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Car Safety and Security
How to Block Vehicle GPS Tracking Download ArticleExplore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Use a plug-in GPS blocker. 2 Carry a handheld GPS blocker. 3 Wrap the GPS device in aluminum foil. 4 Remove the GPS tracker’s battery. 5 Disable location tracking on your cell phone. 6 Search the exterior of your vehicle. 7 Examine the interior of your vehicle. 8 Find the GPS device with a handheld locator. + Show 5 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Jason Shackelford and Dan Hickey
Last Updated: December 17, 2024 Fact Checked
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This article was co-authored by Jason Shackelford and by wikiHow staff writer, Dan Hickey. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 260,993 times.
A vehicle’s GPS tracker can be incredibly helpful for navigation, but how can you block it if you suspect someone is using it to track you? GPS tracker blockers are often expensive and illegal to use, but there are other methods to disable GPS signals for your privacy. We’ve put together a thorough list of ways to block, disable, and find your vehicle’s GPS trackers. If you’re ready to cruise in privacy, read on.
Best Ways to Block a Gps Tracker
Plug a GPS blocker into your car's cigarette lighter or power outlet.
Wrap your vehicle's GPS device in aluminum foil or a metal box whenever you want to hide your location.
Find the GPS tracker and remove the batteries to stop the signal from transmitting.
Steps
1
Use a plug-in GPS blocker.
Download Article
A plug-in GPS blocker creates an interference signal that blocks vehicle GPS tracking. Simply plug it into your car’s cigarette lighter or auxiliary power outlet. When you turn the car on, the blocking device also turns on and your vehicle disappears from GPS monitors. To deactivate it, turn your car off or remove the device.[1]XResearch source
Double-check the description before purchasing to determine if the blocker has a wide enough range to suit your needs.
Generally, more expensive trackers block signals within a wider radius than cheaper ones.
Keep in mind that it’s not illegal to own a GPS blocker, but it is illegal to use one in most cases since it can interfere with emergency communications.
Advertisement 2
Carry a handheld GPS blocker.
Download Article
A handheld blocker jams GPS signals from the palm of your hand. Instead of plugging it into your vehicle, manually activate the device with a button or switch. Remember to turn off or deactivate the device when you stop driving (or else you’ll continue to scramble GPS and cell signals around you).[2]XResearch source
Operating a GPS blocker is illegal in the majority of cases since it can jam or scramble emergency communications. Keep this in mind if you’re considering purchasing one.
3
Wrap the GPS device in aluminum foil.
Download Article
Any electrically conductive metal will scramble a GPS device’s signals. The simplest, cheapest, and easiest option is to simply wrap the GPS device in aluminum foil whenever you want your location to remain hidden. The only catch is that you have to know where the tracker is and have access to it.[3]XResearch source
A metal box can also effectively block your vehicle’s GPS tracker, assuming it can be easily removed and put into a box.
If you suspect there’s a hidden GPS device in your car, search the underbody, under the hood, in data ports, and under the seats or carpet to find, remove, and wrap it.
Advertisement 4
Remove the GPS tracker’s battery.
Download Article
If the GPS tracker has no battery, it can’t transmit a signal. First, locate the GPS tracker. If it’s connected to your vehicle by a magnet or a data connector plug, just tug the device free and remove the battery to stop the signal. Afterward, dispose of the battery and GPS device to ensure it doesn’t continue to transmit your location.
If the GPS tracker is hardwired to your vehicle, it’s best to have a professional mechanic remove it to avoid causing electrical problems to your car.
5
Disable location tracking on your cell phone.
Download Article
Cell phones reveal your location as easily as a GPS. The easiest way to mask your location is to turn on “Airplane Mode” (this turns off the cell and WiFi radios). Then, turn off your location services, reporting, or history in your phone’s settings app to turn off the GPS tracking.
On some phones, Airplane Mode will also turn off the GPS radio.
Turn the phone off and remove the battery to ensure you can’t be tracked. The downside is that you won’t be able to use your phone at all while it’s off.
Some sources suggest using a cell phone jammer to block GPS signals. While this does work, it is illegal to operate a jammer in the United States.[4]X Trustworthy Source Federal Communications CommissionIndependent U.S. government agency responsible for regulating radio, television, and satellite, and phone communications Go to source
Advertisement 6
Search the exterior of your vehicle.
Download Article
GPS trackers can be taped or magnetically attached to the outside of your car. Search for suspicious looking boxes, probably with antennas. Use a flashlight to look in hard-to-reach areas like the undercarriage or in the wheel wells. Here are some of the most likely places to find a tracker:[5]XResearch source
The undercarriage, particularly on or near the fuel tank.
Inside the wheel wells.
Underneath the front or rear bumpers.
On the roof (if you have a tall SUV or truck).
Inside the sunroof’s retraction slot.
Under the hood (most likely behind the radiator, by the batteries, in the air ducts, or in the air filter).
7
Examine the interior of your vehicle.
Download Article
GPS trackers can be discreetly plugged in or hidden inside your car too. This is probably only the case if you suspect that someone you know (who has access to your car) planted a device, like a spouse or an ex. Search these common places where they might hide one:[6]XResearch source
In the diagnostic port (usually to the bottom left of the steering wheel).
