GPS for Commercial Vehicles – Track Your Truck

If you want to outfit your fleet’s cars with GPS tracking devices, you might not know where to install them to get the best performance. While there are various kinds of tracking devices on the market and different placement options for them, you’ll generally want to ensure they’re easily accessible and hidden from view. As you look to install GPS trackers in your fleet’s cars, you can maximize their value by placing them in the ideal location.

How to Install a GPS Tracking Device in a Car

When you’re looking to install a GPS tracker, you’ll find plenty of options. While you can place these devices in various locations, it’s often best to have a mechanic install them under the vehicle’s dash, where they can connect to a power source. Other options, like our plugin models, easily plug into a vehicle’s OBD-II port and are ready to go within minutes.

What Are the Best Places in the Car to Install a GPS Tracker?

While you can install GPS trackers in various areas of your car, the best place for them is in a location away from the driver’s sight but still easily accessible by installers and mechanics. By keeping it out of the driver’s view, you can avoid cluttering up their car or obstructing their ability to drive. Besides hiding it from the driver, it’s also wise to keep the device hidden from those outside the vehicle to prevent tampering.

In most cases, your mechanic will install the GPS tracker under the vehicle’s dash. Installing the tracker there also gives you plenty of space to hide it and keep it out of your driver’s way. Alongside hiding the tracker from view, the dash will allow GPS satellite signals to easily pass through the vehicle’s windshield and be seen by the tracker.

How to Install GPS Trackers in a Car

If you’re interested in GPS installation for your fleet, you’ll often have the choice between plug-in vehicle trackers and hardwired GPS trackers. Plug-in vehicle trackers don’t require any wiring, as they plug directly into an OBD-II port. In contrast, hardwired GPS trackers require a wired connection to the vehicle. 

Whatever option you select for your fleet, you’ll likely want to know how to install it properly. Review the main steps to installing hardwired and plug-in vehicle trackers.

Installing Hardwired GPS Tracking Devices

A hardwired GPS tracking device from Track Your Truck is our most popular choice for vehicle tracking. In most cases, you will want to have a professional installer or mechanic do this for you, although we have outlined the basic steps below. While prices vary depending on your location, we find most mechanics charge ~$100 per vehicle to install. All our devices come ready to install, letting you get your monitoring capabilities running a few minutes after installation. Review the three steps to installing our hardwired GPS tracking devices.

• Mount the GPS tracker: After you and your mechanic identify a location that’s easily accessible but still out of the driver’s and any potential thieves’ view, your device will be mounted in the vehicle. Mounting is quick and straightforward and is typically done using zip tie straps or 3M VHB tape to secure the device.
• Connect your power source to the device: After mounting the device, you’ll need to connect it to a power source. The device features three different-colored wires you’ll want to attach in the right order. You’ll begin by connecting a ground point to the black wire. Next, you’ll attach the red wire to your vehicle’s 12-volt power supply. Finally, you’ll connect the white wire to your car’s 12-volt switched ignition source. 
• Confirm proper installation: With your device’s wiring plugged into a power source, your hardwired GPS tracking device should start working. You can use our NetTrack Installer Check to confirm a successful installation. Park the vehicle outside where it will have a good signal, start it, then let the car run for five minutes before turning the engine off and starting it up again to begin your test. Follow the Installer Check’s instructions to complete verification.

Installing Plug-In Vehicle Trackers

Our plug-in vehicle trackers offer quick, straightforward installation. Since these trackers are ready for immediate use after delivery, all you have to do is take a few minutes to plug yours in and put it in place – no mechanic needed! Learn more about the steps to install our plug-in vehicle trackers below.

• Install the tracking device and Velcro tie strap: Since our plug-in vehicle trackers connect directly to a car’s OBD-II connector, the first step is to find the connector. Next, you’ll install the Velcro tie strip above the connector in a gap. Finally, you’ll secure the tracking device to the Velcro strip and plug the device into the connector. By securing it, you keep your driver safer while traveling, as the device won’t become dislodged.
• Use the extension cable: If you don’t want to place your plug-in tracker directly into the OBD-II connector, you can use our optional extension cable. This extension cable gives you more room to place the device in another location, such as tucked under your car’s dash. All you have to do to use the extension cable is plug it into the tracker and the OBD-II connector.
• Begin tracking: With your device plugged in and secured to the Velcro, you’ll want to drive your vehicle into an open space where it has a clear view of the sky. Once you start your car, the tracker will begin tracking. Keep in mind, it’ll take five minutes after installation for the device to begin registering data.
• Verify installation: After you turn your vehicle on and start tracking, you can verify your tracker is working by using our NetTrack Installer Check to ensure you’ve installed your device properly. You’ll want to use this checker after you’ve let the device run for five minutes and switched off your vehicle before turning it back on. Next, you’ll follow the Installer Check’s instructions to verify successful installation.

Choose Track Your Truck for Your GPS Tracking Devices

At Track Your Truck, we offer some of the best GPS tracking devices on the market today. With our devices’ easy installation and in-depth tracking abilities, you can receive real-time information about your fleet vehicles’ location and performance. We offer hardwired GPS tracking devices and premium GPS plug-in vehicle trackers to give you the flexibility you require to receive the best tracker for your fleet’s unique needs.

Learn more about our GPS tracking devices. If you want more information, please feel free to request a demo or a free quote.