Can I Track My Car From My Phone?
Yes. With a GPS vehicle tracker installed in your car, you can check your vehicle's location from your phone using a tracking app.
The tracker stays with the vehicle and determines its location using satellite positioning. It then sends tracking information through a mobile data connection to an online tracking platform, which you can access from your smartphone.
With Global Trackers, customers can use the GPS Monitor Plus app to see their vehicle's location, view previous journeys and receive tracking alerts.
You don't need to leave a phone in the car — the GPS tracker is doing the tracking.
How does my phone know where my car is?
Your phone isn't actually tracking the car itself.
There are three main parts involved:
- The GPS tracker in your vehicle determines its location using satellite positioning.
- The tracker sends that information using its mobile data connection.
- The tracking platform displays the information so you can access it through your phone or computer.
So you and your car don't need to be close together.
You could be at home, at work or somewhere completely different and still check your vehicle through the tracking platform, provided the tracker has the connectivity it needs to report its location.
Do I need to leave a phone in my car?
No.
A dedicated GPS vehicle tracker is its own device. You don't need to leave an old smartphone, spare mobile or tablet in the vehicle.
The tracker has the technology it needs to determine its location and communicate with the tracking platform.
With Global Trackers, the tracking service includes the multi-network M2M SIM used by the tracker, so you don't need to arrange a separate mobile SIM yourself.
What can I see on my phone?
A vehicle tracking system can give you considerably more information than simply putting a dot on a map.
Depending on your tracker and settings, you can use your phone to:
- See your vehicle's location
- View previous journeys
- Check journey history
- Receive movement alerts
- Create and monitor geofences
- Check information about your vehicle's activity
That means your phone becomes a convenient way of accessing information collected by the tracker installed in your vehicle.
Can my phone alert me if my car moves?
Yes.
Movement alerts can notify you when your vehicle starts moving.
This can be useful if your car is parked at home overnight, stored somewhere else or simply isn't expected to be moving at that time.
A movement alert doesn't necessarily mean a vehicle has been stolen, but it can let you know that something has changed so you can check.
If vehicle security is your main concern, read our guide How Can I Track My Car If It Gets Stolen?
Can I get an alert if my car leaves home?
Yes. This is where geofencing can be useful.
A geofence is a virtual boundary that you create around a location on the map.
For example, you might create one around:
- Your home
- Your workplace
- A storage location
- A customer's site
- A yard or depot
Your tracking system can then notify you when the vehicle enters or leaves the area you've defined.
You don't need to sit watching the map on your phone — the alert can tell you when the event happens.
Can I see where my car has been?
Yes. Journey history allows you to look back at previous vehicle movements rather than only seeing where the car is now.
For a private vehicle, that might simply be useful when checking a previous journey.
For businesses, journey history can also help with questions about mileage, vehicle use, customer visits and where vehicles have travelled during the working day.
We'll cover business vehicle tracking separately in our guide How Can I Track All My Work Vans?
Can I track more than one vehicle from my phone?
Yes.
A tracking platform can display multiple trackers within the same account, making it possible to monitor more than one vehicle without needing a separate app for each one.
That can be useful for a household with several vehicles, but it becomes particularly valuable for a small business operating cars or vans.
Instead of contacting each driver to ask where they are, the tracking platform can give you a view of your vehicles from your phone or computer.
Will I always see my car's location instantly?
Vehicle tracking relies on several technologies working together.
The tracker needs suitable satellite reception to establish its position and mobile connectivity to transmit information to the tracking platform.
If the tracker temporarily cannot communicate with the mobile network, live information may not reach your phone until connectivity is restored.
The exact reporting behaviour can also depend on the device and how it has been configured.
Will my GPS tracker work when I travel abroad?
That depends on the tracker, SIM and service being used.
Global Trackers' current vehicle tracking service uses a multi-network M2M SIM and provides coverage across the UK and supported European networks.
If travelling outside the UK, it's worth checking that your destination is covered before relying on the service.
We'll cover this properly in our guide Will My GPS Tracker Work in Europe?
Does tracking my car from my phone cost money?
There are normally two costs to consider: the GPS tracking device and the ongoing tracking service.
Global Trackers' current vehicle tracking subscription is £5.99 per month including VAT.
We've broken down device prices, subscriptions, installation and first-year costs in our guide How Much Does a Car Tracker Cost in the UK?
Which GPS tracker do I need?
That depends partly on your vehicle and how you'd like the tracker installed.
Some people prefer a discreet hardwired tracker, while others want the simplicity of a plug-in OBD tracker.
We explain the differences in Hardwired vs OBD GPS Trackers: Which Is Right for You?
If you're unsure, you don't need to understand all the technical terminology before contacting us. Tell us what vehicle you have and what you'd like to achieve, and we'll help you choose a suitable option.
So, can I track my car from my phone?
Yes.
With a dedicated GPS vehicle tracker and tracking service, your phone gives you convenient access to information from the tracker installed in your car.
You can check your vehicle's location, look back at journeys and receive alerts without needing to be anywhere near the vehicle.
The important distinction is that your phone isn't tracking the car — the GPS tracker is. Your phone simply gives you access to the information the tracker is sending.