How Do I Know If My Car Is Being Tracked?

The easiest way to detect a bug or tracker is inspecting your car. You can start by checking under its dashboard and steering wheel for any suspicious wiring. The area surrounding your glove compartment can also act as a good hiding place for a GPS bug detector trackers so ensure you disassemble its components (if your car model allows) as you check. Loose wires are a big tell tale that there might be a hardware tracker in your car.

If you are inclined to think there is an unwanted tracker in your car, it would be best to take prompt action. Carefully check for bugs and trackers and in case there is evidence of any, you can hire a private investigator to investigate the personal conflict that might have prompted the individual to spy on you. 

How Do I Find Bugs and Trackers In My Vehicle?

If you suspect that your car is being tracked, you need to first establish whether your vehicle has a manufacturer’s built-in tracker or whether one was placed for spying purposes. There are several known locations where you are likely to detect one like:

• Common Hiding Places In The Interior
• Underneath the car seats
• In the vehicle’s hatchback
• Under the mats
• In the car’s diagnostic port
• Common Hiding Places In The Exterior
• The car bumper
• Wheel wells 
• The vehicle’s undercarriage
• Under the car’s hood
• Checking For Bugs And Trackers
• Inspect the Exterior & Interior

The part of your car where you are most likely to find a GPS tracker is the car bumper – its injection-molded design simply makes an excellent hiding place. There are easy ways to check for one, for instance, using a mirror, pole, and a flashlight for lighting.

If you don't find one, you can check for any parts that appear cleaner in your car’s undercarriage. You can also check the vehicle’s wheel wells, although they are not a common hiding place for experienced users.

Another place you should check is under your car’s hood. Be careful not to disconnect any of the components unless you are an expert. Also, look out for foreign wires attached to the battery, as they might be connected to a GPS tracker. 

Strange Noises and Buzzing

There are several reasons why there could be strange noises from the interior of your vehicle. It could simply be a mechanical failure. If you suspect spying activities, this could be a sign that your car is bugged. 

Some radio band trackers placed near the sound system can cause noise disturbances – you can check by switching off any electronics within the car and take a listen. If the buzzing or noise continues, it is likely you are being tracked.

Hand-held detectors

If you are unsuccessful at physically detecting a bug or tracker in your car and are unsatisfied with the results, it's time to hire a professional. Hand-held detectors are relatively expensive, so you have to consider your budget. It is important to note that passive trackers might not be detectable with these devices. 

Check For Out Of Place Items

Some advanced technology trackers are barely visible to the naked eye. Interestingly, there are designs measuring as low as inches which makes them inconspicuous. The secret is checking for items in your car that you don't identify or are out of place. Do you see peeled- back wire insulations or strange electronics under the vehicle’s hood? 

These are common signs that it might be bugged. You can also check for USBs, pens, cameras, etc, that do not belong to you and get rid of them immediately. 

Identify When To Seek Help

If you don't find a bug or tracker by checking or using a hand held detector, an expert might be of assistance. A professional in car components like electronics, alarms, and car audios has the set of skills required if anything requires to be taken apart. 

Ways Your Car Can Be Tracked

GPS Trackers

Today, you can have a GPS tracker delivered to your doorstep by simply shopping online. Due to their convenience, affordability and availability, they are one of the most commonly used spy tools. A GPS tracker can be placed in your car without your knowledge which is why you should regularly conduct an inspection.  

New Vehicles

Manufacturers are incorporating the latest tracking technology in new cars to easily track movement. Understandably, you can feel offended if you weren't aware of this feature for a period of time, but it is often ‘hidden’ somewhere in the paperwork, although not in layman’s terms. 

Most new cars are likely to have this technology, so if you have made a purchase in the last few years or are planning to, you should check for trackers. 

EDR

You might not have heard of event data recorders, but the term “ car black box” is common.  These devices record data on your driving patterns. The information is mostly used in the unfortunate event of an accident and can only be intentionally accessed. 

Your driving habits can only be intentionally accessed on rare occasions like a crash. They provide information like the timeline at which the airbag is deployed and the car's speed.

License Plate Readers

This is an essential law enforcement investigation tool. Nevertheless, it can be used for the wrong purpose, such as spying. LPRs relay and store information on different car activities and are often located on traffic lights, police patrol cars, and the roadside. They are available in the fixed and mobile types. 

As the name implies, fixed LPRs are placed in specific strategic areas, while mobile ones are installed on patrol vehicles.

Your Car’s Entertainment System

Did you know that connecting your smartphone to your car via bluetooth or USB, makes the data accessible through your entertainment system? Companies can see your text message, contacts, call logs, location, images, etc. 

Unfortunately, there are no stringent regulations yet concerning the use of this data. Nevertheless, one can get information from the company through a court order.

How to tell if your car is being tracked?

