Can You Disable a Car Tracking Device?

How to Disable a Car Tracker: Step-by-Step Guide

Yes, you can disable a car tracking device fairly easily. Sometimes, it’s as easy as yanking the tracker off your car and chucking it in the trash.

However, it’s not always that easy. 

First, you need to actually find the device. Then, you need to determine which type of GPS tracker it is and how to safely remove it without damaging your vehicle’s electrical system.

If you cut the wrong wire, you might damage your car’s AC, radio, or battery…not fun.

And, if you can’t remove the device, you’ll need to confuse the GPS signal or use a jammer to disable it.

We’ll explain that in this article.

In this article, we’ll show you how to locate the different types of tracking devices and how to safely disable them without burning your car to ash.

Before we begin discussing in detail the different ways to disable a car tracking device, we just want to say that if you believe someone put a GPS car tracker on your vehicle, you can find out where it might be hidden by clicking here. 

OK, let’s get to it.

How to Disable The Different Types of Car Trackers

OK, let the fun begin: let’s learn how to disable the different types of car trackers. Each type requires a different method.

First off, you need to know that there are three types of GPS trackers:

Plugin GPS Trackers: Plugin trackers, also known as OBD2 port trackers, plug right into your vehicle in the OBD2 port attached to your steering wheel.

Portable GPS Trackers: These are the types of trackers you’re probably most familiar with. They’re the ones your crazy ex uses to stalk your location. They just attach to your vehicle and transmit your location to an app on the stalker’s phone.

Hardwired GPS Trackers: These are the serious trackers used by rental companies and government agencies to make sure you can’t run off with their property (or skip town when you’re in legal trouble). They’re the hardest to remove.

If you know where the tracking device is and what type of device you’re dealing with, here’s how to remove them.

If you don’t know where it is, skip down to the next section to learn how to locate the device on your vehicle.

Disabling an OBD2-Port Tracker

OBD2 tracking devices are the easiest to remove. If you’ve got a set of fingers, you can remove one. 

Here’s how to remove an OBD2-Port tracker from your car:

• Locate The OBD2 Port: The OBD2 port is usually located underneath the dashboard on the driver’s side or directly under the steering wheel. You may need to refer to your car’s manual or do a quick online search to find its specific location.
• Turn Off The Ignition: Turn the car off and take the keys out of the ignition. This will prevent any electrical issues with your car.
• Remove GPS Tracker: Gently pull the tracker out. It should come out easily, but you may need to wiggle it a bit to get it loose.
• Inspect The Obd2 Port: Take a moment to inspect the OBD2 port and make sure there are no damaged pins or wires. If you see any damage, you may need to have it repaired before using the port again.

Related Article: Check out this OBD2 port fact sheet!

Disabling A Wireless GPS Tracker Hidden On Your Car

Removing a portable GPS device from your vehicle is fairly simple, but you’re going to have to find it first. Yep, you’re going to have to get your hands dirty.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to locate and disable a GPS vehicle tracker hidden in (or under) your automobile:

• Locate the GPS Device: First, conduct a visual inspection of your car. Check underneath, in the glovebox, in your trunk, under the hood, inside the wheel wells, and under the seats. It might even be in the bumper or tail light - it all depends on how smart the person who hid it there was.
• Use a GPS Locator if You Can’t Find it: Some people are really good at hiding these devices. If you can’t find it, a GPS detection device can find it for you. Just wave it around the car until it starts going haywire. Then, you’ll know you have it.
• Remove The Device: Once you find it, pull it off. Some GPS devices have super strong magnets, but you should be able to pull it off with a little elbow grease.
• Disable The Device: Disable it by turning it off, removing the sim card, or removing the batteries. If you can’t power it off, cover it in tinfoil. Yes, tinfoil can disable GPS trackers.
• Contact Law Enforcement: Contact your local law enforcement if you believe your privacy rights were violated.

If you’re unsure about how to disable the GPS tracker, contact the manufacturer for guidance or hire a professional to assist you. Also, if you are convinced there is a tracking device on your car but you can’t find it, consider investing in a bug sweeper. 

These counter-surveillance tools can pick up any signals emitting from a real time GPS tracker.

