5 Best GPS Trackers for Cars

best gps car trackers canada
Duncan Lambden

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Teletrac Navman TN360

Azuga

RAM

Pricing (Software)
Pricing (Software)
Pricing (Software)

From $25/month

Pricing (Software)

From $25 to $35/month

Pricing (Software)

Available on request

Best For

Best overall GPS tracking system

Best For

Managing vehicles

Best For

Managing drivers

Best For

Efficient routes

Best For

Affordability

Route Optimization
Route Optimization
Route Optimization
Route Optimization
Route Optimization
Driver Performance Features
Driver Performance Features
Driver Performance Features
Driver Performance Features
Driver Performance Features

Informed by our detailed research into the world of GPS vehicle tracking devices, we can reveal that Verizon Connect’s tracker is the best option for businesses, thanks to its outstanding tracking and product features.

But that doesn’t mean you should blindly jump onboard the SS Verizon. After all, there are plenty more options on the market, and to find the best option for your business, you'll want to weigh up cost, features, and overall tracking quality. On this page, we review and rank the top five GPS car trackers in the USA, so you can decide which of our top-rated devices would be best for tracking your business fleet.

You can also try our free quote-finding tool to compare tailored quotes from vehicle tracking system suppliers that can cater to your needs.

Top 5 GPS Car Trackers

These are the GPS tracker providers we recommend based on our research. Use our comparison tool to find the best service for your business.

  1. Verizon Connect – Best overall
  2. Samsara – Best for managing vehicles
  3. Teletrac Navman “TN360” – Best for managing drivers
  4. Azuga – Best for efficient routes
  5. RAM – Best for affordability

Best GPS Car Trackers

We're all aware of what a GPS tracker is and what it does. But while they used to be relatively simple devices that came with cars, they've evolved into multi-functional devices that can perform various services for their drivers.

With all of the GPS features that are now possible, here is our list of the top 5 options:

  1. Verizon Connect: Best overall
  2. Samsara: Best for managing vehicles
  3. Teletrac Navman “TN360”: Best for managing drivers
  4. Azuga: Best for efficient routes
  5. RAM: Best for affordability

1. Verizon Connect – Best overall

verizon connect logo
Verizon
4.7 Expert research score
Pricing $20 - $40
Quick overview

Verizon helps provide accurate and insightful data to ensure your assets and crew are productive and safe. With tight regulations and so many resources to track and keep secure, Verizon's tracking software daily summary reports, geofencing, and driver behavior management.

Verizon Connect is a leading fleet telematics provider, delivering solutions to help businesses boost their bottom line. The brand started operating in the US in 2018, providing advanced fleet and mobile workforce management software to businesses of all sizes. 

In 2016, Verizon Telematics acquired Fleetmatics, cementing its position as a global leader in the industry. Today, Verizon Connect boasts over 3,500 employees across 18 countries.

Strengths

Accurate tracking capabilities

Extensive driver management functionality

Comprehensive vehicle management tools

24/7 phone support

Weaknesses

Minimum 3-year contract length

Pricier than other fleet management systems

Pricing
Typical price Prices are bespoke, based on factors like fleet size, package options, and contract length
$20 to $40 Per vehicle, per month

Pros

  • Rapid automatic route optimization
  • Suited for large fleets
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons

  • Quite pricey
  • Only offers longer contracts

While Verizon is one of the pricier systems on the market (scoring a 2.5/5 for its cost), its tracking offering is the absolute best that we've encountered during our research, scoring a 5.0/5. It offers everything you'd want – various alerts (for things like idling, speeding, harsh driving, and more), traffic alerts, and automatic route optimization.

It also has some great features, like integration with Garmin satnavs, robust Verizon phone apps, and asset tracking, scoring it a 4.9/5 for features. The only reason it's not a 5.0/5 is due to the fact that the panic button is a bit trickier to implement.

Latest updates as of April 2023 include an Asset Summary Report that details key information such as how many hours vehicles are operated for, the distance they are driven and fuel consumed over a given period, allowing you maximum visibility of your fleet.

verizon logo
Discover the most efficient way to track your car

Verizon Connect is our top pick for GPS tracking. Learn more about its tracking systems by visiting Verizon's website.