Under the seats (or even inside the upholstery).
Underneath floor mats.
Underneath the carpet.
In the trunk or hatchback.
Plugged into the data collector (usually on the underside of the steering wheel).
Advertisement 8
Find the GPS device with a handheld locator.
Download Article
This handy tool detects outgoing GPS signals from your vehicle. Use one of these if you can’t visually find the GPS device inside or outside your vehicle. Stand within 5 metres (16 ft) of your vehicle and do a full scan. If a GPS signal is detected, the locator will beep and flash.
Scan your vehicle multiple times since not all GPS systems transmit a constant signal.
Handheld GPS locators can be found online and are sometimes called electric sweepers.
Locating devices will find an active or real-time GPS tracker, but can’t find a passive or logger tracker.
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Warnings
In the US, it’s illegal to block or tamper with GPS devices that have been put in vehicles for law enforcement purposes. If you discover a GPS device and aren’t sure what its legal status is, ask your local law enforcement. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 6
GPS blocking or scrambling is often a violation of federal law if it interferes with authorized radio communications.[7]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
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Tips
If the GPS device is attached by a magnet or a plug, you can remove it yourself. If it’s hardwired into your car’s electrical system, it should be removed by a professional.[8]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
If you suspect there is a GPS tracker in your vehicle and you can’t find it, consult a professional mechanic or GPS installer. Thanks Helpful 36 Not Helpful 19
These GPS-blocking tips work for real-time trackers that constantly transmit a signal. They will not do anything to a logger tracker, which stores location information and has to be physically hooked up to a computer to show the information. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 2
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
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Co-authored by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician This article was co-authored by Jason Shackelford and by wikiHow staff writer, Dan Hickey. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been viewed 260,993 times. 89 votes - 79% Co-authors: 6Updated: December 17, 2024 Views: 260,993 Categories: Car Safety and Security In other languages Indonesian French Spanish Portuguese Japanese
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Reader Success Stories
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Mar 9, 2024
"He gave me a good amount of helpful relevant important knowledge and tips on the subject I was needing, which is GPS tracking and how to find it and then remove it from the vehicle."..." more
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May 25, 2024
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Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Use a plug-in GPS blocker. 2 Carry a handheld GPS blocker. 3 Wrap the GPS device in aluminum foil. 4 Remove the GPS tracker’s battery. 5 Disable location tracking on your cell phone. 6 Search the exterior of your vehicle. 7 Examine the interior of your vehicle. 8 Find the GPS device with a handheld locator. + Show 5 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Jason Shackelford and Dan Hickey 
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Co-authored by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician This article was co-authored by Jason Shackelford and by wikiHow staff writer, Dan Hickey. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been viewed 260,993 times. 89 votes - 79% Co-authors: 6 Updated: December 17, 2024 Views: 260,993 Categories: Car Safety and Security In other languages Indonesian French Spanish Portuguese Japanese 
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644 
A plug-in GPS blocker creates an interference signal that blocks vehicle GPS tracking. Simply plug it into your car’s cigarette lighter or auxiliary power outlet. When you turn the car on, the blocking device also turns on and your vehicle disappears from GPS monitors. To deactivate it, turn your car off or remove the device.[1] 
A handheld blocker jams GPS signals from the palm of your hand. Instead of plugging it into your vehicle, manually activate the device with a button or switch. Remember to turn off or deactivate the device when you stop driving (or else you’ll continue to scramble GPS and cell signals around you).[2] 
Any electrically conductive metal will scramble a GPS device’s signals. The simplest, cheapest, and easiest option is to simply wrap the GPS device in aluminum foil whenever you want your location to remain hidden. The only catch is that you have to know where the tracker is and have access to it.[3] 
If the GPS tracker has no battery, it can’t transmit a signal. First, locate the GPS tracker. If it’s connected to your vehicle by a magnet or a data connector plug, just tug the device free and remove the battery to stop the signal. Afterward, dispose of the battery and GPS device to ensure it doesn’t continue to transmit your location. 
Cell phones reveal your location as easily as a GPS. The easiest way to mask your location is to turn on “Airplane Mode” (this turns off the cell and WiFi radios). Then, turn off your location services, reporting, or history in your phone’s settings app to turn off the GPS tracking. 
GPS trackers can be taped or magnetically attached to the outside of your car. Search for suspicious looking boxes, probably with antennas. Use a flashlight to look in hard-to-reach areas like the undercarriage or in the wheel wells. Here are some of the most likely places to find a tracker:[5] 
GPS trackers can be discreetly plugged in or hidden inside your car too. This is probably only the case if you suspect that someone you know (who has access to your car) planted a device, like a spouse or an ex. Search these common places where they might hide one:[6] 
This handy tool detects outgoing GPS signals from your vehicle. Use one of these if you can’t visually find the GPS device inside or outside your vehicle. Stand within 5 metres (16 ft) of your vehicle and do a full scan. If a GPS signal is detected, the locator will beep and flash. 