If you have just bought a pricey car or your teenager has just started driving, installing a GPS tracker is the first thing that comes to mind. GPS trackers are expensive and out of most people’s price range. However, what if I told you it is possible to find a stolen car without tracker!
A GPS tracker is not the only way to find a stolen car. This guide will look into the three ways you can find your stolen car without relying on GPS tracking.
Before we get into details, ensure that you file a report with local law enforcement in case your car is stolen.
1. Using SIM-based tracking to find a stolen car
If you cannot afford an expensive GPS tracker, consider SIM-based tracking to track a stolen car. This process involves leaving a phone with an active SIM inside your vehicle. Place the phone where someone cannot easily find it.
Install a SIM tracking app on your phone to track your car using this method. You can also liaise with the police to track the phone inside your vehicle using the IMEI number.
The best thing about SIM-based tracking is that you do not need a smartphone. Therefore, you do not have to worry about leaving your expensive phone inside your car.
Moreover, SIM-based tracking works well in large cities. The process pings your SIM location off of cellular towers. The locations are visible from these cell towers, including your car’s last-known location.
2. Use the car’s license plate
The second way to find a stolen car without tracker is by using the car’s license plate. However, this method is complex and needs technical knowledge to navigate around the CCTV in your area.
You also need image recognition software to locate your car amid all the traffic in your area. You might also need a couple of other tools too.
Using car license plates to track a stolen car is usually ideal when you have the help of local law enforcement. The police have the tools and resources to filter through CCTV images and find your vehicle’s whereabouts.
(Source: Mobisoft)
3. Using spyware to find a stolen car
Theft is not the only reason behind having a tracking solution on your vehicle. You might also want to track your kids’ driving habits to ensure they comply with traffic rules and drive within the speed limit.
Spyware lets users track the live location of the target car. To use this tool, install the spyware app on the target device and monitor the live location using your spy app account wherever you are.
You can install spyware on a hidden phone in your car. The app will monitor routes taken, driving speeds, etc. The best thing about spy apps is that they track everything about your vehicle, making it easier to track your car without using a GPS device.
Some spyware apps also have geofence alerts. They alert you wherever your car leaves the set boundaries.
Spyware on cars can also be malicious, as seen in a recent report of foreign spyware on a government car.
Tracking your car with Bluetooth
It is possible to track your stolen car using Bluetooth connectivity. You can connect your phone’s Bluetooth to the vehicle to see if it is in range.
However, this method is not very effective. Bluetooth has a short range. Thieves also quickly turn off Bluetooth connectivity on stolen vehicles.
Final Thoughts
A GPS tracker comes in handy when finding a stolen car. However, not everyone has a GPS tracker for their vehicle. To find a stolen car without tracker, you can use SIM-based tracking, spyware, and searching using license plates.
However, if you suspect the theft of your vehicle, the first course of action is to file a police report. The police usually have ample resources to help track your car in the shortest possible time.