2. Samsara – Best for managing vehicles

Samsara flexi
Samsara
4.6 Expert research score
Pricing $27 - $33
Quick overview

Samsara is our top pick for vehicle management because it provides vehicle diagnostics, enhanced fuel management, and maintenance scheduling. It also shows data on distance travelled, cargo temperature, and engine temperature so fleet managers can effectively monitor fleets closely.

Samsara is top-tier Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider, and pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud, which enables fleet businesses to leverage IoT data to gain actionable insights and optimize their operations. 

In 2023, Samsara partnered with Motormax to offer enhanced fleet vehicle safety using automated 360-degree video telematics. It’s headquartered in San Francisco, where the company was founded in 2015.

Strengths

Comprehensive vehicle management features

Excellent driver management tools

30-second to one-minute data updates

Weaknesses

Premium pricing

No installation support

Pricing
Average price Prices are bespoke, based on factors like fleet size, package options, and contract length
$27 to $33 Per vehicle, per month

Pros

  • Automatic route optimization
  • Rapid refresh rate (30 seconds)
  • Great for large fleets
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons

  • 3 year minimum for contracts
  • Fairly expensive
  • No hardwire option for trackers

When it comes to vehicle tracking, Samsara is a very close second to Verizon Connect, scoring a 4.9/5. The only reason for this 0.1 point distinction is that Samsara has a 30 second to 1 minute refresh rate, while Verizon promises a 30 second refresh rate. Otherwise, Samsara offers a great set of features, like Geofencing, traffic alerts, and route optimization.

Samsara falls a bit short when looking at its offering of other features, scoring a still respectable 4.0/5. It's lacking satnav integration and a hardwired option, both of which are quite handy when considering GPS offerings. And, like Verizon, it scores a 2.5/5 for pricing.


3. Teletrac Navman – Best for managing drivers

teletrac logo
Teletrac Navman TN360
4.5 Expert research score
Pricing From $25
Quick overview

Teletrac shows a comprehensive breakdown of driver history and the ability to manage driver behaviour. This is done through various features including a leaderboard system, automatic alerts for dangerous driving, and reporting to analyse journeys or specific events.

Teletrac is one of the world’s largest fleet solutions providers, boasting over 25 years of history in GPS tracking. It was founded in the UK in 1988 as Trafficmaster, offering drivers road congestion information. In 2015, Teletrac merged with Navman Wireless, a GPS navigation device manufacturer based in Taiwan. In 2020, it expanded its services to connected solutions, fortifying its ground in advanced fleet management.

To date, Teletrac Navman monitors almost 500,000 vehicles across six continents, with US headquarters in California.

Strengths

Top-tier driver monitoring tools, including driver fatigue management

Reliable help and support channel

Offers one-year minimum contracts

Weaknesses

Lacks advanced hardware features like cargo temperature and engine temperature monitoring

Can't automatically optimize your routes

Pricing
Starting price Prices are bespoke, based on factors like fleet size, package options, and contract length
From $25 Per vehicle, per month

Pros

  • Short contract length
  • Innovative reporting feature, Users can write search terms such as: 'Show me fuel consumption by vehicle for the past 7 days?' and it will automatically generate a report and chart graphic
  • Unique driver fatigue measurement system

Cons

  • No hardwire for trackers
  • No temperature sensors
  • Lacks general product features

Teletrac offers a couple of different systems, but the TN360 is the highlight here. Earning a 4.9/5 for tracking, it compares well to Samsara, Verizon, and Azuga, which also pulled almost perfect scores.

However, Teletrac does trump those three when it comes to price, scoring 3.4/5 over its competitors' 2.5/5. While none of them have concrete pricing, Teletrac's range does seem to be lower than its competitors'. Its feature score of 3.8/5 is also fairly solid, due to its solid app, hardwired option, and fuel purchase data log.


4. Azuga – Best for efficient routes

azuga Logo
Azuga
4.4 Expert research score
Pricing $25 - $35
Quick overview

Azuga provides an optimized route once you've created a route with multiple stops. Optimization will reorder the stops to create the quicker route, a handy tool for fleet managers who are trying to conserve fuel and driver resource.

Azuga is a comprehensive fleet telematics system that’s been specifically designed to prioritize driver safety. Since 2012, it has helped businesses grow by using advanced analytics to improve driver safety and efficiency, and provide actionable insights to help fleet managers boost fleet performance.

