6 Types of Vehicle GPS Trackers – For Fast & Accurate Tracking

Types of Vehicle GPS Trackers

Here are the top 6 GPS trackers that help ensure real-time visibility and safety of the fleet with precision and accuracy. 

Imagine a fleet full of costly consignments doesn’t arrive at the client site. Or the cargo you wanted to arrive on-time, got delayed by hours. Can you imagine the costs and time you now have to bear?

In such light, it’s important to pick the best vehicle GPS trackers that do their job with quick data transmission rate, updating time and affordable costs.

Here, in the following, let’s discuss 6 types of vehicle GPS trackers that are in demand for a reason. Find that reason now!

Read Blog – 7 Best GPS Route Planning Software

Vehicle GPS Trackers – What are They?

Vehicle GPS trackers are devices that are often mounted on vehicle to trace:

  • Real-time location
  • Speed
  • Routes taken
  • Overall mileage

The trackers help enhance visibility, security, efficiency, and keep up with maintenance of vehicles.

But when it comes to selecting the best vehicle GPS trackers to integrate in the vehicle, you will find several options penetrating the market. Let’s explore common GPS trackers types for vehicles you must get next!

How to Use GPS Trackers

6 Types of Vehicle GPS Trackers

Ensuring Vehicle Security…

Here are popular types of vehicle GPS trackers available in the market, each designed with specific features and functionalities.

1. Plug-and-Play GPS Trackers

Plug-and-play GPS Trackers

These GPS trackers are easy to plug directly into a vehicle’s OBD-II port, typically located under the dashboard. These kinds are simple to use and don’t require professional installation.

They are hardwired to ignition, power and ground and have the following advantages:

Features Explanation
Real-time TrackingThese GPS trackers provide real-time information about the vehicle’s:
  • Location
  • Speed
  • Routes
  • Total mileage…

and other relevant data suitable for real-time visibility and monitoring of vehicles.

Easy InstallationThese trackers are quite easy to install and don’t require technical know-how. They are easy to attach to the OBD-II port or a power outlet.
Quick Setup and ActivationAfter installation, they get activated almost quickly. instantly. There’s no lengthy configuration process, making them very user-friendly.
PortabilityThey are easily portable. Meaning, they can be easily removed and added in another vehicle. Offers great convenience and flexibility along the way.

2. Hardwired GPS Trackers

Hardwired GPS vehicle trackers are one of the great devices to track business fleet vehicles and are installed straight into the vehicle’s electrical system. In comparison to plug-and-play devices, they are more discreet as they are placed under the vehicle’s bonnet — which is often out of sight and unreachable for common operators. Thus, they require professional help for installation.

3. Battery-Powered GPS Trackers

Battery powered GPS trackers are operated via a battery power and are easy to place and use anywhere in a vehicle. These trackers are easy to toss and move along with the vehicles but may require periodic recharging or battery replacement.

💡How Much Does Battery Powered GPS Trackers Lasts?
  • Battery life of battery-powered GPS trackers lasts depending on their total usage, their quality and model, and the frequency at which they share location updates.
  • Most battery-run GPS trackers can last from a few days to a few months on a single charge. Again, this further depends on how often they transmit data, battery quality and power-saving features they have.
  • However, keep a note that devices with advanced power-saving modes are too good to be true as they can extend battery life but might make you compromise on accurate real-time updates.

4. Active GPS Trackers

Active GPS trackers utilize real-time satellite technology to relay locational data, making super easy to track vehicles or assets of choice. These devices provide immediate locational updates across web or mobile devices when connected to GPS tracking software solutions.

Just like other GPS types, these ones too help fetch real-time tracking the movement, speed and routes of the vehicles. And once added with powerful GPS tracking software, these active trackers help provide instant alerts and geofences to safeguard the vehicle/asset.

Downsides of Using Active GPS Trackers

  • Can be relatively expensive due to subscription costs.
  • They require a power source, which means they need regular charging or access to a power supply.

5. Passive GPS Trackers

Passive GPS trackers are one of the cost-effective solutions, they store location data internally. However, the data is retrieved only when the device is accessed and processed on computing devices, physically.

It comes with a few downsides! You cannot use it for real-time asset tracking, but it’s a great option when you require historical route analysis for industries like logistics or research and development.