The only way to tell is to have an electronic eavesdropping detection sweep on your vehicle. It takes about three or four hours of time. We do those in our corporate office in Newport Beach. I will tell you what most PIs won’t tell you: about 10% of the cars, or one out of 10, that we look at have a tracking device in them. And it usually has to do with a marital situation. What most people don’t know is that if you have a phone that you text on, people can ping that phone and find out where you’re at. When they see somebody show up at the local Starbucks, for example, most people figure out, oh, I must have a tracker in my car. How did they find me? Well, they could be just pinging your phone. It’s not legal to do that, but some people will do it for $500 to $1,000.

Can My Phone Detect A Tracker On My Car?

If you are troubled about how to scan your car for a tracking device with your phone, then the good thing is that modern tracker manufacturers have put up measures to curtail the misuse of these devices. For instance, Airtags can now produce a notification noise when set apart from the user for more than 24 hours. Also, you can download the tracker-detecting application on your Android smartphone and search for any AirTags within your car’s proximity.

What Do Vehicle Trackers Look Like?

What does a tracking device look like on a car? There are endless tracker manufacturers hence the difference in their properties and appearance. Nevertheless, they come in varying sizes of small black boxes.

Think of square and rectangle shaped portable trackers with magnetic casing for easy placement. The OBD trackers have a plug like appearance while the hardwire tracker is connected to your car's batteries using wires. 

What Does A Bug Look Like? 

Micro spy cameras and listening devices can basically resemble anything, making them sneaky and harder to identify. They can be disguised as pens, wallets, USB chargers, etc. These eavesdropping devices can also be simply placed on the floor, installed under your car seat and other places where they can be hardly spotted. 

Common Types Of GPS Car Trackers

Portable Trackers

This is the most favored type because of its compactness as well as built-in and extended battery. It also comes with additional accessories like a power kit which enables connection to the car’s battery. Some technologically advanced trackers have sim cards that transmit your location to the server while others allow for bluetooth connectivity among other smart features.

Plugin Trackers

This type of tracker goes into the OBD port under your car’s steering. Under normal circumstances, it is used to monitor the engine's activity. It features other accessories like a cable which allows for easy placement so it is well hidden. 

They do not require expert skills for installation and can be used to relay information like routes, speed, and location.

Hardwire Trackers

This type of car tracker is common in business fleets and is more discreet than plug-in trackers. However, this small tracker type boasts a number of wires that connect to the ignition and battery.

It is hard to physically detect; you have to dismantle the vehicle’s dashboard. Additionally, the installation process is complex and therefore done by an expert spy.

Active GPS Trackers

These devices use satellite technology to communicate real-time location information of a vehicle. The data communication occurs through mobile devices or through the web, while your vehicle’s location updates are provided through instant geofences. The downside of this type when it comes to spying is that it requires regular charging and can be costly.

Listening Devices

Although listening devices have different characteristics from GPS trackers, they are spy devices worth a mention. They simply record any audio activity within your car like private conversations. 

What to Do When You Find a Hidden Tracking Device

What is the best way to stop someone from tracking my car? Well, most spying devices are battery powered and are attached to the car components using tape or magnets. This makes it easy to remove one after uncovering. 

That said, the removal of  hard wire trackers can sometimes be complex. This is when you need to seek a professional who will cut the wires out. 

How To Avoid Being Tracked by a GPS 

Most bugs and GPS tracker designs are sneaky– they are meant to stay hidden for as long as possible. Nevertheless there are known places for installing them. This is why most automobile, electronics, and device companies develop safety strategies like creating awareness of the AirTag. The most reliable way to find a bug or tracker is by using a bug detector.  

GPS jammers are an effective way to protect your car from being bugged. They can be costly but worth investing in. They interfere with any signals transmitted from the tracker to a satellite which is used to relay your location.

Another reliable method is by integrating a GPS blocker in the vehicle's electrical system. This blocks the power on and off actions – trackers require a power source to function. Additionally, the privacy shades of your car should always be completely shut to keep off intruders. 

Legal Considerations When You Find A Hidden Tracker

Whenever an individual installs a bug or tracker in your car without your knowledge, they are invading your privacy. This is why you should promptly alert the authorities with the hidden surveillance tools you discover.

In many states you can get in legal trouble for spying on a person without good cause and consent. Law enforcement officers can help you investigate personal conflicts. 

You need to carefully assess the potential hiding places with the help of technical aids and seek expert advice when needed. You can greatly improve your privacy and safety by understanding the signs and how to find a hidden tracker.

Conclusion

Although car tracking is not an everyday occurrence, it is crucial that you take protective measures to maintain your privacy. Bugs and trackers effortlessly blend in with other car components, making them hard to locate. Ensure you conduct regular checks for any peculiarity in your car to safeguard yourself from bugging. If you locate a tracker in your car, get a professional to conduct a thorough search and report it to the police. 

Modern bugs and trackers are developed through predictive artificial intelligence and extensive research which allow for inconspicuous and more discreet devices. You can increase your knowledge of this technology through online forums or expert advice and guidance. If you have concerns that someone is invading your privacy stay a step ahead by contacting Martin Investigative services today!