GPS In Car While Shipping
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,430
Likes: 4,829
From: BEST Corn-Nation
2015 C5 of the Year Winner
GPS In Car While Shipping
Hey y'all, I'm getting ready to ship my Vette with a shipping company at the end of the month. A buddy of mine suggested putting a GPS tracker in it so I can keep track of where it is. I'm not sure I really need to do that. But if I do decide to go that route, have any of you ever done this? I've checked into getting one but they mostly seem to have a monthly charge to activate them. For as long as I'd need it, I'm not going to do that. Is there one that won't require a monthly charge? I don't see any real reason to do that, so I'm just trying to weigh all options before it's to late to put one in it.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,974
Likes: 386
From: Chandler AZ
Are you selling it and shipping to buyer or moving?
If you are concerned the car will get stolen couldn’t they just look for the gps and throw it on the ground/in trash and drive off?
Or are you concerned someone might go take it for a joy ride like on Ferris Bueler?
If you are concerned the car will get stolen couldn’t they just look for the gps and throw it on the ground/in trash and drive off?
Or are you concerned someone might go take it for a joy ride like on Ferris Bueler?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 3,313
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
I don't know enough about GPS trackers to offer different options. In the case of Grape Ape, I think it would be worth it to have a tracker. I've heard so many nightmare stories about car shipping gone wrong. I really hope everything goes smoothly. Make sure you go over the car with the shipping company with lots of pictures before and after, You've paid a TON of money to make your car perfect. Make sure he's still perfect when he arrives at his new home.
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,069
Likes: 7,387
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
There have been many news stories in the last 3 months about gangsters putting Apple Air Tag trackers on police cars all over their cities.
If you have an iPhone maybe that is an option for you. I think they are relatively cheap as well.
If you have an iPhone maybe that is an option for you. I think they are relatively cheap as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 3,313
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
I think air tags have a limited range. They are bluetooth, and do not actually have a GPS in them.
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,069
Likes: 7,387
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 699
From: Clark, NJ
I was going to suggest that also. If you have a Samsung phone they have a similar product called smart tags.
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,069
Likes: 7,387
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 8,342
Likes: 489
From: WI
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,069
Likes: 7,387
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
If you read the eleventy billion comments on that video I posted it appears to work better than you'd think by watching the video itself.
I think it also beats the hell out of buying into a full GPS based system that usually requires a subscription service.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
A couple of weeks ago one of the newspapers ran a story about how the use of a phone tracker when moving helped a lot. In that case it was a military family relocating across the country and the woman had inadvertently left an I phone locator device in her Childs purse, inside a dresser drawer. She learned about the advantages in conversations with other wives after she was notified her shipment was going to be delayed probably by weeks. She and her kids were already in the new place , and needed their stuff , so she used the locator.
She found that the truck wasn't even in the same state they told her, and was actually much closer, which was somewhat of a surprise to the shipper. Turns out the driver was visiting at home and was within company policies, but the week long delay suddenly changed and she got her stuff first thing Monday.
She found that the truck wasn't even in the same state they told her, and was actually much closer, which was somewhat of a surprise to the shipper. Turns out the driver was visiting at home and was within company policies, but the week long delay suddenly changed and she got her stuff first thing Monday.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 485
Likes: 371
From: Basehor, KS
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
https://gpsandtrack.com/car_tracker/
Here’s the first one that came up on a search for me. No monthly fee.
Here’s the first one that came up on a search for me. No monthly fee.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,430
Likes: 4,829
From: BEST Corn-Nation
2015 C5 of the Year Winner
Thanks a bunch with all the comments. For reference, I am moving across the country to a new home. I'm not selling the car. Just wondering if it would be worth it to try and track where it is all the time. I will look into all the options you all listed and see what I can use. You all are awesome.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 485
Likes: 371
From: Basehor, KS
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Thanks a bunch with all the comments. For reference, I am moving across the country to a new home. I'm not selling the car. Just wondering if it would be worth it to try and track where it is all the time. I will look into all the options you all listed and see what I can use. You all are awesome.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,430
Likes: 4,829
From: BEST Corn-Nation
2015 C5 of the Year Winner
That's a great statement, I will contact them and find out. Thanks
So far I think that samsung devise will be my best option at the moment if the company doesn't have anything for me. I have a Samsung phone so it should work for what I need it to do.
So far I think that samsung devise will be my best option at the moment if the company doesn't have anything for me. I have a Samsung phone so it should work for what I need it to do.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 699
From: Clark, NJ
Not like you want it to. Your Android can detect them with Apple's Tracker Detect app for Android. You can check the tags with NFC on Android and help find the owner if it's lost.
You'll need Apple's Find My app and an Apple device with iOS 14.5 and the new U1 chip such as:
iPhone 11iPhone 11 ProiPhone 11 Pro MaxiPhone 12iPhone 12 miniiPhone 12 ProiPhone 12 Pro MaxiPhone 13 miniiPhone 13iPhone 13 ProiPhone 13 Pro Mx
to be able to use the airtag like you want to.
You'll need Apple's Find My app and an Apple device with iOS 14.5 and the new U1 chip such as:
iPhone 11iPhone 11 ProiPhone 11 Pro MaxiPhone 12iPhone 12 miniiPhone 12 ProiPhone 12 Pro MaxiPhone 13 miniiPhone 13iPhone 13 ProiPhone 13 Pro Mx
to be able to use the airtag like you want to.
Last edited by ThomasR; Mar 9, 2022 at 09:32 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 8,342
Likes: 489
From: WI
Thanks for the clarification, I glossed over the specifics when I read about android as I have a work iphone. You're right, it only works on android as far as it needs to in detecting if any tags are near you.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,430
Likes: 4,829
From: BEST Corn-Nation
2015 C5 of the Year Winner
I'm not so much worried about anyone stealing it, driving it, or whatever with it. I'm more concerned about making sure I can meet the truck at the new place to receive it. If I can't, then I'll have to find someone that will do that for me. My kids are in NC so they won't be around.