Know your rights
Can police track your car?
Updated September 2026
There are three main ways a vehicle's location ends up with law enforcement, and each follows different rules. Here's how each works and what the courts have said.
Short answer
Yes, in several ways. Automated license plate readers log where cars are seen, automakers can be required to hand over telematics data through legal process, and police can install GPS trackers, which the Supreme Court has said generally requires a warrant. This page explains how each works; it isn’t legal advice.
1. License plate readers
Automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras photograph passing plates and record the time and place. They’re mounted on poles, overpasses, and patrol cars, and many private companies run them too. They don’t involve your car’s electronics at all, so nothing you do to the car changes what they see.
2. Your automaker’s records
If your car’s telematics modem reports location, the manufacturer may hold a record of where it’s been. Automaker privacy notices typically say they’ll share data to comply with legal process like subpoenas, court orders, or warrants.
In Carpenter v. United States (2018), the Supreme Court held that the government generally needs a warrant to get historical cell-phone location records from a phone company. Courts are still working out how that applies to other kinds of location data.
3. GPS trackers
In United States v. Jones (2012), the Supreme Court held that attaching a GPS tracker to a vehicle and monitoring its movements is a Fourth Amendment search. In practice, police generally get a warrant before installing one.
What you can and can’t do
- You can opt out of automaker data collection and disable the modem in a vehicle you own outright. That limits what gets recorded at all.
- You can’t remove a device required by a court order, probation, or similar condition. That includes ignition interlocks.
- If you find a tracker and don’t know who put it there, see what to do. If you think someone is stalking you, contact police.
Laws vary by state, and this is general information. Talk to a lawyer about your specific situation.
Limit what your car records in the first place
Data that's never collected can't be requested from anyone. Our $35 guides show how to turn off the factory modem on GM, Ram/Jeep/Dodge, and Ford vehicles.
Common questions
+Do police need a warrant to put a GPS tracker on my car?
Generally, yes. In United States v. Jones (2012), the Supreme Court held that attaching a GPS device to a car and using it to track the car's movements is a search under the Fourth Amendment.
+Can police get my location data from my car's manufacturer?
Automakers' privacy notices say they may share data to comply with legal process such as subpoenas, court orders, or warrants. What's required depends on the type of data and the jurisdiction.
+What are license plate readers?
Cameras on poles, overpasses, and patrol cars that photograph plates and log when and where a car passed. They're widespread, they don't involve your car's electronics, and nothing in the car affects them.
+Can I remove a court-ordered tracking device?
No. Devices required by a court, probation, or a similar order (like an ignition interlock) must stay in place. Removing one can have serious legal consequences.