How to Disable GPS Tracker on Car (Safely & Legally)

If you’re searching how to disable a gps tracker on car, there’s usually one thing driving it: worry. Maybe you agreed to vehicle GPS tracking for an insurance discount or fleet management. Maybe you suspect unauthorized tracking by someone you don’t trust. Either way, you want your vehicle’s location and location data handled on your terms.

Short answer: To safely disable GPS tracking on a car, you should first confirm who owns the tracker and why it’s there, review any contracts, and check your vehicle for small devices attached to metal surfaces or connected directly to your vehicle’s electrical system. Never use GPS jammers (illegal in many countries) and don’t cut unfamiliar wires; instead, involve a professional mechanic, auto-electrician, or law enforcement when you find a gps tracker you didn’t consent to.

In this guide, we’ll walk through a step by step guide for how to disable gps tracking on car, and when to seek professional help so you stay safe, and stay on the right side of local laws.

Key Points:

• Vehicle GPS tracking (including car trackers) can be used for bad purposes and you need to know the signs of tracking (hidden devices in vehicles or weird phone behavior).
• Use GPS bug detectors to detect trackers that pick up frequencies and other signals.
• Disable a GPS tracker by removing the device or battery or by using anti-malware software on your phone.
• If you think you’re being tracked, report it to the authorities.

Is Disabling a GPS tracking on car Legal?

Before you touch a device, you need to understand legal implications.

When a GPS tracker is usually allowed

A gps tracking device can be legally installed on your vehicle for:

• Personal use – you installed the gps device yourself to monitor your car’s location or protect family members.
• Family safety – parents using car trackers or gps monitors to keep an eye on teen drivers, with clear communication and consent.
• Fleet management – employers track company vehicles for real time tracking, route optimization, and driver safety.
• Insurance or lender agreements – some lenders and insurers require hardwired gps trackers to manage risk and recover vehicles after theft.

The global GPS tracker market is booming, estimated at around $4.04 billion in 2024 and projected to more than double by 2030, driven by safety and asset tracking demands. Grand View Research That means more vehicles than ever have tracking devices by default.

If the tracker is part of one of these agreements, disabling it without permission can lead to legal consequences, contract violations, or lost insurance coverage.

When disabling or removing a tracker may be illegal

You should not attempt to disable or remove a tracker if:

• It’s installed by law enforcement under a court order (tampering may be a crime).
• It’s part of a lease, finance, or insurance contract you signed.
• It’s on a company vehicle and you’re an employee, your company likely owns both the vehicle and the tracking devices.

In these cases, talk to your lender, insurer, or employer instead of trying to do a DIY physical removal.

When you should act quickly

You should act immediately, and involve authorities, if you suspect:

• An abusive partner or ex has placed a hidden device on your car.
• A stranger has installed a small device for stalking or other criminal monitoring purposes.
• You find any device you did not consent to, especially in hidden compartments or hard to reach areas.

In many places, tracking someone’s exact location without consent is illegal. If you’re in danger, your first call should be to local law enforcement or a domestic violence hotline, not a mechanic.

How GPS Tracking Works on Cars

To make smart decisions about disabling GPS tracking, it helps to know the basics.

• Global Positioning System (GPS): A network of gps satellites orbits the Earth and sends out gps signals.
• GPS devices on cars: GPS tracking devices and vehicle tracking systems receive those signals from multiple satellites to calculate your vehicle’s location.
• Sending location data: Most gps trackers use cellular networks to send location data (often in real time tracking) back to an app or web dashboard.
• Power source:
• Battery powered trackers / battery powered devices – easy to hide, often attached to metal surfaces (under rear bumpers, in wheel wells, behind the center console, etc.).
• Hardwired trackers / hardwired gps trackers – connected directly to your car’s electrical system, often tied into the car battery, power supply, or OBD II port.

Some devices have internal antennas and look like ordinary small devices, a black box, a tiny module wrapped in electrical tape, or something tucked into your glove compartment or glove box.

The more you understand the basics of gps tracking, the easier it is to tell if you’re dealing with a legitimate safety tool or unauthorized tracking.

