Best GPS Trackers for Cars in 2024

According to our research, topping the best GPS trackers for cars list is Verizon Connect. It offers the best tracking features, including automatic route optimization, and the best features too – including traffic and diagnostic alerts – to improve driver efficiency.

Ultimately, it is one of the more expensive providers, though, and there are plenty of other top GPS tracking systems we recommend depending on your individual needs. So, to help, we’ve pulled together a list of the top 5 GPS trackers for cars in the US, comparing cost, features, and overall tracking quality.

If you’re looking for something more tailored to your needs, you can also use free quote-finding tool to compare tailored quotes from vehicle-tracking system suppliers that can cater to your needs. See how the top 5 GPS trackers for cars compare below.

1. Verizon Connect: Best for Advanced Driver Behavior Analytics in Car Fleets

Verizon Connect’s Reveal software is our top choice for car fleets focusing on improving driver behavior and safety. For instance, its vehicle-tracking software delivers detailed daily reports for each driver, enabling you to identify trends and spot efficiency opportunities specific to car operations.

There’s plenty more than that for car-centered fleets too. Here’s a summary of what it offers before we discuss Verizon Connect’s features in greater detail.

Verizon Connect’s car trackers

For fleets that opt to use Verizon Connect’s Reveal software, most cars are fitted with Verizon’s Vehicle Data Device for GPS tracking.

Designed for lighter-duty vehicles like cars, it can easily be plugged into a vehicle’s diagnostic port (usually an OBD-II or occasionally a JBUS port). It can also be connected to the port using optional cables, though directly is the method we would recommend. Once in place, these devices can be fully installed using Verizon Connect’s Spotlight app.

Hardwired options are also available, but this won’t be needed for most cars.

Verizon Connect’s car fleet management features

As mentioned, Verizon Connect offers real-time alerts for potentially damaging – in terms of driver and vehicle health, or financially – driver behaviors. Those actions include harsh driving, speeding, and excessive idling.

We reckon this is particularly beneficial for car fleets, where driver behavior directly impacts fuel costs and vehicle wear, whereas haulage truckers, for example, often operate with greater care – given the size and expense of their vehicles, plus any goods on board – according to our research.

Even better, you can also sync up Verizon Connect with its integrated dashcams, namely its Dual-Facing AI Dashcam. This way, instead of only detecting behaviors by driving metrics such as speed, you can have eyes on the road and your car drivers with 1080p cameras with 150-degree view ranges. Its advanced AI safety features will then monitor and alert you when any unsafe driving behaviors occur, receiving notifications on the app for the severity of any incidents.

Plus, if you are concerned about fuel being used for non-work purposes, Verizon Connect can sync up with any different fuel cards, including Wex fleet cards. By monitoring both GPS activity and fuel purchases at once, you’ll have a clear understanding of all driver purchases and movements – and reduce the likelihood of any non-business transactions on your company fuel cards.

Does Verizon Connect offer great value for money?

While Verizon is one of the pricier systems on the market, its tracking offering is the absolute best that we’ve encountered during our research. It provides everything a car-centered fleet (or any other vehicle-based fleet for that matter) would want, including traffic alerts, automatic route optimization, and live car movement alerts for things such as idling, speeding, harsh driving,

Its other features should appeal to your car drivers too. They include integration with Garmin satnavs, a robust array of Verizon phone apps, and asset tracking. The only real pause for thought is that implementing a panic button is a bit trickier than other providers we’ve researched.

2. Samsara: Best for Dispatch Optimization in Car Fleets

Samsara is ideal for car fleets needing efficient dispatch and real-time optimization. Here’s a brief look at what it could offer you before we explain exactly how it does this.

Samsara’s car trackers

Fleets that choose Samsara will have a similar car tracking device to Verizon Connect.

Similar in size and shape to Verizon’s hardware, the Samsara VG54-NA and VG54-NAH devices are also installed in a car’s OBD-II port. However, instead of plugging the device directly into the port, you’ll use wires for the same job, as shown below. You’ll also need to use the Samsara app to get it set up on your account.

