Why Do GPS Trackers Need a SIM Card and Subscription?
A GPS tracker uses satellites to work out where it is, but it still needs a way to send that location to you.
That's where the SIM card and mobile data connection come in.
In a cellular GPS vehicle tracker, satellite positioning determines the vehicle's location. The tracker then uses a mobile network to send tracking information to an online platform, which you can access from your phone, tablet or computer.
So the simple version is:
GPS tells the tracker where it is.
The SIM helps the tracker tell you where it is.
With Global Trackers, the SIM and mobile connectivity are included as part of the tracking service, so you don't need to arrange a separate SIM or mobile contract yourself.
Does GPS itself need a SIM card?
No.
GPS and mobile communications are two different technologies doing different jobs.
GPS — or more broadly satellite positioning — allows a tracker to calculate its location using signals from navigation satellites.
A SIM card isn't required simply to calculate that position.
But knowing its location isn't particularly useful for live remote tracking unless the device can communicate that information to you.
For a cellular vehicle tracker, that's where the mobile connection becomes important.
Why can't a GPS tracker just send its location through GPS?
This is a very common misunderstanding.
When we use GPS on our phones, it can feel as though GPS is doing everything.
It isn't.
The satellite system provides the signals that allow a compatible device to determine its position. Your phone or vehicle tracker then needs another method of communication if that position is going to be sent somewhere else.
For a cellular GPS vehicle tracker, that communication happens over mobile networks.
That's why a tracker can have perfectly good satellite positioning but still be temporarily unable to send live information if it doesn't have a suitable mobile connection.
What does the SIM card in a GPS tracker do?
The SIM allows the tracker to connect to supported mobile networks and transmit data.
Instead of making phone calls or browsing websites, the tracker sends relatively small amounts of information associated with the tracking service.
That can include information used by the platform to show things such as:
- Vehicle location
- Movement
- Journey information
- Alerts
- Geofence events
Your tracking app or online platform then turns that information into something useful and easy to understand.
What's an M2M SIM?
M2M means machine-to-machine.
An M2M SIM is designed for connected devices that need to communicate with other systems rather than being used primarily as an ordinary mobile phone SIM.
GPS trackers are a good example.
The tracker is a machine communicating with the tracking platform automatically. You don't need to make a call or send a text from it every time you want to know where your vehicle is.
This type of connectivity is widely used in connected equipment and Internet of Things — or IoT — applications.
Why does Global Trackers use a multi-network M2M SIM?
Mobile coverage isn't identical everywhere.
A multi-network M2M service can use supported networks rather than relying on the same single-network arrangement you might have with an ordinary consumer mobile contract.
For vehicle tracking, that's useful because vehicles move.
Your tracker may be at home one minute, on a motorway later that day and somewhere completely different tomorrow.
Global Trackers supplies the M2M SIM as part of the tracking service, so customers don't need to source, activate and manage a separate SIM for the tracker themselves.
What am I actually paying £5.99 a month for?
The Global Trackers vehicle tracking subscription is currently £5.99 per month including VAT.
You're not simply paying for “GPS”.
The ongoing service includes the connectivity needed by the tracker through its multi-network M2M SIM and access to the tracking platform where you can view and manage your tracking information.
Global Trackers customers can access their tracking account from a phone or computer, including through the GPS Monitor Plus app.
You're also buying a tracking service from a UK business with support available when you need help with your device or account.
For a full breakdown of device prices and first-year costs, see How Much Does a Car Tracker Cost in the UK?
Do I need to pay separately for mobile data?
Not with the standard Global Trackers vehicle tracking service.
The M2M SIM and its tracking connectivity are included within the subscription.
That means you don't need to take out a separate mobile contract or remember to top up a PAYG SIM simply to keep the standard tracking service connected.
Can I use my own SIM card in a GPS tracker?
Some GPS tracking devices and systems can be configured to work with a SIM supplied by the user.
However, doing that means you may also become responsible for things such as choosing the appropriate network and tariff, maintaining the SIM account and ensuring the tracker remains connected.
With Global Trackers' standard service, the SIM and connectivity are already taken care of as part of the subscription.
That keeps the service simpler for the customer.
Why do some GPS trackers have no monthly subscription?
Not every location device or GPS tracker works in the same way or uses the same charging model.
A product advertised as having no monthly subscription may use a different type of connectivity, require the customer to provide their own SIM or data service, include connectivity within the original purchase price, or work through another location network entirely.
That doesn't automatically make a subscription product better or worse.
The important thing is to compare what the product actually does and what is included in the total cost.
If one product costs less but doesn't provide the type of live vehicle tracking, alerts, history or connectivity you need, it isn't necessarily better value for your particular use.
What happens if my tracker loses mobile signal?
The tracker uses satellite positioning and mobile connectivity for different purposes.
If it still has suitable satellite reception, it may be able to determine its location even when it temporarily cannot communicate with the mobile network.
However, if it cannot transmit data, you may not receive live information through the tracking platform until connectivity is restored.
Exactly how information is stored and transmitted after an interruption can depend on the tracker and its configuration.
What if the tracker can't get a GPS signal?
Satellite positioning also needs suitable reception.
GPS signals can be affected by the physical environment around the tracker. Locations such as underground parking, enclosed structures or other areas where satellite signals are heavily obstructed can affect positioning.
Once suitable reception and connectivity are available again, normal tracking can resume according to the device and its configuration.
Will the SIM work in Europe?
That depends on the SIM and tracking service being used.
Global Trackers' current vehicle tracking service uses multi-network M2M connectivity with coverage across the UK and supported European networks.
If you're travelling abroad, particularly beyond Europe, check the destination with us before relying on coverage.
We'll cover this subject separately in Will My GPS Tracker Work in Europe?
Do AirTags and Tile trackers need SIM cards?
No — because they work differently.
Apple AirTags and Tile trackers primarily use Bluetooth and their respective device networks to help report location. They aren't cellular GPS vehicle trackers with their own mobile data connection.
That difference is one reason their costs and subscriptions aren't directly comparable with a dedicated cellular vehicle tracking service.
We've explained the differences in AirTag, Tile or GPS Tracker for a Car: What's the Difference?
Why does a GPS tracker need a subscription?
The GPS satellites themselves aren't what you're paying a monthly fee to use.
With a cellular vehicle tracking service, the ongoing cost supports the communication and tracking service around the GPS device — including the mobile connectivity that allows the tracker to send information and the platform through which you access it.
With Global Trackers, that service currently costs £5.99 per month including VAT, with the multi-network M2M SIM included.
So if you've ever wondered:
“If GPS is free, why am I paying every month?”
The answer is simple:
You're not paying for the satellites. You're paying for the service that gets your tracker's information from the vehicle onto your screen.