Car tracker questions

How Does a Car Tracker Work?

The technology inside a car tracker, from GPS to the recovery team.

Updated 30 September 2026 · Tracker Prices South Africa

Tracker Prices SA is an independent comparison site. This guide gives general information for South African drivers; your own provider, insurer or the police have the final word on your situation.

Quick answer: A car tracker is a small device that works out the vehicle’s position (usually by GPS) and sends it to the provider over the cellular network. Some also use VHF radio or a wireless recovery signal. When you report a theft, the control room follows the signal and sends a recovery team.

The three main types

TypeHow it worksExample
Hardwired GPS/GSM trackerPowered by the car; reports position regularly; live tracking in an appMatrix Silver/Gold, Cartrack Quick
Wireless recovery unitOwn battery; hidden anywhere; activated for recovery after a theft reportMatrix Beame, Netstar STARtag
VHF radio unitRadio beacon recovery teams home in on, even undergroundTracker Retrieve+

What happens when your car is stolen

  1. You call the provider’s emergency line and SAPS on 10111.
  2. The control room locates the vehicle from the tracker’s signal.
  3. Recovery teams, often with the police, go to the location.
  4. You receive a case number for your insurer.

Does a tracker work when the car is off?

Yes. Hardwired units keep running on a small amount of power from the car battery and check in regularly; wireless units like Beame run on their own battery for up to three years.

What about dashcams?

A tracker finds your car; a dashcam records what happens on the road. The Matrix Vision dashcam combines ADAS warnings, in-cab driver monitoring and live streaming.

Our top picks: Matrix, Beame and Matrix Vision

Across the plans we compare, Matrix offers the widest choice for South African drivers: Beame for low-cost, insurer-approved recovery, Silver and Gold for live tracking, and the new Matrix Vision dashcam for video telematics.

Related tracker plans

Recommended: Matrix, Beame and Matrix Vision

Monthly prices from our catalogue. Click Get quote to compare offers for your vehicle.

New · Matrix Vision dashcams

Every trip on camera. Every driver protected.

Road-facing ADAS and in-cab AI cameras in one 4G-connected unit, data bundle included. Collision, tailgating and rollover warnings, phone-use and drowsiness alerts, live streaming with push-to-talk, and privacy blurring, all from one platform.

Prices incl. VAT. Data bundle limits apply. Not ideal for long-haul night-time operation.

Matrix Vision dual dashcam
Top pick · Matrix Beame

Insurer-approved theft recovery from R99/month

A small wireless unit hidden in your car in minutes, with no wiring into its electronics and a battery that lasts up to three years. Approved by major insurers, with jamming detection and 24/7 recovery.

  • R99per month, VAT incl.
  • 3 yrsbattery life
  • 0wires into your car
FAQ

Common Questions

What is a car tracker?+

A device that locates your vehicle and helps the provider recover it if it is stolen.

Does a car tracker need internet?+

Hardwired GPS trackers use the cellular network to report. You only need internet on your phone to use the app.

Related pages

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TrackerBasic

Retrieve+

R99/month
Free installation (36-month contract) · 36-month contract
  • Stolen vehicle recovery
  • 24/7 monitoring centre
  • VHF radio recovery (jammer-resistant)
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