Disabling A Hardwired GPS Tracking Device 

Disabling a hardwired GPS tracker is a bit trickier than other types, because they’re connected to your car’s electrical system. You need to be extra careful here. If you cut the wrong wire, you might destroy your car’s battery or do damage to other electrical parts of your car. 

You’re going to need some gloves and a pair of wire cutters. A flashlight wouldn’t hurt either.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for removing a hardwired GPS tracker:

• Locate the Tracking Device: Hardwired GPS trackers are normally hidden inside the dashboard, under the hood, or inside the trunk. 
• Turn Off The Car: Turn off the vehicle’s engine and disconnect the negative battery terminal to prevent electrical shocks.
• Locate The Wires: Locate the power wires of the GPS tracker, which are usually red and black wires.
• Disable The Tracker: Use a pair of wire cutters or wire stripper to cut the red and black wires that connect the GPS tracker to the vehicle’s power source. Strip about half an inch of insulation from the cut ends of the red and black wires to expose the bare copper wire. Then, twist the ends of the red and black wires together to prevent them from short-circuiting and causing a fire.
• Be Careful!: Wrap each twisted wire with electrical tape to insulate it and prevent it from touching any metal surfaces. Tuck the GPS tracker and the disconnected wires back into their original locations.
• Reconnect The Negative Battery Terminal: Reconnect the negative battery terminal. Make sure the connection is secure to restore the electrical system fully and prevent any issues when starting your car.

Another thing to consider is if the car tracking device is wireless or requires an antenna to run outside the vehicle. In these circumstances, you may seek professional assistance to disable the GPS tracking device.

Where To Find A GPS Tracker

How to Find a GPS Tracker on Your Car

You can’t disable the GPS tracker if you can’t even find it, right? 

Here’s a quick guide on how to find the tracking device on or in your car:

Start with the obvious spots: under the seats, in the glove box, or inside the trunk. 

These are the most common places people (like your crazy ex) hide tracking devices. 

Don’t forget to check under the vehicle, too, especially around the wheel wells and bumpers, since trackers can be magnetically attached to the metal surfaces.

Next, take a look under the hood. 

Hardwired trackers might be connected to your car’s power supply, so check around the battery, fuse box, and wiring looms. If you really know what you’re doing, remove the panels around the dashboard and center console. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for any weird wires you don’t recognize.

If you still can’t find anything, your best bet is using a signal detector or bug sweeper. These devices can pick up on the signals that GPS trackers emit and tell you if there’s one in your car somewhere. 

If ALL THAT doesn’t work, hire a pro.

A professional mechanic or a specialized service can perform a more thorough inspection. They’re trained to find even the most well-hidden devices.

Is it Legal to Disable a GPS Tracker on My Car?

Whether it's legal to disable a GPS tracker on your car depends on who owns the vehicle and the circumstances around the tracking. 

If you own the car outright, you're generally within your rights to disable any tracker that’s been installed without your knowledge or consent. However, things get a bit trickier if the vehicle is leased, financed, or belongs to someone else, like an employer. In those cases, disabling the tracker could violate agreements or even break the law.

For example, if a finance company installed the tracker to monitor the vehicle, tampering with it could breach your contract and lead to serious consequences, like repossession.

And, if your employer installed it for legitimate business reasons, disabling it might get you into trouble at work.

If you’re ever unsure, it’s best to consult with a legal professional before taking action. The last thing you want is to unintentionally end up on the wrong side of the law.

Conclusion

Yes, you can disable a GPS tracker on your car. All you need to do is find it, remove it, and turn it off. Or, if it’s wired to your vehicle, cut the dang thing off.

However, that takes A LOT of work, and you need to know what you’re doing. That’s why we recommend using a bug sweeper to find it and a signal jammer to confuse it.

Also, we highly, highly recommend that you get professional help to find the GPS tracker and disable it to ensure you don’t destroy your vehicle. And always contact law enforcement after you’ve done so to report the unlawful tracking.

NOTE: Speak to a lawyer in your local area to make sure disabling your tracker is legal. It never hurts to be sure!

Frequently Asked Questions