Step-by-Step Guide: What To Do If You Suspect a GPS Tracker on Your Car

This is the step by step guide searchers expect, designed to be safe, legal, and realistic.

Step 1: Stay calm and document what’s happening

• Write down why you’re suspicious: strange phone calls, threats that reveal your car’s location, or someone knowing your movements too well.
• Take photos or notes of anything odd around your vehicle (new wires, small device stuck to the body, changes in the engine bay or steering wheel area).

This documentation helps if you need professional assistance or law enforcement later.

Step 2: Check paperwork and apps first

Before crawling under the car:

• Review your finance, lease, or insurance paperwork for any mention of vehicle gps tracking.
• Check any apps you use for fleet management, family gps tracking, or anti-theft. If you or a family member installed a tracker for personal use, start there.
• If you use a BrickHouse or similar tracker, log into your account or call client relations to confirm whether a gps tracking device is active on your vehicle.

You might discover that what you’re worried about is actually a legitimate gps device you already agreed to.

Step 3: Do a careful visual inspection (without pulling anything apart)

If you still suspect a tracker on your car, you can do a basic visual check without attacking your electrical system:

• Outside the car:
• Gently inspect wheel wells and rear bumpers for magnetic gps trackers or other small devices stuck to metal surfaces.
• Use a flashlight to look for black boxes or modules that don’t look like normal car parts.
• Inside the car:
• Look in the glove compartment, glove box, and center console for unfamiliar electronics.
• Check under seats and in storage pockets for hidden devices.
• Under the dash / around the OBD II port:
• Look at the OBD II port (usually near the steering wheel) to see if anything unusual is plugged in.
• Don’t tug or cut unfamiliar wires.

Your goal here is identification, not DIY removal.

Important: If you find a device, take clear photos and note its position. Do not rip it out or cut wires, especially if it’s tied to your car battery or car’s electrical system.

Step 4: Consider RF detection tools (carefully)

Some people consider gps detector tools or gps bug detectors that claim to detect radio frequencies emitted by tracking devices.

Reality check:

• Many cheap gps bug detectors are unreliable and may not detect modern devices using different radio frequencies or sleep modes.
• More advanced tools are best handled by security professionals or professional mechanic teams who know how to interpret what they’re seeing.

If you choose to use any gps detector, treat it as a temporary solution and not a replacement for professional help.

Step 5: Involve a professional (mechanic, auto-electrician, or police)

Once you suspect or find a device:

• Take your car to a professional mechanic or auto-electrician and explain what you found.
• They have specialized tools and can safely inspect hard to reach areas and your vehicle’s electrical system for devices connected directly to the power source.
• They can help avoid setting off error codes or damaging critical systems.
• If you suspect a crime, contact local laws enforcement:
• Show them your documentation and photos.
• Let them handle physical removal, especially if the device could help identify the person behind the tracking.

Seek professional support early; it’s the most reliable option and safest path.

How to Disable a GPS Tracker on a Car You Own (Legally)

If the gps tracking device is one you purchased and installed for personal use, and you simply want to turn it off or upgrade, your options are safer and straightforward.

Option 1 – Pause or cancel service (often easiest)

For many gps devices:

• Log into the associated app on your cell phone.
• Turn off real time tracking or pause the device if the platform allows it.
• Contact customer support or client relations to cancel the subscription so the location data stops being stored.

This leaves your car’s wiring untouched and avoids issues with error codes.

Option 2 – Unplug an OBD II or plug-in device

If your tracker is plugged into the OBD II port:

• Turn off the car.
• Gently unplug the device by pulling on the body of the device carefully, not the wires.
• Store it safely if you plan to use it again or return it.

Because OBD trackers aren’t usually hardwired, this is often a safe temporary solution, but always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Option 3 – Remove a battery powered tracker

For battery powered trackers:

• Remove the device from the vehicle.
• Open the casing following the manufacturer’s instructions and remove the battery, or let the battery discharge if advised.
• Never puncture, crush, or overheat batteries.

