Guide · 5 min read
Is it legal to put a GPS tracker on someone’s car in Tennessee?
Usually not, unless you own the vehicle or have consent. Tennessee specifically criminalizes tracking someone's car without their knowledge, and it is one of the most common mistakes people make during a breakup or divorce.
- Written byOur Nashville detectives
- UpdatedOctober 25, 2026
- Reading time5 minutes
- Related serviceGPS tracker checks
- Tracking another person’s vehicle with an electronic device without consent is a crime in Tennessee.
- There are narrow exceptions, including the vehicle’s owner or lessee and parents of minor drivers.
- Shared or marital vehicles are a gray area. Talk to an attorney before placing anything on a car.
What the statute says
It is an offense to knowingly install, conceal or otherwise place an electronic tracking device in or on a motor vehicle without the consent of all owners, for the purpose of monitoring or following an occupant or occupants. The offense is a Class A misdemeanor.
The law includes exceptions, among them law enforcement acting lawfully, the owner or lessee of the vehicle, a parent or legal guardian tracking a minor child, and certain businesses tracking their own fleet vehicles.
Marital and shared cars
The hard cases are cars titled to both spouses, cars one spouse drives but the other pays for, and company cars. Because the statute speaks of the consent of all owners, a co-owned vehicle can be a problem even if you are one of the owners. Do not assume you are covered. A tracker that seemed harmless can turn into a criminal charge and a credibility problem in your divorce.
Tracking and stalking
Using a tracker to follow a person’s movements can also support stalking charges under Tennessee’s stalking law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-315) and can be grounds for an order of protection. Courts take this seriously.
If you find a tracker on your car
- Don’t remove it immediately if you feel unsafe; whoever placed it will notice it went dark.
- Photograph it where it sits, along with your license plate and the date.
- Call the police if you believe you are being stalked, and talk to an attorney about an order of protection.
- Have a professional inspect the rest of the vehicle. Where there is one device there is sometimes a second.
We offer physical vehicle inspections for hidden trackers in Nashville, and our guide on how to check your own car walks through the common hiding spots.
The lawful alternative
If you need to know where someone goes, a licensed detective can document movements through lawful surveillance from public places. It answers the same question and produces evidence your attorney can actually use.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every situation is different; talk to a Tennessee attorney about your case. Last reviewed October 25, 2026.
When you’re ready
How we can help
Licensed Tennessee private detectives, lawful methods, and reports written for the people who will read them.
Can I put a tracker on my spouse’s car in Tennessee?
Not without risk. Tennessee requires the consent of all owners, so even a jointly owned car can be a problem. Get legal advice first.
Can a private investigator put a GPS tracker on a car?
A detective is bound by the same statute. We do not place trackers on vehicles without the owner’s consent; we use lawful surveillance instead.
Can a parent track a teenager’s car?
Tennessee’s statute includes an exception for a parent or legal guardian tracking a minor child.
Talk it through with a detective.
Confidential, no-pressure. We’ll tell you honestly whether a detective is worth it for your situation.