Theft GPS Tracker Rec's?

Looking for recommendations on a good GPS tracker in case of theft? Subscription or no subscription?

Thanks!

 

I’m sure there are better options - but I went the super cheap route and have thrown AirTags in a bunch of items. We keep one hidden inside our boat that’s stored a couple hours away - it pings off people’s phones multiple times per day showing location. Not super sophisticated but for $20 can’t complain.

 

For the Tundra?

I mean I understand the purpose in theory, though given your location, I'm not sure I understand the practicality. Meaning, ok, your Tundra is stolen (which really sucks, I'm not downplaying that), now what? Are you John Wick-ing/ Jason Bourne'ing your way to the location to get it back? Waiting for the authorities to act? Because, I wouldn't advise the former, and by the time the latter occurs your truck is either chopped-up, or crashed-up beyond recognition, and you're still SOL.

Seems like a waste of money for something that won't affect the ultimate end result - which is your insurance company providing you some restitution towards a new truck.

 

co-worker had a 2022 GMC denali pick up...got stolen from Home Depot parking lot (east Houston).

I forget the name of the GMC software pkg...

anyway...he called them. they could not do ANYTHING without a police report. Useless piece of shit.


in about an hour, the software was sending him messages that the car was coming apart....literally.



solution:
get good insurance.



air tag will notify the stealer of your car that he is being tracked.

 

Regarding the 2022 Denali... is the owner able to see the location information, or does this have to be released by GMC upon request? I don't mean the police here, just the owner.

 

That's why you tell the 911 dispatcher that you found your truck and you're ready to reclaim it with an AR. They'll show up quickly

 

We use Trak4, not perfect but works. Just read reviews on Amazon. I like it because you can set up geozones where it alerts you when vehicle enters and leaves. Accuracy on vehicle location is spot on when working, but we have seen glitches where it shows the car stopped at a particular location and it's actually miles away.

 

OnStar....I remembered the name!

no tracking.
no ability to kill engine
no ability to slow the car
no ability at all...

other than to tell you when the engine mgt systems were being disabled/removed.

 

Onstar will notify you insurance company of you're naughty. How nice of them.

 

wow.

so GM is even shittier than I thought.



"nobody likes a rat"

 

Not completely factual...

OnStar can/does track and advise location
Can shut down the car
Can lock the doors w/fucktards still inside of the vehicle

...but this is only done w/LE presence and after stolen report, vehicle used in kidnapping, robbery, homocide, etc.. (LE has to show emergency and exigency due to liability, etc.)

 

I have a GMC and the app will tell me where the truck is as long as it has cell reception. Even gives walking directions. Can’t kill the engine but I can see if they did an oil change.

Never had any issue with onstar calling my insurance and I don’t always drive the best.

Since OP lives in SoCal, I’d bet if his truck was stolen it’d be over the border before he noticed.

 

Since you're in SoCal and many LE agencies in your area have air support, one thing you CAN do to assist in quick recovery is to place a small patch of reflective tape on the roof of the vehicle. If air support is involved in looking for the vehicle or involved in a subsequent chase of it due to its involvement in other crimes, they'll be able to pick up the vehicle much easier w/something reflective that stands out from 600' or greater AGL (especially at night)...

Side note: Also, since you're in SoCal and crime is high, you must remember this:

Stolen vehicle is only a property crime (so low level of government interest until it's used for other capers), and there's always someone of higher priority to go hunt for (robbery, murder, other violent offenses) that WILL take priority.

 

I guess GM got caught.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/...sion announced,credit agencies for five years.

 

agreed.

we are saying the same thing....Onstar is absolutely WORTHLESS if your shit gets bipped.





now, Tesla...we can slow that bitch down on our app.

 

Oh yeah, I remember this now. This happened right after I got my truck so maybe I didn’t have it long enough for them to report anything to my insurance. Before this, the app would show where you drove including stuff like average speed and hard stops. Then it updated and removed that and I guess this is why. It even gave “badges” for good driving.

Since this is getting off topic, OP what about a kill switch? It won’t stop bad guys from towing it away but supposedly won’t let them hot wire it.

https://ravelco.com/

 

Ravelco for the win....

we use those for all our cars....and the company trucks.

yes,it's expensive.....until you get one stolen.

 

Also the GMC dealer tried to sell me LoJack. I didn’t get it so I have no opinion on it.

https://www.lojack.com/

 

A buddy of mine had his truck stolen. He was on the phone with OnStar as everything played out. OnStar basically hijacked the truck from everyone, including my friend. He didn't want them to shut down the truck until the police were involved, so of course they shut the vehicle off in the worst place imaginable with law enforcement nowhere in sight. The car thief opened the door and ran away and the truck was struck by other vehicles because they shut it down on a busy highway.

OnStar is a joke.

 

I wasn't speaking on the intelligence of those in the cone of silence, simply what capabilities they have...

 

The situation was so comically disastrous, I had to share it

 

And I'll bet his insurance had to pay for it all too.

 

Have used a Bouncie GPS/Tracker (Found on Amazon)for a few years. Subscription like $10 a month. It plugs into the OBD Port. There are extension cables available to hide it better under the dash. It works really well, was G3 now G4. Although It could be unplugged, more likely if seen directly in the port, the extension cable is more flush mount and looks more like a plug/port cover.

It is only on when the vehicle is on. But you can view recent trips which shows where last parked.

My purpose was for my teen driver driving my vehicle and knowing where the vehicle is at all times. He liked to turn off his life 360 so I found a work-around.

 

Life 360 is another one that reports to insurance companies. I have to wonder does anyone's rates ever go down because the were snooped on and found to do everything right?

 

Not sure I have heard that. It wouldn't be very surprising though. Doubtful rates ever go down.

 

Adding that the app is very informative. It has told me when my battery was getting weak. It will also display codes with brief descriptions when check engine light comes on.
Covering my address.