Used cars
Bought a used car? Do these checks first
Updated September 2026
A used car can come with more than a few miles on it. The previous owner's phone app may still be connected, and a dealer or fleet tracker may still be wired in. This checklist takes about an hour and covers both.
Short answer
First, call the automaker’s connected-services line and have every previous account removed from your VIN. Next, check the OBD-II port and under the driver’s side dash for a leftover dealer or fleet tracker. Then factory-reset the infotainment system and garage door buttons.
1. Cut off the previous owner’s app
This is the one most people miss. If the last owner linked the car to myChevrolet, FordPass, Uconnect, or a similar app and never removed it, they may still see where the car is, and on some models start or unlock it.
- Find your VIN (bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side, or on your title).
- Call the automaker’s connected-services support (OnStar for GM, FordPass support for Ford and Lincoln, Uconnect Care for Ram, Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler).
- Tell them you’re the new owner and ask them to remove every existing account and subscription from the vehicle. Have your title or registration ready.
- If you want the app features, set up the account in your own name afterward. If you don’t, leave it unregistered.
2. Look for a leftover tracker
Dealers, lenders, rental companies, and fleet owners install aftermarket GPS units, and they don’t always come out when the car is sold. Check these first:
- The OBD-II port under the driver’s side dash. Anything plugged in that isn’t yours is suspect.
- Under the driver’s side dash near the steering column, where hardwired units are usually spliced in. Look for tape, zip ties, or wires that don’t match the factory harness.
- Behind the glovebox and kick panels.
- Under the car and inside the bumpers for a magnetic, battery-powered box.
Our full guide to finding a GPS tracker walks through all 10 places to check, and this page on dealer trackers covers starter-interrupt devices.
3. Reset what the last owner left behind
- Infotainment: factory-reset it from the settings menu. That clears paired phones, contacts, and saved home and work addresses.
- Garage door buttons (HomeLink): clear and reprogram them. The owner’s manual shows how.
- Built-in Wi-Fi hotspot: cancel or transfer the data plan.
- Toll tags on the windshield: remove anything that isn’t yours.
4. Decide about the factory modem
Removing the previous owner doesn’t turn off the car’s own cellular modem. It keeps reporting to the manufacturer whether or not anyone has an account. If that bothers you, see what each automaker collects and how to disable it.
If the car is financed
If you’re still paying off the car and the tracker was disclosed in your contract, leave it alone until the loan is paid. Removing a required device can violate the contract. Once you own the car outright, it’s yours to remove.
Then deal with the factory modem
Even after the previous owner is removed, the car's built-in modem keeps reporting to the manufacturer. Our $35 guides show how to disable it, reversibly, on GM, Ram/Jeep/Dodge, and Ford vehicles.
Common questions
+Can the previous owner still track my used car?
Possibly. If the car is still linked to their manufacturer app, they may be able to see its location or even start and unlock it. Call the automaker's connected-services line with your VIN and proof of ownership and ask them to remove every previous account.
+Do used-car dealers put GPS trackers on cars?
Buy-here-pay-here dealers and subprime lenders often install GPS units or starter-interrupt devices on financed cars. Rental and fleet vehicles often have trackers too, and they aren't always removed before the car is sold.
+What should I reset on a used car?
Factory-reset the infotainment system to clear paired phones and saved addresses, reprogram or clear the garage door opener buttons, and change any connected-app accounts over to your own name.
+Is it legal to remove a tracker from a car I bought?
If you own the car outright, generally yes. If the car is financed and the tracker was disclosed in your loan contract, leave it in place until the loan is paid off.