Knowing where the car is, whether it was started in the middle of the night, where it went on its last trip and how fast: that’s what a vehicle GPS tracker offers. Unlike the driver’s phone, the tracker stays installed in the vehicle and works on its own, even when the car is parked with nobody inside.
But not all trackers are the same, and a few technical details make a big difference day to day: how it knows the engine is running, where its power comes from, which SIM it uses and how it was installed. This guide explains all of that clearly.
How a GPS tracker works inside
A vehicle tracker is basically three things in a small box:
- A satellite receiver (GPS): calculates the vehicle’s position and speed.
- A modem with a data SIM: sends that position to a server over the cellular network, like a phone would.
- Electrical inputs: connected to the vehicle’s power and, in many cases, to the ignition wire.
The tracker sends position packets at regular intervals. While moving, it reports more often, to draw the route; while parked, much less often, to save data and power. Between reports, it sends small “I’m alive” signals, called heartbeats, which show the device is still connected.
The server receives these packets, organizes them into trips and sends them to the app, which shows the vehicle on the map.
Where the power comes from
There are two main types:
- Wired tracker: connected to the vehicle’s battery. It’s the most common type for cars and motorcycles. It never runs out of charge as long as the vehicle’s battery is healthy, and it usually has a small internal battery to cover brief disconnections.
- Portable tracker: has its own battery and needs recharging. It’s used where it can’t be wired in, like luggage, bicycles or pet collars. Battery life depends heavily on the reporting interval.
Ignition: wire, virtual or battery voltage
Knowing when the vehicle was started is one of the most useful pieces of information, and there are three ways a tracker can find out:
Through the ignition wire
The tracker is connected to the wire that only receives power when the key is on. It’s the most accurate method: key on, ignition on.
Virtual ignition (vibration)
When the tracker isn’t connected to the ignition wire, it can sense the engine through vibration. It’s convenient, because it needs fewer wires, but less accurate: an idling engine vibrates little and can “look” off for a few seconds. That’s why good systems wait a while before considering the vehicle off. On LeMoove, this confirmation takes about a minute, so you don’t get a false “turned off” alert at a traffic light.
Through battery voltage
With the engine running, the alternator charges the battery and the voltage goes up. A car that’s off usually sits around 12 volts; running, the voltage rises to close to 14 volts. Trackers that report voltage can detect ignition from that rise, without depending on the wire.
On LeMoove, the tracker’s owner chooses in the app which ignition source to use: wire, vibration or voltage.
Installation: what matters
- Prefer professional installation. A bad connection can drain the battery or cause electrical problems.
- A hidden, protected spot. The tracker should be out of sight, away from excessive heat and moisture.
- Constant power. The tracker needs power even with the car off, to keep reporting its position.
- Signal. Avoid spots surrounded by metal, which interfere with GPS and cellular signal.
Data SIM and coverage
The tracker depends on the cellular network to send its position. That has two practical consequences:
- No cell signal, delayed position. In rural areas or underground garages, the tracker stores positions and sends them when the signal returns.
- The SIM must be active. A SIM without credit or that was cancelled makes the tracker “disappear” from the map.
On LeMoove, trackers are supplied already configured and with a data SIM, to avoid this kind of problem at installation time.
What a good app should show
- Real-time position, next to the people in your family.
- Ignition: when the vehicle was started and turned off, with a phone alert if you want.
- Trips: departure, arrival, route, distance and speed.
- Alerts: speeding, entering and leaving places (like the garage), vehicle idle for a long time and tracker without signal.
- Connection status: whether the tracker is connected and when it last reported.
- Sharing: choosing who in the family sees the vehicle.
What the law says
Tracking your own vehicle is legitimate. The care is with other people’s vehicles and with other people:
- Secretly installing a tracker in someone else’s car, without their knowledge, may be a crime. In Brazil, it can amount to stalking (art. 147-A of the Penal Code) and violate the General Data Protection Law, and many other countries have similar rules.
- In cars used by other family members, ideally everyone knows the vehicle has a tracker.
- In companies, tracking employees’ vehicles should be disclosed and have a clear purpose.
A tracker isn’t an immobilizer
Many trackers on the market offer remote vehicle blocking, usually by cutting the fuel supply. It’s a delicate feature that requires specific installation and care so it’s never triggered while the car is moving. LeMoove doesn’t offer blocking or fuel cut-off in the app: it shows where the vehicle is, the ignition and trips, and sends alerts.
Tracker or phone: do I need both?
They answer different questions:
- The tracker follows the vehicle: where it is, whether it was started, where it went, even with nobody inside.
- The driver’s phone follows the person and their driving: on LeMoove, the driving report shows acceleration, braking, cornering, speed and phone use, without needing a tracker.
How it works on LeMoove
- The tracker is supplied by LeMoove, already configured and with a data SIM. For now, you get one through support.
- In the app, you add the device and scan the QR code on the box, which carries the device number and activation code. The app follows along until the first signal.
- Trackers are part of the Complete plan, with up to 5 devices.
- You choose who in your family can see the vehicle.
See all the details on the GPS tracker and vehicles pages, and the step by step in How to add a GPS tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Does the tracker need a phone inside the car?
No. It has its own GPS and data SIM and sends its position by itself.
Does the tracker drain the car battery?
A tracker’s consumption is small and designed to stay on while the car is parked. For vehicles that sit unused for many weeks, it’s worth checking the battery periodically, as you would anyway.
Does it work on a motorcycle?
Yes. The principle is the same. On LeMoove, you choose the device type: car, motorcycle, bicycle and others.
In short
A GPS tracker combines a satellite receiver, a data SIM and a connection to the vehicle’s power. How it detects ignition (wire, vibration or voltage), the quality of the installation and the SIM’s coverage make all the difference in reliability. Use it on your own vehicles or with the knowledge of whoever drives, and pair it with the phone’s driving report for the full picture: where the vehicle is and how it’s being driven.
