stage resister.
thanks
Hi Justin.
That video sounds like the tracker we’ve used before. The easiest way to trace the sound is simply to start taking off panels where you think the sound is coming from, and see for yourself. If you do, snap a pic of what’s making the sound and email it to us. We can probably ID it for you.
Yes I was released from prison on jan 4, 2013 for manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of more than 200 grams and I just paid $16,000 cash for a truck. Now I haven’t noticed anything prior to getting the truck but about two weeks after I took the title to have it transferred into my name I started feeling like I’m being followed and I live at the end of a coulda sac and there seems to b a lot of traffic coming and turning around when I’m home. Also when I go out there isn’t a road in Texas that I can turn down without another car coming. Now they don’t follow but for a minute or two and then it seems like they honk or give some kind of signal to another car to follow. IVe only seem a couple of the cars more than once and now I seem to run into an unmarked police at every gas station. Also it seems like every time I sit in the driver seat of my truck it makes a faint tone that I had mistaken for a squeaky sting in the seat but now thinks its more of a faint tone that sounds two or three times. The AT&T truck with one guy is also hanging out a lot outside the shop where I work. Do think I’m under some kinda 24 hr surveillance cause the IRS was alerted when the previous owner deposited that $16,000 or maybe when I took the title to the tax office. If I pull out my driveway at three in the morning I will see at least one persons walking and within 45 seconds I’ll have at least one or two cars behind me and one coming towards me turning to the left or right as soon S they pass by.
I just found a GPS tracker in my car. Not sure if its cops or wife, def one of the two. Is there any way to find out who?
I tgibk the sbi is tracking me cause my boyfriends family recently hoy into trouble for trafficin drugs thrre is a for f350 put side my hotel with XIX big antannas on it could that be them listin thro
hello,i wnt to know,how we can find tracker,and and destroying it,in hideen bags
Someone has loosened nut on my seatbelt , turned airbag system off ,cut wires under driver seat hacked into car computer .
I’m looking for a device that will find a GPS tracking device in my car. Is there such an animal?
Unfortunately, you’ll have to use your eyes and hands. Just remember that a GPS unit has to “see” the sky, with no more blockage than thin plastic/window. That means the places to look are limited. Under dash, center console, behind glove compartment, etc.
Thanks for the advice. I looked all around my vehicle tpo no avail. I’ll take my vehicle to an alarm installer to see if they can find it.
I have suspecte my boss of tracking me for over a year. More so now because a few days ago i heard this ticking noise from under my steering column. At first I thought it was vibration. Then when my car door locks started popping up and down yesterday while i was driving and i heard a ticking noise when my windshield wipers were on, i was convinced that a tracking device is installed. i’m going to find that thing and get his ass fired if i can prove he did it.
My soon to be ex-husband (child custody battle) seems to know where I am all the time. I’ve searched my car twice and found nothing. He works in the area so conveniently he could remove or replace a tracking devise while I’m at work. Today I noticed a very secure dime size yellow sticker on my antenna, could this be a tracking device?
Hi Taryn.
The sticker itself probably isn’t a tracking device. I’d go for noname’s advice too, but it’s more likely that your ex is tracking tech you already have – change your FindMyiPhone password if you’ve got one of those – research if your phone or tablet has a tracking ability, and either disable or change passwords. That said, a check under your car can’t hurt.
Interesting site.
Webmaster, you commented to a man above (too late to help 2 years old), “no such thing as DNA tracking”. He said, there were STICKERS that said that all over his car. Sounds more like gang stalking (look it up, youtube, also a fave with gangs and some clubs like mason), in retaliation for suing and winning about the unlawful tasering. Probably the riled cop who caught trouble for it.
When someone whistles, flashes lights, and makes late night stalking apparent, it is meant to intimidate, not to covertly follow. It is called gang stalking. Not very nice to suggest batty and be more careful in future to someone like that, they’re already a victim. 🙂 Its a revenge crime.
Well, noname… you gotta take context into account. 😉
for Taryn,
the sticker on your antenna looks more like an aid for a stranger he hired to come change batteries on an undercar tracker. They need that once every week to ten days. 😉
Just remove it and park somewhere else while at work. Or have someone look under the car for you. (He would have to use that if he has no access to your car after youve split up to put it inside/hardwired).
Taryn,
a) he wants to spot your car in a lot more easily or on the road (is it a common make and color?)
or b) he wants you to be upset with overt clues that he’s following you around.