Battery removal stops the gps signal from being generated, but be sure you’re working on your own device, not someone else’s hidden devices.

Option 4 – Have a pro disconnect hardwired trackers

For hardwired trackers:

• These devices are often tied into the car’s electrical system, car’s battery, or other wiring.
• A professional mechanic or auto-electrician should handle the physical removal and any electrical tape or added wiring.

This avoids damage to your power supply and helps ensure your vehicle still starts and runs properly afterward.

What To Do Next

If you:

• Found a suspicious small device on your car,
• Are unsure whether you’re allowed to disable gps tracking, or
• Want to move from a hidden, low-trust setup to a transparent, consent-based one…

Reach out to a professional first.

• Start with a professional mechanic or auto-electrician to safely inspect your vehicle’s electrical system.
• If you’re a BrickHouse customer (or thinking about becoming one), contact our client relations team to review your devices, data handling, and privacy options with a real human.

Your vehicle, your safety, and your peace of mind are worth doing this the right way.

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FAQ - How to disable gps tracking on car

Can someone put a GPS tracker on my car without me knowing?

Yes, it’s technically possible to hide a gps tracker on a car without the driver knowing, especially battery powered trackers or magnetic gps trackers stuck to metal surfaces like wheel wells or rear bumpers. But in many places, tracking someone’s vehicle’s location without consent is illegal. If you suspect unauthorized tracking, document what you find and contact law enforcement or a professional mechanic rather than removing the device yourself.

How do I disable GPS tracking on my car legally?

To disable gps tracking on car legally, first confirm who installed the gps tracking device and why. If it’s part of a finance, insurance, or employer agreement, talk to them before making changes. For devices you own, you can usually pause service in the app, unplug an OBD II port tracker, or have a mechanic remove hardwired trackers. Avoid gps jammers, which are illegal in many countries.

Where are GPS trackers usually placed on vehicles?

Car trackers can be placed:

• Under the vehicle in wheel wells or behind rear bumpers.
• Inside the cabin, glove compartment, glove box, center console, under seats.
• Near the steering wheel or engine bay if they’re connected directly to the car’s battery or car’s electrical system.

Because there are many hard to reach areas, a professional mechanic or security specialist can do a more thorough inspection with advanced tools.

Are GPS jammers legal?

In the U.S. and many other countries, gps jammers and similar tracking devices that interfere with radio frequencies are illegal to sell or use. Regulators like the FCC warn that jammers can block emergency phone calls and other critical communications, and using them can lead to fines and criminal penalties. It’s safer to remove or disable a tracker through legal channels than to risk a gps jammer.

How can I find a hidden GPS tracker without a detector?

You can start with a careful visual inspection:

• Look for small devices or modules that don’t belong, especially on metal surfaces under the car.
• Check interior hidden compartments, the glove compartment, and center console.
• Inspect the OBD II port for anything plugged in that you don’t recognize.

While gps detector tools and gps bug detectors claim to detect radio frequencies emitted by trackers, they’re not always reliable. For a more thorough check, seek professional help from a mechanic or security expert.

Will removing a GPS tracker damage my car?

Removing some gps tracking devices incorrectly, especially hardwired gps trackers, can damage your vehicle’s electrical system or cause error codes. That’s why physical removal should be done by an experienced auto-electrician or professional mechanic using specialized tools, particularly when the device is tied into your power supply or car battery.

How do I turn off GPS on my car’s built-in system?

Many newer cars have built-in navigation and gps devices. Typically you can:

• Go into the infotainment settings.
• Turn off location data sharing or “connected services” that send your car’s location back to the manufacturer.

This doesn’t affect standalone gps trackers that might be installed separately. For those, you’ll still need to follow the steps above or get professional assistance.

Is it better to disable the tracker or switch to a more transparent service?

In many cases, the best answer isn’t “no tracking at all” but “transparent, consent-based tracking.” Rather than secretly removing tracking devices used for monitoring purposes, you might switch to a provider with stronger privacy controls, clear communication, and responsive client relations. That way, everyone using the vehicle understands how gps tracking works and why it’s there.