It’s worth noting that if your car doesn’t have an OBD-II port, Samsara doesn’t have any hardwired car trackers as far as we are aware.

Samsara’s car fleet management features

Why is Samsara the pick for dispatching car drivers on jobs? Well, Samsara’s platform makes it a painless experience.

We found fleet managers could select the optimal car and route for each job, with the system calculating the predicted departure times based on real-time traffic conditions, time on site, and travel time.

For car fleets involved in deliveries, field services, or any operations where timing and rapid response are critical, the extent of this feature sets Samsara apart from the rest.

Does Samsara offer great value for money?

Samsara’s pricing is custom and based on the specific needs of your fleet, from the number of vehicles you’ll be tracking to the specific features you need. Saying that, we understand that the prices are from around $27 per vehicle, per month, positioning it in the higher price bracket.

Despite the cost, it offers a strong selection of features that rival our top-rated provider Verizon Connect. The platform’s ability to calculate optimal routes based on live traffic conditions and driver availability should enhance productivity, reduce operational costs, and increase customer satisfaction to make that spend worthwhile too.

However, the mandatory three-year contract and lack of installation support might be a drawback for smaller fleets. It’s important to consider whether Samsara’s advanced routing and dispatch features align with your fleet’s operational goals. Otherwise, these features may be a waste of investment.

3. Teletrac Navman: Best for Comprehensive Driver Safety in Car Fleets

Teletrac Navman’s TN360 platform does one thing, in particular, to make it stand out in our extensive research: driver safety monitoring. Naturally, if your fleet drivers regularly get themselves into some trouble on the road, this could be the option for you.

We’ll breakdown exactly how Teletrac achieves this below, but first here’s what you can expect from its service.

Teletrac Navman’s car trackers

Teletrac Navman also offers a hardwired version of the device, which it says is easier to access other vehicle data, such as seatbelt information. The device looks extremely similar, though the downside is that it typically requires a professional installation, meaning if you need to switch cars you may face some difficulty.

Teletrac Navman’s car fleet management features

Ideal for car fleets prioritizing safety and compliance, Teletrac Navman’s TN360 software offers a detailed breakdown of driver history and behavior, utilizing features like automatic alerts for dangerous driving, driver fatigue management, and a leaderboard system to encourage safer driving practices among car fleet drivers. Driver behavior can directly impact safety and insurance costs, so this is an important factor to consider in your GPS tracking system.

Does Teletrac Navman Offer Great Value for Money?

Starting at $25 per vehicle, per month, just below what we expect of Samsara’s private pricing, Teletrac Navman offers a balance between cost and advanced features focused on driver safety.

Its comprehensive driver monitoring tools such as fatigue management should help reduce accidents and associated costs in car fleets. Plus, the option for a shorter, one-year initial contract also provides added flexibility compared to the above two providers.

4. Azuga: Best for Fuel Efficiency and Maintenance Tracking in Car Fleets

Azuga’s standout feature is its ability to help car fleets optimize fuel efficiency and maintain their vehicles. For car fleets where fuel costs significantly impact the bottom line, Azuga provides the tools to manage these expenses effectively. Here’s what it offers in sum before we let you know exactly how it optimizes fleet fuel efficiency.

Azuga’s car trackers

Azuga’s plug-in devices go directly into a car’s OBD-II port, just as the above GPS tracking devices. Below, you can see what it looks like.

Unfortunately, Azuga doesn’t supply a hardwired model. But, for most cars, this shouldn’t be an issue. It might be more of a problem that it doesn’t offer satnav integration. It does offer a panic button, though it is found within the mobile app.

Azuga’s car fleet management features

Azuga offers rich, detailed data on fuel usage, idling times, and engine diagnostics, enabling fleet managers to make informed decisions to reduce fuel costs and prevent maintenance issues.