(but it could be for some dummy who cant match a plate number to find the right car in your workplace like I said earlier, to change batteries underneath)
Remove it and put a webcam on your car from where you live so it’s always watched. 🙂
What if I did find something?
Thank you this has given me some onsite yo my problem. Its not the FBI its my husband and his gay lover. They have hacked my phone my wireless network and now I’m going to check out my car. My husband is always pulls down the visor looks into the mirror and acts Luke he fixing his eye lashes lol. I’m thinking they girl it somewhere in the back next to my brakevlight or I’m I way off key. Oh yeah so how is it they can get inti your dish network. One night we were watching you tube a old movie I have seen many times and this black blob came out if no were. I went back. The next day and watched that part not there.
Is there anything I cam buy to stop them tracking me. I’m so pissed. You have no idea.
My ex suddenly one day gave me a speech about how he knew where I’d been because of ‘something I took with me all the time’ and then left with another woman. That morning, I went out to my car and saw like a red laser type light shooting out backward from my rear driver side tire, and it was flattened. Also since then, my car will appear the next morning in another parking spot, and have some missing gas, I’ll find things like broken fingernails (twice) and just filth on the windows and seats. Since this has been happening, I’ve lost everything to the spyware in my phone, I’m terrified. Photos from my gallery disappear and reemerge alerted. I’m ready to kill myself, and plan to do that the day before I’m evicted Friday. I’m so afraid. I can’t live this way anymore. Can you tell me what you think with the ref lights?
Thank you! You helped me find out my parents were tracking me. I heard beeping and when I told my dad about it he must have unplugged it. I dug through all of my cords under the dash until I found it. A small box with three lights; a power, a satellite, and a gps triangle. There’s no way it’s not a tracker… Thank you again.
Fbi has been following me for years. Placed conacts in my eyes that i cant seem to remove. So they see everything i do. Theyvalso placed some sort of receiver in my ears. I hear ringing and sometimes a word or 2. I want it out.
My car has been hacked by dangerous people in WACO,TEXAS !! Through my air bag system , brakes , radio . There’s a wire attached to the place where u put gas in . Mirrors / driver seat move , uses a lot of gas , a ting ting sound coming underneath when I kill motor , dim lights stopped working for 3 wks but now work again , 2 wires have been cut under driver seat , lights dance around when on and the crash guard on front of car is gone . Also whelk we’ll cover on rear driver side has been tore off. YES YES I’VE WENT TO AUTHORITIES BUT HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED IN GETTING THEIR ATTENTION . They are not trained in even recognizing a hacked car and want listen . They will hurt again for posting this ! And yes some of these people I do know . My iPhone has been hacked also . MANY PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED!! Some pilers of the community porno , money laundering, ph streaming , accounts stealing , wifi stealing group of people . My life , home has been destroyed by them . It’s passed serious !! Trying to find someone to hear me !!
Hi! what ended up happening? this is exactly what I am going through and police won’t help! They think you are crazy. I watched a lot of videos on you tube. Its called gang stalking. scary!! help!!
I believe my employer place a GPS tracker on my vehicle. I turned in an employee for threatening me. Each time I get i n my care I bleep. Or a sound like when you remotely open your car door and the locks release. I need some help removing it. I know it’s there. Does anyone have to get a courtorder to place a GPS tracking system on my vehicle. Is it a crime. I know I am being watched. What can I do.
You guys have had very little to deal with. in 1998 we had a major argument with some influential neighbors. One of them was the mother of one of the main lawyers for Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. and I GUARANTEE you that Snowden hasn’t even scratched the surface of what law enforcement and military has and can do to us.
Our argument was 3 years BEFORE 9/11, but immediately after, our TV pictures broke down at times when we’d walk out the door or look directly at the picture. Individual lights all over the our house would blink as we walked into a room…I’m assuming “they” were telling us that they knew where we were in the house at all times and wanted us to know it, and that they were minding our business which is one of the things I told the nosy busy-body next door NOT to do.
When I washed the dishes in the kitchen and look out our window, the light overhead me would blink and a loud sound would occur in the wall right outside the window..it sounded like a ball peen hammer or rock hitting the brick wall..I looked and never saw anything.
When we walk out our door either an airplane will fly over, a train horn will blow, a vehicle will drive by or some loud sound from a lawn mower or chain saw will start.
Everywhere we go in our car, when we stop, within a minute an airplane will fly over us or a siren will go off and an emergency vehicle will drive by..and other things.
