Can police track your car?

[hankbank3928]

Does anyone know?

 

[gottablast888]

newer models yes. most of us are broke and have old cars so it shouldnt be a problem for most xD

 

[Ecka-26]

Why would the police try to track your car? Turn off your location on your phone. Unless they have your plate number to your car then they can find you.

 

[gottablast888]

your phone is more likely to have u tracked

 

[hankbank3928]

Why would the police try to track your car? Turn off your location on your phone. Unless they have your plate number to your car then they can find you.

If I was reported a missing person. I know 100% that they can track my phone, I was just curious about a car.

 

[locked*n*loaded]

If your car is newer and has a navigation system, then yes they can. They could track you if they put a tracker on your car, too. If you have an older car and installed an aftermarket navigation system, then yes, I guess they could then, too. But, I think, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, that, if you are in the USA, then any of those methods would require some type of court order. I don't think the government just "willy-nilly" can decide to track you. There would have to be some type of legal legit reason to do so. There's some device available that Apple has, too, that can be placed in or on your vehicle, but I think that is used mainly within the public like by exes and stalkers and people like that.

 

[Pluto]

Not really. Police have license plate scanners that will alert them if a nearby vehicle is reported as unregistered, etc. A small number of vehicles have GPS tracking which can be used with permission for theft recovery purposes. GM's OnStar is an example.

 

[hankbank3928]

If your car is newer and has a navigation system, then yes they can. They could track you if they put a tracker on your car, too. If you have an older car and installed an aftermarket navigation system, then yes, I guess they could then, too. But, I think, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, that, if you are in the USA, then any of those methods would require some type of court order. I don't think the government just "willy-nilly" can decide to track you. There would have to be some type of legal legit reason to do so. There's some device available that Apple has, too, that can be placed in or on your vehicle, but I think that is used mainly within the public like by exes and stalkers and people like that.

I'm pretty sure your right, thank you.

 

[Glowarm]

I agree with the above posts. Older model cars, I would say no, unless you've added an updated nav system.
But they could still 'be on the lookout' for your make, model and plate number.

One more thing, I have a 2019 car that does NOT have navigation. However, I can go on the app on my phone at any time and see exactly where my car is at. It'll tell me where it is at, when it last updated it's location. It'll even tell me all the stats such as gas left, milage left, etc. That is all built in with the Ford Sync app on newer models (you can even start the car and lock/unlock the doors from the app).
So even though I did Not get the built in navigation system, it still has the internal nav guts, if you will. However I think the police would need my permission or Ford's permission to access that data, but it is there.

 

[Pluto]

Satellite navigation works by receiving signals from several overhead GPS satellites and using the data to triangulate your location. At no time is any data sent from the vehicle back to the satellites. A vehicle would need a connection to the 4G or similar cellular network - such as a Tesla with over-the-air updates - for there to be any means of passing on your location data to another party.

 

[Zeus35]

Yes via number plate recognition. When your car goes certain places it automatically tells the police where you are. It's like a moving tracker. It tells them when you stop your car, where and for how long too.

 

[hankbank3928]

Yes via number plate recognition. When your car goes certain places it automatically tells the police where you are. It's like a moving tracker. It tells them when you stop your car, where and for how long too.

Aren't certain types of cameras required for that?

 

[Zeus35]

Aren't certain types of cameras required for that?

Not sure. I just know your car can be tracked from A to B. They have something inbuilt.

 

[downndone2]

Yes, it can be. If you owe on car loan they usually have trackers. Also, some cars liked to navigation and GPS can be tracked but itd likely take a court order to get the info. Is there a chance family put a tracker on the car?

 

[Smart No More]

If you're reported missing your liscence plate will be provided and they'll put it on alert so when you're picked up by a camera they'll know where you were and have an idea where you're heading. They'll have local cars come look for you. If your car has not shown up since the missing report get filed they'll assume you're stsying in that location and put out a search for you in that area. Usually passively at first. Using local bulletin boards and possible radio if they suspect you're a risk to yourself or others. The local police will have your file and identification specifics. They'll visit your car if they can find it propbably leave a 'contact us' notice on it if they can't find you near it. They will attempt to look for card payments and bank transfers that mighr indicate your location. And obviously you mentioned your phone so already are aware of the issue there.

Depending where you live there are cameras everywhere. Uk is the most surveilled but the US isn't too far behind and it varies state to state.

If they find your car is in a location long enough they may have a couple of police check nearby suicide spots and hold out for a little time in case you show up there. They'll often be mildy elusive so they can avoid spooking you but still be able to get close enough to talk before you make any attempts.

 

[SelfHatingAspie]

If your car is newer and has a navigation system, then yes they can. If you have an older car and installed an aftermarket navigation system, then yes, I guess they could then, too.

Not necessarily.

Whilst a GPS-based navigation device could be used to track someone down, if it's not connected to say a cellphone number or email address, how is anyone going to be able to pick your sat nav device from millions of others?

