A step-by-step guide to fitting a GPS tracker in your car yourself, wiring the power, setting up the dashboard and protecting the battery.
You can install a GPS tracker yourself without much trouble. A cigarette-lighter or OBD tracker takes a few minutes, and a basic wired tracker connects with three wires: positive, ground and ignition. You'll need a SIM card with the PIN disabled, a multimeter and a fuse. Fuel sensors, CAN bus connections and engine immobilisation are better left to a technician.
What you need to install a GPS tracker
- a GPS tracker and the manufacturer's manual;
- a SIM card with mobile data and the PIN request disabled;
- a multimeter to find the right wires;
- an inline fuse holder and fuse, rated as the manual says, usually 1–2 A;
- heat-shrink tubing or good insulating tape, cable ties, double-sided tape;
- screwdrivers and a trim removal tool so you don't break the panels.
How to install a GPS tracker yourself: 7 steps
Step 1. Choose the tracker type
If you only need to see the car on a map and check trip history, the easiest choice is a plug-in GPS tracker for the cigarette lighter or OBD port. No wiring needed.
For theft protection and accurate history, a wired tracker is better: it can be hidden and runs on the car battery all the time.
Step 2. Prepare the SIM card
- Put the SIM card in a phone and turn off the PIN request.
- Check that mobile data is active and the account has credit.
- If the vehicle travels abroad, enable data roaming or pick an IoT plan.
- Insert the card into the tracker before connecting power.
Step 3. Choose where to mount the tracker
The tracker needs a view of the sky for GPS and decent mobile reception. Metal and metallised window tint block the signal.
- Good:under the plastic dashboard, behind the A-pillar trim, near the windscreen.
- Possible:in the boot or under a seat, if the tracker has an external antenna or the signal there is stable.
- Bad:under metal parts, next to the heater, anywhere moisture gets in.
Mount the tracker with the antenna side facing up, as shown in the manual.
Step 4. Connect power and ignition
- Turn off the ignition. For safety you can disconnect the negative battery terminal, but on some cars this resets the radio or window settings.
- Find a permanent positive feed. The multimeter should read 12 V (24 V on trucks) even with the ignition off.
- Connect positive through the fuse. This is usually the tracker's red wire. Place the fuse as close to the connection point as possible.
- Connect ground. Usually the black wire: to bare metal on the body or to the negative terminal.
- Connect ignition if the tracker has that input. Use a wire that is live only when the ignition is on.
- Insulate the joints. Soldering with heat-shrink is more reliable than twisted wires.
Wire colours differ between models, so always check the manual. Don't touch the airbag wiring (usually yellow connectors) or the CAN bus unless you know exactly what you're doing.
Step 5. Configure the tracker and dashboard
The tracker needs the tracking server address, port and your mobile operator's APN. This is done by SMS commands or with a configurator program. Then the tracker is added to Navi.zone or Wialon by its IMEI, and you set reporting intervals, geofences and alerts.
If you'd rather skip this, order GPS tracker setup: we configure the device and the dashboard, and you only have to connect it.
Step 6. Test it
- The tracker appears in the dashboard, and the car is shown where it actually is.
- Switch the ignition on and off — the status in the dashboard should change.
- Drive for 10–15 minutes: the track should be continuous, without gaps or jumps.
- Leave the car overnight and check in the morning that the tracker stayed online and the battery is fine.
Step 7. Secure and hide the tracker
Fix the tracker with cable ties or tape so it doesn't rattle. Route the wires along the factory loom. Photograph the mounting spot for future reference.
When to call a technician
- you need a fuel level sensor or a CAN bus reader;
- you plan to immobilise the engine via a relay;
- the car is under warranty and you don't want to take risks;
- it is a 24 V truck, tractor or construction machine.
In these cases book professional GPS tracker installation, and read what you need to know about GPS tracker installation for what the job involves.
FAQ
How long does a DIY installation take?
A cigarette-lighter or OBD tracker takes a few minutes, plus setting up the dashboard. A beginner usually needs one to two hours for a wired tracker, including finding the right wires and testing. Most of the time goes into carefully removing trim panels and routing the cables neatly.
Can I do it without a multimeter?
It's not a good idea. Without a multimeter it is easy to confuse a permanent positive feed with a wire that is live only when the ignition is on. The tracker would then switch off when parked and wouldn't alert you to a theft. A basic multimeter is cheap and will come in handy again.
Why doesn't the tracker show up in the dashboard?
Most often it's the SIM card: the PIN is still on, there is no credit or the APN isn't set. Next, check the server address and port in the tracker settings and the IMEI in the dashboard. If all of that is correct, check the LEDs and whether the tracker sees satellites near a window.
Can I install a tracker on someone else's car?
No. You may install a tracker only on your own car, your company's vehicle or with the owner's written consent. Covertly tracking another person is a criminal offence in Ukraine (Article 182 of the Criminal Code). Drivers of company vehicles must be informed about the tracker in writing.
Read also: How to connect a GPS tracker to your phone: a step-by-step guide
GPSka · turnkey fleet tracking
A GPS tracker set up for your vehicle
Tracker, SIM card, setup and dashboard. Navi.zone from $9.90 per vehicle per year, Wialon from 195 UAH per month.