Our electronics have been E-hijacked and it affects our TV, our phone, and our computers.
Our computer Guru has been flabbergasted at what he’s seen has been done to our computer and he, too, has witnessed the airplanes flying over and vehicles driving by..
Our automobile’s electrical and electronic system and wiring has been fried and ourmechanic said he had never seen anything like it.
He couldn’t find a short anywhere that would cause this, the military has the capacity to do this to our vehicles from humdreds of feet away.they can lock and unlock your car locks that are electronic and on and on and on.
This is not all, but will stop for now.
About 6 years after all this started, I found a web site that documents some of what I’ve described to all of you. Its “Angelfire/electronicharassment”..There are also other websties that document it. Also, here in Greensboro, NC a local TV station did an expose’ of what is known as E-hijacking so it isn’t just us that are going thru this..and we certainly ARE NOT PARANOID.
This has been going on since 1998..3 years BEFORE
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One night about 12am as I came home from a buddies house, I drove past a lady jogging around the corner. Turned the corner, then turned in the drive way. I will usually sit in my car a couple of minutes after parking playing with my phone, listening to the last of a song, but do not get out right away. Well as I’m reclined back, I notice the lady jogging jog behind my car, as a very observant person I look out the passenger mirror and she squats down to sit with her back against my rear wheel, and she wasn’t tying her shoe or nothing because her back was up against my car. I sat in shock for a couple seconds, she got up and continued running. I got out and walked toward her direction and stared. I ammediately thought something was fishy, but have put it off because I don’t like to over think situations. But I never found a tracker nor a reason to be tracked. Just plain weird
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I’ve found a black box underneath my dash its got an antenna by the looks of it, a blue button and different colour cables could it be a tracking device?
Send us a picture, and we’ll tell you what it is.
What kind of picture ar u talking abt?
This post is not wort it,
how can you be posting where to find tracker in a vehicle.
You are just encouraging car theft. of any armed robber can go through your text, it will be easy for him to remove the tracker and go away with the car, and render the tracking company incompetent,
please, mind what you post here for security reasons Thanks.
Nwoye, of all the comments we get, the “secret is secure” ones are the most naive. Secrecy does not equal security, on any level, and the enlightenment of everyone is the only weapon we have in the fight to be safe in our homes and communities. Informing people where the best places to locate a tracker on their vehicle is doesn’t make anything easier for a car thief – it makes it easier for people who are being wrongly followed to remove such devices. Also, it can be used by people who want to place trackers on their own vehicles, in case of theft.
So, please, mind what you post here, for ridicule reasons. Thanks.
Relax Mister Solomon. The Dealer installed GPS are not in the places shown in this article. Also if a Dealer installed a GPS in your car then you paid for it and should know that it is there. This article shows you where GPS Trackers are installed by PI.’s etc.
That’s a very good point as well. Thanks, ACI.
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who can remove this items if im not able todo it by my self?
Please im sure that ihave one and I need that you provide a specialist to remove it I heard thatmost of this devices has a little light flashing all the time do im right?
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have a suspicion my vehicle may have an unauthorized GPS or bug devise planted in my vehicle for the past few weeks an individual has been stalking me. Last week in a public parking lot I left my vehicle there for 3 hours locked alarm activated. When I returned when I deactivated my alarm 3 horn beeps sounded indicating my alarm had been activated. When I opened my vehicle I found my belongings tossed everywhere. Including my trunk. Here is the strange part, nothing seemed to be missing including 700.00 in cash hidden away all my loose change still there out in the open. I’m ruling out kids in that case. Either a listening devise or gps has been placed ? I now have a sender reminding me to service my air bags unknown reason. Your thoughts.
Hi!
I found your post informative. I have had a sensor or tracker on my car for a few months and can’t find it. I am followed everywhere and they break in and continuously break my 2 year olds seat and don’t steal anything, just a few things, and add things to my water and have actually planted drugs. The police won’t help as I have filed many complaints. Please help!! thank you!! Riley
VERY INFORMATIVE!
I was looking for someone to take my car to who would know how to find a (hidden) tracking device since I have had no luck finding it, but know there is one there (somewhere)! This site gave the advice to see an Alarm Installer to help locate the device. None of the other sites I’ve visited gave this information.
Excellent article! I think still there are ways to hide the gps tracking devices, like below the seats, or in a metal box locked and attached firmly in any inner part of a car.