They need constant retrieval for download, which can cause heavy data gaps. Plus, unlike other active trackers, they don’t provide immediate alerts or live tracking.  Not a good option when you require quick responses.

Difference Between Active Trackers & Passive Trackers

6. Asset GPS Trackers

Asset trackers are portable hardwired units. They are most suitable for any small to high-value assets. You will find them in various forms such as AVL trackers, OBD GPS trackers, personal trackers or even as Pet GPS trackers.

The asset trackers are suitable to mount across various non-moving assets like trailers, heavy equipment, containers and so on.  They offer real-time location data, which aids in theft prevention when clubbed with asset tracking software — fostering efficient asset management across any XYZ industry.

These asset trackers have long-battery life and temperature-proof rugged design — able to withstand harsh conditions.

Read Blog – What is Asset Tracking? Benefits & How it Works?

Popular Industries that Use Vehicle GPS Tracking Software

GPS tracking is useful for every industry that involves the use of vehicles, assets, employees, consignment or equipment to make safe and timely deliveries. Here are some industries other than logistics, delivery or regular FMCG that need GPS trackers types for vehicles.

  • Trucking Industry

Travelling between regions,states to deliver consignment is an indispensable part of the trucking industry. The trips last upto days. The use of GPS tracking helps ensure the vehicle’s real-time location, ensure the driver is driving within the preferred speed limit, choosing acceptable routes, and delivering on time.

  • Oil and Gas Industry

Oil and gas industries often deal with transferring of delicate, inflammable or explosive materials. They need to monitor the equipment properly to ensure safety at the site. This is where GPS vehicle trackers help the best. Also, the chances of theft are higher in the case of the oil industry which can be deterred through real time GPS tracking, geofencing and route deviation alerts.

  • Construction and Mining Industry

Construction and mining industry involves the use of multiple and costly heavy equipment. With rising cases of stolen equipment and vehicles losing their way into the mining site, the need to mount GPS tracking devices emerged.

Read Blog – What is consignment and asset tracking?

Here’s Your Final Takeaway!

Irrespective of the types of vehicle GPS trackers penetrating the market, it’s a must to ensure that you pick the sought-after one. The one that fits your budget, purpose, and scope and adds to your asset’s or vehicle’s safety.

If you are a fleet manager with 1000s of fleet, choosing just GPS vehicle trackers won’t suffice your needs. GPS tracker alone is weak. But when combined with GPS tracking software like TrackoBit it becomes a force to reckon with. Our solutions are compatible with GPS trackers that a market has to offer.

Ready to walk a seamless path to efficient tracking and management of the fleet? 

How about a free demo?

Why Choose TrackoBit for GPS Tracking Solutions

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FAQs on Types of Vehicle GPS Trackers

  • What are vehicle GPS trackers?

    Vehicle GPS trackers are hardware devices that are mounted on the vehicle’s dashboard or across its electric system to help track the vehicle’s:
    1. Real-time locational information
    2. Speed
    3. Routes taken
    4. Mileage
    All just to provide real-time visibility into the vehicle’s current whereabouts and operational efficiency.

  • How long battery powered GPS trackers last?

    Battery-powered GPS trackers can last anywhere from a few days to quite a few months. The exhaustion of the battery depends on factors like:
    1. The frequency at which they update or transmit data
    2. Quality of the battery
    3. Power saving modes

  • What are GPS tracker types for the vehicle?

    There are mainly three types of vehicle GPS trackers:
    1. Plug and play GPS vehicle trackers
    2. Hardwired GPS trackers
    3. Battery-operated GPS trackers
    4. Active GPS hardware devices
    5. Passive GPS hardware devices

  • Who should use vehicle tracking devices?

    Vehicle tracking device is suitable to use for any logistics, delivery, trucking or supply chain company — looking to optimise or safeguard its fleet management.

6 Types of Vehicle GPS Trackers – For Fast & Accurate Tracking

Nandita Gupta

Nandita is a Content Lead at TrackoBit. She is passionate about writing factual and thought-provoking pieces that help readers remove complexities from fleet management. When she’s not on her desk scribbling words, she’s either sipping tea, dancing, or heading toward gym.

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