Your Easy Guide to Car GPS Tracking Installation

Cars are a costly investment, and they’re only getting more expensive. Many car owners buy GPS trackers to help protect their vehicles, lower insurance rates, or monitor family members as they drive around. 

Thankfully these devices are very easy to set up. They come in an assortment of types, each with their own advantages and methods of car tracker installation. Nearly all can be done on your own, with no need for a mechanic or any sort of technical knowledge. This is important to consider as you shop for a GPS tracking device.

This article serves as a GPS tracker installation guide for vehicles, with DIY instructions you can easily follow.

How to install GPS trackers for your car

The GPS tracker install method depends on the kind of device you have. Right now there are four ways to do it:

• OBD Car port

• Battery installation

• Magnetic case

• Loose storage

Let’s review the first method: the OBD port

1. Plug into OBD car port 

“OBD” stands for “On Board Diagnostics.” It’s a small port found under or within the dashboard of a vehicle. Mechanics plug OBD reader/scanner devices into these ports to help diagnose mechanical problems or to check how a car is performing. 

OBD GPS Trackers can plug into these ports too. By connecting to the port, the tracker gains access to some basic car performance data that they can send to a companion app. Plugging the tracker into the port also means that the GPS never has to be charged, since it’s running off the car’s electrical system.

How do I install an OBD GPS Tracker?

Just follow these steps:

1. Find your car’s OBD port

2. Remove the OBD port’s cover

3. Plug in the OBD GPS Tracker

4. Start the engine and wait for the GPS Tracker to acquire a signal

That last part is important, as it may take a few minutes for your tracker to find the GPS satellites if you’re setting it up for the first time. It may help to drive around for a while to increase the chances of getting a better signal.

Where do I find the OBD port?

Most modern cars keep the OBD port under or to the left of the steering wheel, but there are older vehicle models that have the OBD port in a different place.

To uncover the OBD port, simply remove the cover to reveal the port and plug the GPS tracker directly into the slot.

2. Hardwired GPS Tracking installation

Some devices like our SWIFT Wired GPS connect directly to the vehicle’s battery, instead of going into the OBD port. In this case, the car tracker install setup is a bit more technical, but can still be accomplished with basic tools without consulting a mechanic.

How do I install a hardwired GPS tracker for vehicles?

Follow these instructions:

1. Open the hood of your vehicle

2. Locate the car battery

3. Loosen the bolts securing the battery leads

4. Connect the black wire to the negative electrode

5. Connect the red wire to the positive electrode

6. Re-tighten the bolts, securing the wires to the electrodes

7. Secure the tracker to the battery’s surface with double-sided adhesive

8. Start the engine and wait for the GPS Tracker to acquire a signal

This same process can be used on other vehicles like motorcycles. Some vehicle trackers come with their own adhesive backing so you can secure them to the battery, while others may require you to supply your own adhesive. Again, it may take a few minutes for your tracker to find the GPS satellites if you’re setting it up for the first time. 

3. Magnetic case for easy car tracker install

Some models of GPS tracker are portable, meaning they carry their own battery and don’t connect directly to the vehicle’s electrical system. However, they can still be mounted on a vehicle and can even be used discreetly as an anti-theft device. 

GPS trackers like the Spytec Mini are sold with a magnetic case. These cases are sturdy, weatherproof, and water-resistant, so they can be mounted in out-of-the-way areas on the vehicle’s exterior without affecting performance.

How do I install a portable GPS tracker onto a car?

While we can’t speak for all portable GPS devices, here’s how to do it for the Spytec Mini GPS:

1. Place the GPS into its magnetic carrying case

2. Find a discreet spot on your vehicle’s exterior 

3. Securely attach magnetic case to the chassis

4. Wait for the GPS Tracker to acquire a signal

Keep in mind that since this tracker doesn’t connect directly to the vehicle’s electrical system, you will have to recharge it every so often. 

4. Loose storage

It is, of course, perfectly feasible to use a portable GPS tracker for your vehicle without any sort of case or hardwired installation. You can attach it to the windshield, stick it on the dashboard, or hang it from the mirror. 

We will caution, however, that the tracking device needs an unobstructed signal to the GPS satellites in order to work. If you put it too deep into a storage compartment, the tracker may have difficulty detecting the satellite signal and become less accurate. Test a few different spots in order to find the optimal location.

Need to know which car GPS tracker is right for you? Consult our 2025 GPS Tracker Buyer's Guide.