Car theft is still a growing concern, and if you rely on your vehicle for work or daily life, the impact can be huge. That’s why more drivers are turning to magnetic vehicle trackers to keep their car secure. Small, discreet devices that give you a fighting chance of recovering your car if the worst happens.
The key advantage of magnetic trackers is how easily they can be hidden. Compact in size – about the length and width of a small phone or faraday box – they can be tucked away in clever spots around your car. Under the boot carpet, behind trim, or even beneath a back seat are all effective hiding places that keep the device out of sight, and thieves none the wiser.
It’s not just for peace of mind against theft either. Magnetic vehicle trackers are also used professionally, helping businesses monitor vehicle locations for scheduling, mileage, or fleet management. Most devices link up with a dedicated app or web platform, giving you live location data at your fingertips.
If you’re after a simpler and more affordable way to track your car, though, a key finder or car key tracker might be a better option.
The best magnetic vehicle trackers 2025
If you do have the misfortune of having your car stolen, a magnetic vehicle tracker should help give real-time updates of your car’s whereabouts. This can save you time and police resources in the recovery of your vehicle. The other advantage is that if you’re security-conscious and a steering wheel lock isn’t enough for you, a magnetic vehicle tracker can be traced remotely via the compatible app on your phone. We’ve listed our favourites ranging in budget, capabilities, and battery life.
What to look for in magnetic vehicle trackers
Primarily, you want to be looking for a reliable tracker that pin points your vehicle’s location accurately, will last a healthy amount of time between charges, and will fit neatly in your preferred hiding spot.
Battery life is a big one as most magnetic vehicle trackers will last up to 90 days and possibly more on standby mode, which is then reduced once tracking is in action. In a lot of cases, you’ll get around a month’s worth of battery life out of your device, or just over.
Subscription fees are another consideration. Dutch company, Winnes manufacture trackers that don’t require one, which is massively appealing. But most, if not all the others do require a monthly fee after setting up your account. In most cases, this shouldn’t stretch above £5 or £6 per month. Subscription plans differ across all brands, so compare each one to see which suits you best.
How we tested magnetic vehicle trackers
We got our hands on a set of magnetic vehicle trackers and tested them out first hand. Our methodology was to set up and install them non-professionally – like most consumers would upon buying these devices. At the end of the day, they’re simpler devices than physical things like wheel clamps, so the normal consumer should be able to use them easily.
We used our own personal vehicles as test subjects to attach the trackers to and test out their capabilities. We explored all features found on each app and tested out how accurate the GPS locations were as well as judging how easy they are to navigate and use.
With the devices themselves, we judged how easy they are to place within the vehicles and how easy they were to, well, track. Value for money is also considered in this, as most of these devices require a subscription on top of the purchase price. All of the above is then tied into our overall score.
The best magnetic vehicle trackers 2025
The best magnetic vehicle tracker
Not only does it represent good value for money at a competitive £35 starting price, but it's also reassuringly easy to use, requires only a small fee per month as a subscription, and is compact enough to fit in a variety of places.
It's excellently accurate, too. Upon testing, the device's location was pin pointed to the last centimetre on the app's map. Speaking of the app, that's a very easy thing to use as well; out of all the devices tested, I found it to be the easiest to use and navigate. When a vehicle is on the move, I found the tracker's location to update itself every 20-seconds or so - sometimes a little more, depending on the vehicle's speed.
One thing you do have to keep in mind is that you have to calibrate the device after setting it up. This involves a 10-minute drive to ensure the GPS can work properly. This was a bit of an inconvenience as the other tested devices didn't require doing so. The smaller package also means the battery is smaller - your estimated battery life while in use is between 16-32 days which isn't as ideal as the others.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Compact device, which makes it easier to hide in a car than others
- Easy to set up the app and ultimately use with an accurate location
- Represents better value for money than others at £35 before subscription
Cons
- Smaller package means a smaller battery - which doesn't last as long
- Calibration drive needed, which is a slight hinderance
| Subscription fee | From £4.98 p/m |
| Location accuracy | 10m |
| Battery life | 16-32 days |
| Dimensions | 3 x 6 x 8cm |
Editor's pick
I tried out the 4G version, and needless to say, I was impressed with it. Despite its size, it was quite quick to charge up from taking it out the box. It was also effortlessly easy to set up the app, account, and device itself before showing its location.
After charging, setting it up took only a matter of around 10-minutes. And looking at the GPS, the accuracy of the tracker is immensely precise; I parked the test vehicle in an obscure place in the office car park, and the map managed to pick that up. I'm confident that no matter where you leave your vehicle, the PAJ will track its location the most precisely out of those tested.
The battery can last up to 90 days on standby, too - which is also impressive. But the caveat of a large battery is an equally large package; I really struggled to work out where you could put it, even in a hidden compartment. To make things even trickier, you get a magnetic plate to place the tracker on with adhesives to stick onto the desired spot.
It would've been easier to use magnets to stick the device onto the vehicle, so points for ease of use have to be lost. The build quality of the device, however, as well as how accurate the GPS tracking is makes the PAJ a brilliantly solid unit. It is quite pricey at £100 (before subscription) for the 4G unit, but it makes up for it in other areas.