It’s got solid tracking too. One of its most unique features is the ability to customize refresh time from anywhere between 30 seconds and 59 minutes, letting your drivers go with as much or as little oversight as you and they need.

And its FleetMobile integration has features that track safe driving and speeding to create an overall driver score, as well as the option to add features such as vehicle health monitoring, navigation, tracking, parked vehicle location, and third-party apps.

Does Azuga Offer Great Value for Money?

Azuga’s pricing ranges between $25 to $35 per vehicle per month, which is on the higher end of the spectrum. Albeit, at least you know exactly how much you’ll be paying before getting involved with Azuga, unlike Verizon Connect and Samsara.

And we reckon its strong emphasis on fuel efficiency tracking and vehicle maintenance can translate into substantial cost savings for car fleets over time.

The three-year minimum contract may be a consideration for some businesses. But for fleets where controlling fuel costs and vehicle maintenance are a priority, the return on investment could be substantial.

5. RAM: Best for Affordable Car Fleet Tracking

RAM Tracking is a cost-effective vehicle tracking solution that small- to medium-sized car fleets will find especially appealing. Below is an overview of what it offers, before we dive into the top features you can expect to find.

RAM’s car trackers

We couldn’t find much information about the specific hardware RAM offers to its GPS tracking customers. What we do know is that it offers both plug-in and hardwire options, so you should be covered no matter the vehicle you have.

You can also get an asset tracker with RAM. The only missing pieces of hardware you might require are a panic button or integration with your drivers’ existing Satnav devices.

RAM’s car fleet management features

RAM might be the cheapest platform on this list, but it doesn’t compromise on its essential features.

We appreciate its straightforward dashboard which provides oversight to live tracking, driver scoring, and weather updates in one place. Once inside its map view, you’ve got all the abilities to track your fleet cars without worry, as you can see below – you just won’t have the advanced reporting to match the best providers.

Does RAM Tracking Offer Great Value for Money?

RAM Tracking now joins Verizon Connect and Samsara in using a quote-based pricing structure for its three tiers. Still, if its previous starting price of $11 per vehicle, per month is anything to go by, it’s still one the most affordable options available.

It provides essential tracking features such as real-time location updates and driver scoring, making it a cost-effective solution for small- to medium-sized car fleets in particular. The shorter contract lengths also offer flexibility that smaller, less established fleets should find appealing.

In other words, it might not have the extensive bells and whistles of other providers but RAM Tracking offers excellent value for money by delivering essential services at a competitive price.

How Did We Find the Best Fleet Management Software?

Our team of independent researchers looked at a selection of the best and most popular fleet management systems. After finding all the information we need, the researchers then compare each platform against its competitors, allowing us to find the cream of the crop. The criteria we look at include:

Price: Simple enough – the platform with the lowest price tag scores the best.

Tracking: How robust and effective are the platform’s tracking features? For example, how quickly does the tracking map refresh, does the map factor in traffic, etc?

Driver Management: Tracking and logging the behavior of each of your drivers. Does Driver #3 idle his vehicle for too long? Does Driver #4 tend to speed?

Vehicle Management: Checking up on the health of your vehicles. Are they in need of maintenance? Are they well protected against theft?

Product Features: What else can the product do? Can it sync up with third-party satnavs? Is there a phone app?

Customer Support: Again, easy enough – look at the options available and see what each platform offers its customers when it comes to their support resources.

After factoring in all this information, alongside the scores they received, we were able to calculate a final overall score for each fleet management system.

Expert Verdict

There are plenty of great GPS car trackers on the market, but if we had to pick, our favorite is Verizon Connect. It’s not the cheapest platform out there – that accolade goes to RAM – but it’s got the best tracking features of all its contemporaries. This doesn’t mean it’s the only choice out there, of course.

Even fleet managers will find that some systems better serve their needs than others. That’s why it’s always important to compare quotes from local fleet management providers to find the best option for you. Just fill in this short form and we’ll get you quotes from the best suppliers in your area.