With a belt clip, key chain, and magnetic accessory, the Tracki is as versatile as it is reliable. However, that convenience comes at a cost, since the Bouncie will only report while the car ignition is on. One benefit to an OBD-connected GPS tracker is you don’t have to worry about its battery dying. The real star was its intuitive, easy-to-use app, which displays fuel levels, engine and battery health, and vehicle specs-it even features a space for insurance details. With a range of alert options like impact detection, curfew, and erratic driving, it was clear Bouncie is a company that has given sincere thought to what a typical person is looking for in a GPS tracker. After a quick 10-minute drive, we were good to go. Boasting a true plug-and-play setup, activating the device took mere moments. Which GPS trackers performed best for various types of users? Here's what we found.īouncie's effortless UX makes it our choice for the Best Overall GPS Tracker. To gauge the user experience, a tester familiar with the apps compared user-experience notes with another tester who had zero experience in using them, evaluating the user interface of each and its learning curve to usability. Next, we dug through the app and desktop versions of each product, noting the alerts, reports, and notifications. (Interestingly, none of the trackers we tested dropped its signal, even five stories down.) We tested each tracker on a test route that featured a gamut of possible GPS-tracker triggers, including the aforementioned underground structure. Reliability for triggering speed and geofence alerts.When we ran these trackers through our Gear Team testing gauntlet, we noted the following parameters: Fitting, right? How We Evaluated GPS Trackers That's right: We tested small, discreet devices in a vehicle that is anything but. On our planned testing route, we had to navigate five stories in an underground parking garage, which proved a bit tricky thanks to the size of the Badlands but gave us the testing data we needed.
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The vehicle-selection pool at the Car and Driver headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is plenty deep, and we settled on a 2022 Ford Bronco Badlands (with a manual!) for this test. RELATED: The Best OBD-II Scanners, Tested Our Test Vehicle Others use simple, stylized interfaces and anxiety-reducing features like SOS buttons and fuel-level monitors. Some products are clearly designed with industry fleets in mind, toting impressive reporting dashboards and a steep learning curve. Hardwired options are for vehicle use only battery-powered products provide tracking solutions for all your belongings. The OBD-II and hardwiring options remove this issue entirely, using the car's battery as the source of power.ĭesired Use: When purchasing a GPS tracker, it is essential to consider what you are tracking and what insight you'd like to obtain. As a general rule of thumb, the more often the device reports, the shorter the lifespan.Īll of the battery-powered trackers we tested come equipped with low-battery alerts-so we suggest setting that trigger during the installation process to save headaches later. Battery life will vary from user to user. Most long-term users will want to consider the annual subscription options for potential big savings.īattery Life: A GPS tracker will only report as long as there is power, so keeping an eye on your battery levels is key to consistent reporting. Subscription Cost: In addition to the cost of the tracker, in most instances you will need to pay a subscription fee.
Show more Things to Consider When Shopping for a GPS Tracker for Cars The Hearst Autos Gear Team wanted to know the answer, so we pulled together eight of the top dogs on the market to find out which GPS tracker is the best for your needs. But which one should you get? After all, there are trackers with different power options, functions, and reporting metrics. anything at all that should be kept track of. Toss a GPS tracker on your vehicle, trailer, baby stroller, or in the car with a new driver. However, there are plenty of legit applications for these little gadgets. In fact, in most states, installing a GPS tracker without the vehicle owner's consent or knowledge is illegal. The applications for GPS trackers can quickly veer into questionable moral territory, so consider what you intend to use it for before purchasing. Adding extra protection to your vehicle or other large purchases seems like a no-brainer, right? Since hiring a security team or building a vast network of cameras is out of reach for most of us, what's the next best option? Enter GPS trackers: a cheap, easy way to keep track of the important and valuable things in life, whether they are cars, boats, or campers.
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