You can opt for different subscription plans ranging from a monthly plan to a bi-yearly one. The subscription begins at £4.50 a month, but either way, there is no free trail involved unlike other competitors.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Choice of subscription methods, depending on your preferences
- Sim card included, which takes away some hassle
- Great quality, compact tracker that can be hidden well
Cons
- No free trails available on any of the subscription plans
| Subscription fee | From £4.50 p/m |
| Location accuracy | 5m |
| Battery life | 40-90 days |
| Dimensions | 11.8 x 6.7 x 3.7cm |
Best mid-range magnetic vehicle tracker
We've tried it for ourselves, so how well does it work? The answer is excellently. Upon setting up the app, the GPS shows the device's location to the millimetre. When the vehicle is moving, you get a handy display of its real-time speed, the amount of time it's been on the move, and the date.
Unlike the PAJ unit, it's not waterproof - which is potentially a let down, depending on where you decide to place the tracker. Like the others, I tested it in a hidden dry area, so this wasn't an issue. But be aware if you want to place the tracker somewhere which can get damp.
The app is easy to set up as well, and I questioned myself how it's this much cheaper than the PAJ unit. But perhaps the waterproof properties are more valuable to some than they appear to myself.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Minimal set-up required, which makes it easy to use
- Up to 90-days from a single charge, meaning it can last a while
- Integrated features such as route history and real-time speed
Cons
- No weatherproof properties, which may limit capabilities slightly
| Subscription fee | £39.99 for 6-months |
| Location accuracy | 3-5 metres |
| Battery life | Up to 90 days |
| Dimensions | 11.5 x 6.5 x 4.7cm |
The best magnetic vehicle tracker
This is dustproof, waterproof, and shock-resistant to give you confidence that you will get the results you need regardless of the terrain. The lithium-ion battery claims to have a 90 working day lifespan. This would depend on how long the working days are and how much the GPS has to work.
You will need to purchase a SIM card separately, which will be a slightly annoying bit of extra admin for some users.
Pros
- Long battery life of up to 90-days (working)
- Accurate location tracking of up to 5-metres
- IP58 waterproof rating makes it somewhat durable
Cons
- Separate SIM card required, which adds a bit of extra admin
| Subscription fee | None |
| Location accuracy | 5 metres |
| Battery life | 150 days (standby) |
| Dimensions | 12.9 x 10 x 5.9cm |
Best budget magnetic vehicle tracker
This budget option won’t give you parameters like Geo-Fencing or push notifications for speed limit breaches. Still, it will allow you to pick out exactly where your vehicle is using your iPhone.
Pros
- Small and compact, which may be ideal for some
- Inexpensive solution, especially if you use an Apple device
- Easy to track, if you're familiar with iPhones
Cons
- Easy to misplace and not as advanced as others
| Subscription fee | None |
| Location accuracy | Not stated |
| Battery life | Up to a year (claimed) |
| Dimensions | 32 x 8mm |
Best for multiple notifications
A handy feature the SALIND GPS Tracker has is setting multiple notifications for different scenarios; for instance, if the vehicle is speeding, the GPS can send a message to your phone. Handy if you’re in control of a fleet of cars.
Pros
- Built-in SIM card, which will be convenient for some
- Multiple notifications available, which allows you to keep a close eye on things
- Long battery life of over a month (claimed)
Cons
- The app’s useability could be improved
| Subscription fee | From £4.50 p/m |
| Location accuracy | 10 metres |
| Battery life | 40-90 days |
| Dimensions | 10.9 x 7.6 x 2.6cm |
The tracker has an IP65 waterproof rating as well as the ability to provide coverage across all of Europe and 176 countries in total. The 5,000mAh battery lasts up to 30-days on standby, but it's recommended you charge it up every fortnight or so, if it's in regular use.
Pros
- 12-month free trail if you opt for the pricier option
- Compact device that can be hidden in a number of places
- IP65 waterproof rating, which comfortably protects it from dust gathering
Cons
- Subscription required, no matter which variant you opt for
- Battery life isn't as impressive as other trackers
| Subscription fee | £4.72 p/m |
| Location accuracy | Not stated |
| Battery life | Up to 30 days |
| Dimensions | 5 x 2.4 x 9cm |
FAQs and things to remember with magnetic vehicle trackers
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Why use a magnetic tracker?
There is a problem with some standard trackers - because they are often visible, wanton thieves know what they are looking for and can remove the tracker before making off with your pride and joy. Thus, your vehicle could be lost forever. A magnetic tracking device is a more discreet way of tracking your car from your phone, laptop or PC. The advantage is obvious; thieves may not know a tracker is on your vehicle and may not notice it before driving away. Another advantage is that these are interchangeable quickly.
Let's imagine you have a fleet of vehicles, and for security purposes, you'd like to know where each car is at any one time; a handy magnetic tracker that you can change between your vehicles will help you understand where drivers are if they're delivering goods and be able to relay that information to your customer. -
Do magnetic vehicle trackers need charging?
Yes, these devices aren't hardwired in; they will require charging once every so often. Battery life depends entirely on usage, but as outlined in our product selection, battery life of some trackers is notably stronger than others.
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How long do magnetic vehicle tracker batteries last?
The battery life varies from product to product. The battery life claims themselves tend to be based by either the devices being on standby or if the tracker runs actively for one hour per day. It can range from anywhere between 10-90 days, and more often than not, the longer-lasting trackers tend to be the more premium options.
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Are magnetic trackers better than hardwired ones?
The main pro about magnetic vehicle trackers is they can be placed almost anywhere, hidden within the vehicle. You can take them out at any time to charge them up and easily replace them with other trackers. This becomes trickier with hardwired units, but the main advantage to the latter is that you don't have to worry about battery life. Wired-in trackers run off the car's power and you can just sit back and monitor the vehicle from there. With magnetic units, you will have to get used to a charging schedule after learning how long your unit lasts.
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