The problem with GPS tracking is the need for a view of the sky, as it were. Either, the device itself needs a clear line of sight (no metal in between – glass is often fine) to the satelites, or you need an antenna. Radio trackers, however, are more versatile, but often with less range and other limitations.
Some years back, I was tearing apart a classic car of mine to restore it. I found not one, but TWO tracking devices in it. Both were about the size of an old silver dollar, with a long wire attached. One was inside the car, with the disc in a speaker box, and the wire that was rather longish, was wrapped in line with the speaker wire. The other was behind the weatherstrip padding by the A-pillar near the door hing on the driver’s side. The wire was near powered wires, but neither device drew any power directly from the car. I tried to reverse engineer one, and found that the electronics were some sort of printed form that I have never seen before. The wire tails, told a different story. Apparently, the way it it set up, a charge from induction powered the damn things, and the was actually a third wire that was obviously an antenna.
This was some seven years ago. Before anyone says “nay,” just remember Tom Clancy’s words; “What you think you know is just the tip of the iceberg.” I have no doubt in my mind that the previous owner may have been into something nefarious, and that the devices were placed long before I had acquired the car.
If I hadn’t been restoring the vehicle from the ground-up, I would have never found either. That sort of thing was just not on my to-do list.
I know better, now, and that is why I will never purchase a newer car.
Maybe had a plan to come find it one day with a spare key after you had fixed it up?
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I was looking under my driver side seat and i found a thin black six inch long device about the thickness of a car remote….. It had a red wire and a black wire leading from it, with a red light and a green light constantly on dispite the car not being on, I trased the 2 wires back and foundout that they were spliced in to the automatic seat adjustment wires, what should i do? Cut them? rapp them in foil or what? I think its from the dealer…….HELP
Hey. Ive been told there isn’t a tracking device in my work car but every now and then when i drive it there is a loud beping sound coming from my dash continue lessly every 5 to 10 minutes. I drive iload van fairly new. Are new iload vans known for doing this?? All would it most likely be a tracking device??
There are other things to worry about before you start thinking tracking device. Is this an error warning of some kind? Are there fault codes in your ECU? Have you checked the manual for the car? This could be any number of things. However, someone planting a tracking device would most likely disable any sounds the device might make, wouldn’t you agree?
Most of the time that beep is a check this or that light and or put your seat belt on reminder look to see if above the rear view mirror or on the dash is a passenger seat belt on off light if so that’s probably the cause most gps devices do not make noise although a lot of them have lights and if it’s company installed it will probably have service through a cell phone company and will most likely be wired in under the dash or hood most all companies that invest in tracking don’t buy junk but why do that if they provide you with a cellphone they could simply see who called you and who you called and the duration and your location at all times it is even mapped out like routes on a map some can even see both sides of text messages so think if it’s your personal car it’s probably like in the post if company it’s more than likely like I stated unless your under surveillance by a government agency and only you would know if that’s a possibility and in that case your probably already screwed I would use taxi cabs and prepaid 10 dollar phones that could be tossed often and walk a tight line lol
today’s tracking devices leave no sign they have been fitted or deployed. Years ago before GPS technology, the trackers would caus interference with the FM radio signals. Nowadays due to the frequencies and methods used to transmit the signal, no interference is experienced. I would suggest the vehicle is faulty/
If you could assist me with the issue I’m having it would be greatly appreciated. I had my vehicle checked at Best Buy for tracking devices but they looked very inexperienced and experiencing the same issues. Thanks in advance
Hi,
I did find a tracking device on my car, what I’m wondering is if there is any way that I can find out who it belongs to and who put it there.
Thanks in advance!
Send us a pic, and we can take a look for you.
I have a brown sticker on the inside of my windshield, and I can feel a chip or something in it. It’s at the top, over the drivers seat. Do you know what it could be?
Hi
The tracker needs to be examined to see if it is the type that uses a sim card. If it does, the only way to ascertain the person responsible for deploying the device would be to contact the local police who will carry out a subscribers check on the sim number and IMEI number. Although this may prove fruitless if the user has topped up the sim on a PAYG using cash and not credit card thus leaving no records of purchase.
If no sim is used and its the type favoured by law enforcement, try using your imagination to create a misinformation strategy and leave the tracker somewhere they will want to identify or recover their device.
i bought a truck and a friend of mine bought one too(both used). his truck turned out to be a lemon. the engin started knocking and replaced both timeing chains. then u could hear an interior noice comin from the engin, either a bent rod or the connecting rod metals turned. well he was pissed of and wanted to chop up the truck, or burn the engine up. then his brother brought up a good point, so i made a little research.