Azuga powers over 6,000 commercial fleets worldwide. In August 2021, global sustainable mobility leader Bridgestone announced its acquisition of Azuga, making Azuga’s innovative solutions more sustainable than ever.

Strengths

Unbeatable route optimization features

Comprehensive knowledge center for users

Driver-centric management system

Weaknesses

No free installation support

Three-year contract length

Pricing
Price range Prices are bespoke, based on factors like fleet size, package options, and contract length
$25 to $35 Per vehicle, per month

Pros

  • Excellent route optimization
  • Great for vehicle maintenance metrics
  • Strong driver management functionality

Cons

  • Quite pricey
  • 3 year minimum contract length
  • Driver management features could be expanded

Azuga ties for second with Samsara when it comes to tracking, also scoring a 4.9/5, with its only downfall being that the alerts aren't as robust as other platforms. 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 they need.

Looking at price, Azuga scores 2.5/5, which isn't amazing, especially when its other product features aren't as robust as Verizon's or Samsara's. It's missing a hardwired option, and satnav integration, and the panic button is within the mobile app.

After a recent update, their 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.


5. RAM – Best for affordability

RAM
4.3 Expert research score
Pricing Bespoke
Quick overview

Although most providers provide bespoke quotes, based on the rough figures we have, RAM is the most affordable out of the providers on this list. Typically, with RAM the longer your contract, the less you'll have to pay per month. For a 5-year contract, it's around $11 per month and for an 18-month contract, you can expect to pay around $17 per month.

Since its inception in 2004, RAM Tracking has expanded significantly to become one of the largest fleet tracking providers, with over 105,000 vehicle tracking devices dispatched to date.

RAM Tracking is renowned for its intuitive and user-friendly platform. Its advanced vehicle tracking software converts raw data into simple, easy-to-understand reports that are designed to be accessible to users with any level of experience, from small business owners to fleet managers at larger corporations.

Strengths

Great features, especially considering its price

Free installation setup

Offers one-year subscriptions

Weaknesses

Lacks driver messaging capabilities

No vehicle and fuel management features

Pricing
Pricing
Bespoke Based on fleet size, package features, and contract length

Pros

  • Short contract lengths
  • One of the cheapest systems out there
  • Great driver behavior tracking

Cons

  • No driver messaging capabilities
  • No route optimization

RAM is the cheapest platform on this list, scoring 4.6/5 in price. This doesn't compromise its GPS tracking prowess, however, as it still scores a hearty 4.6/5 in tracking. The only fault is the lack of automatic route optimization, which is admittedly a bit of a blow.

However, a 4.5 in product features is also quite solid, attributed to its hardwire option, asset tracker, and smartphone app. The only missing pieces are a panic button and integration with Satnav devices.

What's great about RAM is that they are constantly updating their product. Some of the latest updates in 2023 include the addition of geofencing, congestion zones, a customer marketplace with pre-negotiated deals for other products and user notifications to quickly see relevant information.

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 favourite 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, scoring a solid 5.0/5. 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it against the law to put a tracking device on someone’s car?
The short answer is that putting a tracking device on someone else’s car is almost definitely illegal. The police can do this if they have a tracking permit for a particular case, but civilians can’t normally track other peoples’ cars.
Which GPS car tracker is the best?
From our research, we've found Verizon Connect to be the best GPS tracker. It scores a perfect 5.0/5 when it comes to vehicle tracking, as it has every feature you'd want from a GPS tracker. These include:

  • Scheduling and dispatching drivers
  • Automatic route optimization
  • Live tracking with a 30 second refresh rate
  • Traffic updates
Where is a good place to hide a tracker in a car?
Depending on what kind of tracker it is, there is a wide number of places you can hide a GPS tracker in a car. If it's magnetic, you can hide it under the wheel opening, or under the car's hood. Otherwise, you can just put it somewhere in the glove box or trunk.
Written by:
Duncan Lambden
Duncan Lambden Software Expert

Duncan (BA in English Textual Studies and Game Design) is one of Expert Market’s local Software Experts. His articles focus on ecommerce platforms and business software that allows small businesses to improve their efficiency or reach, with an emphasis on invoice financing, project management, and customer relations.

Reviewed by:
James Macey Senior Business Software Researcher

James thinks all businesses can improve if they use the right technology. At Expert Market, he utilises his 4+ years experience as a researcher to offer specialised advice on a wide range of categories from CRM to Fleet Management.