Can A GPS Tracker Be Traced To Owner

So you found a GPS tracker on your car and want to find the person who did it?

You’re in luck.

Depending on the type of tracking device on your vehicle, you can trace it back to the owner by contacting the manufacturer and giving them the serial number.

But it's more complex than that. A lot depends on which type of tracker we’re dealing with here.

We’ll cover everything you need to know about tracking a GPS device back to the person who bought it in this article.

Quick Answer - Can I Find Out Who Placed the GPS Tracker on my Car?

The quick answer is yes, you can find out who placed the GPS tracker on your car by following these steps:

1. Check the serial number on the tracker
2. Look up the brand’s name and get in contact with them (or the reseller)
3. Give them the serial number and ask them to tell you who it belongs to
4. If they aren’t cooperative, take it to the police and get them to subpoena the company

It’s important to remember though: This only works with real-time GPS trackers.

There are two types of GPS trackers: real-time and passive. Passive trackers don’t have real-time location, so they don’t require a subscription. The company also doesn’t have to activate cell service, so there’s usually no need for a serial number.

If you’ve found a passive GPS tracker without a serial number, you’re probably out of luck. Your best bet is to try and get the data off of the tracker and see if there are any clues.

But if it’s a real-time location tracking device, it will have a serial number. At the very least, it will have a subscription payment plan, which requires a credit card. That’s how we’re going to catch the person who did this.

How to Trace a GPS Tracker Back to its Owner

Here’s our 5-step process for tracking the GPS device back to its owner:

Step 1 - Inspect Your Vehicle For Hidden GPS Trackers

YouTube Video: How To Find A GPS Tracker On Your Vehicle

First, grab yourself a flashlight and let’s get to searching for this hidden GPS tracker.

Check under the car, in the taillights, under the hood, inside the glove compartments, and under all the seats.

If you still can’t find it, use a bug detector. It’s a device that’s designed to detect signals from a GPS tracking device. 

You could also take it to a professional or to an auto body shop if you aren’t sure.

NOTE: If the device is hardwired into your car’s electrical system, you’re going to have to cut it out with a pair of wire cutters.

Related Article: 10 Places Where People Hide GPS Car Trackers

Step 2 - Check the Serial Number

If there’s a serial number on the tracking device, that’s how you’re going to catch them.

So, look around the device for a long series of numbers.

Like we said above, chances are that if it’s a passive GPS device, it won’t have a serial number. In that case, just contact the police.

Step 3 - Contact the Manufacturer or Reseller

Now that you’ve got the brand name and serial number, go to Amazon or Google and find out where the culprit bought the device.

Amazon is probably the best place to look or perhaps some shops in your local area. If there’s a shop that sells GPS devices, check there too.

Step 4 - Give Them the Serial Number

Once you’ve found the manufacturer, give them the serial number and figure out who owns it. You can ask for their billing information or just their name.

They might be hesitant to give out personal information. It may even be illegal in certain jurisdictions. So, it’s best to explain the situation to them and see what they say.

If they don’t tell you, contact the police.

Step 5 - Contacting the Police

Depending on the circumstances, the police may be able to subpoena the company in order to get them to release the owner’s information. 

We aren’t legal professionals, so we don’t know. However, contacting the police couldn’t hurt. 

Helpful Tips For Tracing a GPS Device

Identify The Type of GPS Tracking Devices

Once you find a device on your car, figure out whether it’s a live GPS tracker sending data in real-time or a passive device that just stores data. You can do this by checking for a serial number, looking for a sim card slot, or checking for an antenna.

Keep in mind, GPS data loggers can’t be traced back to the owner since they don’t need a data plan. The silver lining? Most of these passive devices are no longer in use, making up less than 1% of all tracking devices.

• Live GPS Trackers: These send real-time updates and are often used for fleet management or asset tracking.
• Passive Devices: These store data to be checked later, without transmitting it instantly.
• Get Expert Help: If you're unsure, a specialist in GPS technology or a private investigator can help you identify the device.

Seek Professional Assistance If Needed

We recommend contacting local law enforcement in your area, a private investigator, local vehicle tracking companies, or audio installation pros.

These people will know everything from how to find the device to how to prosecute the offender (at least the police will!).

Can A GPS Tracker Be Traced To Owner – Frequently Asked Questions

Some images in this article, “Can A GPS Tracker Be Traced To Owner” were generated using Dalle3 AI