Installing a GPS tracker is one of the best ways to ensure your vehicle’s safety, but its efficiency depends entirely on how well you conceal the device. The ideal hiding spot has to be a balance of extreme discretion and a strong, reliable signal – let’s have a look at the best, most discreet GPS tracker placements in your car.
12 Most Discreet GPS Tracker Locations
No matter if it’s personal car tracker, motorhome tracker, or GPS tracking device for your commercial fleet of vehicles, you can keep it safe and protected if you install it in these locations:
Glove Box
The glove compartment is at the top of our list, for obvious reasons. It is a highly accessible spot, which makes it perfect for small, battery-powered trackers – especially if they require maintenance or battery swaps.
If your tracker is just a small, dark, non-obtrusive device, it can easily blend in among manuals, documents, or other glove box items, which can be helpful if a determined searcher does check this location.
Being fully enclosed within the cabin also ensures the tracker is shielded from the elements, so your tracker can live for longer and perform to the best of its ability.
Under The Steering Wheel
Concealing your tracker directly under the steering wheel offers great access as well as access to electronic power. This location keeps the GPS tracker well out of the immediate line of sight and away from passenger traffic, minimising accidental discovery while driving.
Not only that, but the location provides great stability – you won’t have to worry about any telltale rattling noises for your device.
Under The Dashboard
There’s lots of space beneath the dashboard, making it a classic and effective choice for a permanent installation.
You should make sure the device is secured deep within this cavity, and consider using zip ties to a fixed frame component, to ensure stability. The installation is a bit more involved, but the end result is as safe as a tracking device can be. Note: keep it away from any major metallic obstructions for optimal satellite signal reception.
On The Undercarriage
The vehicle’s undercarriage is a great external hiding spot, best used with specialised, magnetic, and waterproof tracking systems. You must ensure the device is securely adhered to a solid, non-moving metallic frame component and positioned close to the side edge for signal strength. Avoid intense heat sources like the exhaust system.
While your tracker does get exposed to dirt, the difficulty of searching underneath the vehicle makes this location highly discreet, which is perfect for vehicle theft prevention.
Centre Console
In larger commercial vehicles like vans, the centre console can be the perfect place for securing a tracker. These consoles are often easier to disassemble, allowing a hardwired unit to be tucked in securely near existing wiring for the radio or climate controls.
This internal placement keeps the tracker hidden and helps mask any minor device noises, due to the constant movements of your working vehicle.
Lower Side Of The Rear Window
This placement works best for very thin vehicle tracking devices designed to blend into the trim. Securing the device beneath the parcel shelf or the interior trim at the bottom edge of the rear window ensures a completely unobstructed path to the sky (which helps with GPS signal strength).
Front Bumper
Hiding the tracker within the plastic housing of the front bumper is discreet, but also benefits signal strength. This positioning is stable and ensures the tracker points forward, often optimising its signal, but the placement must allow for battery access if the unit isn’t hardwired.
Rear Bumper
Similar to the front, the rear bumper offers a large, protected hollow space, and is generally less complex and cooler than the engine bay. A magnetic or securely taped waterproof unit can be placed on the inner structural metalwork to keep the tracker completely out of sight from anyone in or around the vehicle.
Connect To The OBD-II Port
The On-Board Diagnostics II or OBD port provides the easiest installation and guaranteed constant power. While simply plugging a tracker into the visible port (usually under the driver’s dashboard) makes it easy to find, the preferred method involves an OBD extension cable. This allows the tracker to be plugged into the port but physically secured and hidden deeper inside the dashboard cavity.
Inside The Car Seat Cushion
A simple and highly effective internal spot is directly under the seat padding. The upholstery naturally dampens any noise and keeps the tracker immediately hidden from any inspection.
In the Brake Lights
Hiding your tracker within the rear brake or tail light housing is also highly effective. Keep in mind – the device must be small enough not to obstruct the light components.
Directly In The Engine Bay
The engine bay offers numerous hiding spots among complex components, but you must make sure the tracker is rated for high temperatures and secured away from the engine block, exhaust, and moving parts.
While challenging due to potential heat hazards and vibration, the complexity of the machinery makes a small, dark object virtually invisible.
Sun Visors
The sun visor is an often-overlooked but effective hiding spot. The internal structure of the visor can sometimes be carefully opened and resealed to house the device. This location is excellent for maintaining a clear path to the sky for 0 signal interference, and it is decently underused, which means someone may not consider looking there.
Other GPS Tracker Installation Tips
Think About Security
Always ensure the vehicle tracker is securely mounted to eliminate any rattling, and also keep it away from extreme temperatures, which can quickly damage the battery and electronics. Always remember to NEVER install a tracker near fuel tanks or fuel lines to minimise any risk of fire.
Test it out
After installation, take the car for a quick spin to make sure that the unit gets a strong GPS signal transmission, reports the location accurately, and stays connected throughout the journey.
What About Fleet Management
For commercial fleet tracking, your priority won’t be as much secrecy as it is data accessibility.
Placing the unit on the van’s dashboard is often the most practical choice as it allows you to easily access real-time alerts and metrics essential for management, such as location data, route information, speed, and fuel efficiency statistics. If you’re using your vehicle for both work and personal use, install the tracker in an easy-access location so you can easily switch off at the end of the shift.
Leave The Installation To Us
Just knowing where to hide a GPS car tracker isn’t enough. Choosing the right device and executing a flawless, discreet installation can be technically demanding, and any error can compromise your tracking efforts. At Motorguards, we specialise in supplying and expertly installing only top-of-the-line GPS trackers, guaranteeing optimal performance, maximum vehicle security, and a professionally executed setup. Explore our vehicle tracking solutions and get your brand-new tracker expertly installed by Motorguards.