80% of sold vehicles are sold with trackin devices. I am mechanically incline and it took me 3 minutes to find the one that was put on my truck. i dont want people knowing where i am or where i go. its a black transmitter smaller tjan a cell phone. it has two wires and a green and red light. i disconected the ground wire and wala, problem fixed.
I feel that there is a tracking device on my car , where can I go to get them to find it ?
I found a tracking device under my seat today. Wonder who/what/why its there. Is someone tracking me or just the car in general? Can I give you the info and see if its still being tracked?
I found a GPS tracker under my car. Can you tell me who owns it or maybe who put it there?. The manufacturer said u would need a subpoena to find out.
Did you ever get a response to this? I found one on my car and I want to know who put it there.
How likely is it that your keys have been tampered with. Don’t they all have transponders on them, now? Could someone at your dealership tamper with them. Could you be tracked by your keys instead of a gps tracker on your car. They could track you no matter how you traveled because most people take their keys with them, everywhere.
How can the keys work as tracker
How long can a car be tracked by the camera car and tow truck after they both have lefted your car?
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I drive a nissan altima 2007 i think there is a tracking device were would i look
Hi I’m writing because I’m concerned that my car is being tracked. I say this because I have become aware of familiar vehicles following me to several different locations. What would you recommend the course of action to be to resolve this. I went to Best Buy to let them do an inspection but they looked like inexperienced and charged for finding nothing. If someone could help me with this it would greatly appreciated.
If you feel that people are following you for unknown purposes, keep a diary. Log license plates, time of day, vehicle type and color. If you find a pattern that you can correlate, go to the police. If that’s not an option, stop your illegal activities. If none of the above; Medication. Family cars are likely just common and not following you.
I drive a 1986 jaguar and that has tracking in it. You should get it!
Hi I have been divorced for 6 months and my ex knows exactly when my car starts, where i am and how long i have been there. i have asked may tacking companies to help even the dealer ship that i bought my car from, but all say the same thing, i need to strip the vehicle or sell it.
is there any other way
He may have spyware on your cell phone. go to flexispy.com and read all the features it can most phone spyware has to use thru a app. It is undetected and only can be removed by a professional
As I was leaving my ex the garage door closed & I saw a flash/spark of light. While driving to my mother’s I noticed that part of my dash board was loose & that I was unable to turn off my radio & the heater/cooler vent while driving. I could feel being watched & listened to. Once I pulled up at my mom’s I shut off the car grabbed my flashlight looked up & under the steering column I saw a little black box taped with black electrical tape with wires that lead to my radio & the heading/cooling vent. These wires were new. They were easy to see being it’s an older car. I opened the hood and noticed a new serpentine belt had been installed mysteriously. My mom nor myself had that replaced. Since part of the dash was already loose I took it all the way off I saw a very light bright blue brand new motherboard looking like thing at the base of all of these components. I got pissed and took the radio and vent out of the car .. Now the car seems lifeless & completely not one sign of starting.
A friend of a friend said it may be some alarm gps system?? ..
I’m not sure what to do or think let alone how to handle this ALL advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!
All honesty, take a couple deep breaths. You likely cannot really “feel” being monitored in your car. If that doesn’t work, sign up for the many organizations offering rewards for proof of super normal abilities. I wish you the best.
If a tracker is found is there a way to use the tracker’s serial number to find out who put it there? Most trackers require activation and a monthly fee. Is there a way to find out who the device is registered to?
Most over-the-counter trackers use SIM-cards. Depending on the card, it may be possible to find the number it’s using, and from that, an owner. However, the up-to-date user will choose a prepaid, “burner card”, which can not be traced. If the tracker belongs to an official agency, there may be other ways to trace it.
my bf is using a cell phone to track me he puts one hidden in the car and its linked to his personol cell. how do i stop him
By divorcing him and taking restraining order from the police… Wtf people who do you live with? Al Capone?
Hello…I drive an older vehicle. 88. Sometimes I hear radio static which is strange because the fuse for my radio is removed. I hear faint beeps and noise that will happen periodically.
I heard a “dialing sound” coming from the inside of the car. Exactly like if a phone was dialing a number. Is this a tracker? Could this noise be that it was trying to connect to live audio or just connecting to track? Where could I find it?