New cars where the navigation system has a built-in panic button to summon emergency services would presumably be trackable, but that's because these cars would use a SIM card or a smartphone hooked up via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

If you're that paranoid though, switch the sat nav off. Or if you're super paranoid and the sat nav is built into the car, find the fusebox and pull the sat nav fuse out, bearing in mind that'll probably take out your car's stereo as well.

 

[hankbank3928]

Yes, it can be. If you owe on car loan they usually have trackers. Also, some cars liked to navigation and GPS can be tracked but itd likely take a court order to get the info. Is there a chance family put a tracker on the car?

No, there's no tracker on my car.

If you're reported missing your liscence plate will be provided and they'll put it on alert so when you're picked up by a camera they'll know where you were and have an idea where you're heading. They'll have local cars come look for you. If your car has not shown up since the missing report get filed they'll assume you're stsying in that location and put out a search for you in that area. Usually passively at first. Using local bulletin boards and possible radio if they suspect you're a risk to yourself or others. The local police will have your file and identification specifics. They'll visit your car if they can find it propbably leave a 'contact us' notice on it if they can't find you near it. They will attempt to look for card payments and bank transfers that mighr indicate your location. And obviously you mentioned your phone so already are aware of the issue there.

Depending where you live there are cameras everywhere. Uk is the most surveilled but the US isn't too far behind and it varies state to state.

If they find your car is in a location long enough they may have a couple of police check nearby suicide spots and hold out for a little time in case you show up there. They'll often be mildy elusive so they can avoid spooking you but still be able to get close enough to talk before you make any attempts.

What if these cameras aren't in place where I live? Is that the only way they can track me, is through cameras?

 

[pikku.tiikeri]

It depends on the country you live in. In some places, police have an advanced number plate recognition system that can be used to track a car. In some countries, the automated tolling system is linked to a car's registration number, so this can be used to track as well.

As far as a car's systems are concerned, an ordinary navigation system alone is not enough to track a car. Only cars with modern telematics systems can be tracked. These systems use an embedded e-SIM with a 3G/4G/5G connection. As one would expect, these are available on new models, especially on the higher trims.

Tracking is also possible if you have an aftermarket telematics system installed in your car as an anti-theft measure. Some (not all) insurance companies, leasing companies and banks also install these on cars of their customers.

Also, if you connect your phone to the car's infotainment system using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, your car can be tracked through your phone.

 

[Smart No More]

No, there's no tracker on my car.

What if these cameras aren't in place where I live? Is that the only way they can track me, is through cameras?

Cameras country wide can be used to track your number plate depending on the country you're in. It's a pretty strong system in the England/UK. America has a similar system too.

Neither track you minute to minute but you're never far away from a camera so an accurate map of your movements is easily found. Not all are reported in realtime but many are and if a request for it, in the form of an alert is put out then the information flow becomes more targeted and they build a picture based on questions they ask the people reporting you missing. Things like - 'do you have friends or relatives you might visit (includinge estranged family and lovers?', 'are there places that are special to you?' 'where do you work?' etc. They can build a picture pretty quickly. What you have going for you is the time it takes for a missing persons report to be filed. It's different from country to country and there are different factors that affect how quickly it might be filed. Age is one. Vulnerability another.

 

[hankbank3928]

Cameras country wide can be used to track your number plate depending on the country you're in. It's a pretty strong system in the England/UK. America has a similar system too.

Neither track you minute to minute but you're never far away from a camera so an accurate map of your movements is easily found. Not all are reported in realtime but many are and if a request for it, in the form of an alert is put out then the information flow becomes more targeted and they build a picture based on questions they ask the people reporting you missing. Things like - 'do you have friends or relatives you might visit (includinge estranged family and lovers?', 'are there places that are special to you?' 'where do you work?' etc. They can build a picture pretty quickly. What you have going for you is the time it takes for a missing persons report to be filed. It's different from country to country and there are different factors that affect how quickly it might be filed. Age is one. Vulnerability another.

I thought ctbing in my car would be simple. Now that your revealing this information, I guess not. Thank you for posting.

 

[DPJ187]

When they say track a car usually what that means is they put a check against your plate on ANPR cameras. They check where you have been like that. It's not about tracking it like findmyiphone, that they can do from your phone but the rest unless it's a nationwide man hunt is pretty off. You want to hide your car, find a car that's the same make and model and copy its number plate, so long as you dont get pulled over the police should be unaware

 

[Smart No More]

If you're an adult that travels or goes visiting friends it's not such an issue as they usually don't start a missing persons search in the first 24 hours or so because people usually turn up. It depends where you live really. Think it's around 48hrs generally for a search to get started for an adult that isn't obviously in distress or a risk. Search it up for your location and you'll find it easy. In fact searching any of the stuff you asked or read here will give you more specific answers I think.

Not sure what your situation is at home and who would report you missing but they're relative factors to be considered. If you're able to claim you're going somewhere that will delay any missing persons reports.

 

[locked*n*loaded]

Whilst a GPS-based navigation device could be used to track someone down, if it's not connected to say a cellphone number or email address, how is anyone going to be able to pick your sat nav device from millions of others?

Don't Nav devices have their own unique identifier? Much like a computer has a Mac address, or the assigned IP address when connected to the Internet?