Netstar explained

How Does the Netstar Tracker Work?

What happens inside a Netstar unit, how to test it, and how to see your car in the app.

Updated 30 September 2026 · TrackerPrices SA

TrackerPrices SA is an independent comparison site. We are not Netstar and are not affiliated with it, so we cannot access your account, log you in or cancel a contract for you. Facts on this page were checked against official Netstar sources in September 2026; the provider’s own website is always the final word.

Quick answer: A Netstar unit reports the vehicle’s position to Netstar’s control room over GPS and the cellular network. Plans such as Netstar Plus add live tracking in the app and jamming detection; STARtag is a battery-powered recovery unit. If your car is stolen, call 0800 11 22 22 and Netstar’s recovery team tracks it.

How it works

Hardwired units (e.g. Plus, Platinum) are powered by the car and report position regularly; you can see the car live in the app.
Battery units (e.g. STARtag) are wireless recovery units that stay quiet until a theft is reported.
Jamming detection flags attempts to block the signal.
The control room monitors alerts 24/7 and dispatches recovery teams.

How to test your Netstar tracker

Call Netstar support on 0860 12 24 36 and ask for a unit test; the agent confirms the unit’s last report.
If you have live tracking, open the Netstar app and check that the last position and time are current after a short drive.
Netstar asks customers to test the unit every six months, and after battery replacements, panel repairs or services, when wiring may have been disturbed.

See also our guide to testing any car tracker.

How to track your car on Netstar

Download the Netstar app or log in at My Netstar (my.netstar.co.za).
Sign in with your Netstar username and password (see finding your username).
Select your vehicle to see its latest position. Live tracking depends on your plan.

Looking for an alternative to Netstar?

If you are reviewing your Netstar contract, compare it with Matrix before you renew. Matrix Beame gives insurer-approved recovery from R99 a month with no wiring, and the new Matrix Vision dashcam adds road-facing and in-cab AI cameras, collision and distraction alerts and live streaming from R359 a month. Both come from MiX by Powerfleet, one of South Africa’s longest-running vehicle telematics companies.

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 Bronze, Silver and Gold – tracking packages at R189, R219 and R239/month (36 months), all with Beame included; Gold adds Crash Alert, Roadside Assist and a Tax Logbook. Get a Matrix quote