How to Check if Your Car Has a Tracker

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.

Start with the paperwork

• Look for a tracker sticker on a window or in the service book, and an installation certificate in the car’s documents.
• Ask the dealer or previous owner. Many financed and dealer cars leave the showroom with a tracker.
• Call the big providers (Matrix/Beame, Tracker, Cartrack, Netstar) with your VIN and registration; they can tell you if a unit is registered to the car. See all contact numbers.

Where trackers are usually fitted

• Behind or under the dashboard and near the fuse box (hardwired units)
• Plugged into the OBD port under the steering wheel (plug-in units)
• Under seats, behind trim panels or in the boot (wireless recovery units such as Beame)
• Magnetic GPS devices can be attached under bumpers or in wheel arches

See what a car tracker looks like.

Signs a tracker may be fitted

• Unfamiliar wiring or a small box taped behind trim
• A small device with an antenna or LED near the OBD port
• An unexplained battery drain on a car that is parked for long periods

If you find a tracker you did not know about

A tracker from a previous owner can be transferred or cancelled with the provider. If you believe someone is tracking you without your consent, keep the device in place, photograph it, and go to a reputable installer and the police (SAPS 10111). Tracking someone’s vehicle without consent can be unlawful – see is it legal to track someone else’s car?

Want your own tracker?

If the car has no tracker, Matrix Beame is one of the simplest ways to add insurer-approved recovery: a wireless unit hidden in minutes, R99 a month.

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.

• Matrix Beame – insurer-approved wireless theft recovery, R99/month. Get a Beame quote
• Matrix Vision dashcam – road-facing ADAS and in-cab AI cameras, R359/month (Vision Pro R399). Get a Matrix Vision quote
• Matrix Silver and Gold – hardwired live tracking from R219/month, with driver analytics and a panic button on Gold. Get a Matrix quote