Guide · 6 min read
How to check your car for a hidden GPS tracker
If someone always seems to know where you have been, a tracker is one possible explanation. Here is a methodical way to check, where devices are usually hidden, and what to do if you find one.
- Written byOur Nashville detectives
- UpdatedOctober 25, 2026
- Reading time6 minutes
- Related serviceGPS tracker checks
- Most hidden trackers are placed where they can be reached in seconds: under bumpers, in wheel wells, under seats and at the diagnostic port.
- Bluetooth item trackers are common and can show up as alerts on your phone.
- If you find something and feel unsafe, document it and call police before removing it.
Signs you might be tracked
- Someone appears at places you never told them you would be
- An ex or partner references where you drove or parked
- Your phone alerts you that an unknown item tracker is moving with you
- A small device, magnet box, or unfamiliar wire somewhere on or under the car
Check the outside first
Do this in daylight with a flashlight, gloves and a mat or cardboard to lie on.
- Run your hand along the inside of the front and rear bumpers, feeling for a box held on by a magnet.
- Look inside all four wheel wells, behind the plastic liners where you can reach.
- Check the underside of the car along the frame rails, especially on flat metal surfaces near the edges.
- Look behind the license plate and inside the trailer hitch receiver if you have one.
Then check the inside
- Look at the OBD-II diagnostic port under the dashboard, near the driver’s knees. Plug-in trackers sit here and look like a small adapter.
- Feel under both front seats and between the seat and the console.
- Check seat-back pockets, the glove box, the trunk’s spare tire well and under floor mats.
- Look in the sun visors and around the rear deck.
Bluetooth item trackers
Small Bluetooth trackers designed for keys and luggage are cheap and widely misused. iPhones generally notify you if an unknown AirTag appears to be moving with you, and Android phones include a setting to scan for unknown trackers. These alerts are helpful but not foolproof, so a physical search still matters.
If you find a device
Don’t panic, and don’t throw it away. Photograph it in place, then decide whether to remove it based on your safety. Putting it into a sealed bag preserves it as evidence. If you believe you are being stalked, report it to police and talk to an attorney about an order of protection. Tennessee law prohibits tracking someone’s vehicle without the owner’s consent (see Tennessee GPS law).
When to get a professional inspection
Hardwired devices can be tucked behind panels or connected to the car’s electrical system, and they are hard to find without experience. We offer physical vehicle tracker inspections in Nashville and document anything found for police and court.
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.
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Where are GPS trackers usually hidden on a car?
Most often inside bumpers, wheel wells, under the car on the frame, plugged into the OBD-II port under the dash, or under the seats.
Can a mechanic find a GPS tracker?
Sometimes, especially plug-in or hardwired devices. A detective experienced with trackers will also document what is found for police and court.
Should I remove a tracker I find?
Photograph it first. If you feel unsafe, contact police before removing it, since the person tracking you may notice when it goes dark.
Talk it through with a detective.
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