The 6 Best Vehicle Tracking Apps

Tap your way to the top with tracking tech that's in your hands

The iPhone. Formerly a domain of hipsters and the tech-savvy, now everyone’s go-to gadget for calls, messaging, and… vehicle tracking. Wait, what?

Yep. It’s true what they say – these days, there really is an app for everything, especially in the wake of several lockdowns that made us turn to technology with renewed necessity. And it turns out vehicle tracking is no exception. Whether you’re in charge of a more established fleet or a smaller selection of cars, you can run your business via an iPhone, Android, tablet – or, as it happens, through any smart device you’ve got lying around.

These apps will let you stay in touch with your fleet from wherever you are. React faster, cut down your fuel costs, and stay on top of your business – all from the illuminated oblong of your phone screen.

The top 6 vehicle tracker apps

We tracked down the best vehicle tracker apps available for your smartphone. Strictly speaking, some of them aren’t designed specifically to track vehicles. But they’ll do the job – and well! We looked at the user-friendliness, efficiency, and online customer approval ratings to bring you the best apps available in 2021.

Our top apps for vehicle tracking include Google Maps, Life360, Quartix, Verizon, Kinesis, and Masternaut. And while a couple do sound like they could moonlight as Power Rangers, they are some of the most intuitive vehicle tracking apps on the market. Some are standalone (all you need is the app), while others are integrated (part of a full vehicle tracking system, complete with desktop software and tracking hardware). We'd always recommend full systems, but have included standalone apps here too as they're good entry-level options for brand new fleets.

Without further ado…

The best vehicle tracker apps for UK businesses:

Read on for our reviews, check out the FAQs or fill in our quick quote-finding form for more info and prices.

Google Maps

Best for ease of use

Pricing – free!

Life360

Best for driver safety

Pricing is £3.99 per month or £39.99 for the year.

Quartix

Best for driver and journey reporting

Still not convinced? Let’s drop in to Marcia’s Kitchen to see how they benefited from Quartix’s mobile solution to vehicle tracking.

Pricing comes in a three tiered plan. It ranges from £9.90 to £16.90 per month, per vehicle, depending on the type of tracking device used.

Verizon Connect

Best for reliability

As with most of the best vehicle tracking apps, pricing is dependent on the package you choose. Exact prices are available on request from Verizon. Or, If you’d like to compare quotes from other top vehicle tracking suppliers, fill out our short form and get started.

Kinesis

Best for small businesses

Pricing starts from £14.50 per month, per vehicle. There’s also device and installation fees that apply to the lower-commitment plans, so keep your eyes peeled.

Masternaut Connect

Best for fleet maintenance

Pricing for Masternaut Connect starts from £10 per month for each of your vehicles. The Pro Edition will set you back an extra £4 per vehicle. If neither of these appeal, you can go for Masternaut Go, a more basic, self-install option available for £4.99 per month (plus a £25 activation fee).

FAQs

How do you track a vehicle through an app?

Smartphones have GPS tracking. Every time you open up Google Maps and see that glowing blue dot, you’re using it. And with the expansion of 4G coverage and nationwide hotspots, tracking a car with a smartphone has literally never been easier.

All you need to do is download a vehicle tracking app – either one that shows location, or one that can connect to a device placed in a car. The option you go for will most likely depend on the size of your fleet.

What are the benefits of using an app to track my vehicles?

Vehicle apps bring ultimate portability to the management of your fleet. You can do everything from your own mobile – no matter where you are, you’ll still be at the centre of your business. Plus, there’s so much you can deliver with a vehicle tracking app, like:

✔ Reduced fuel consumption
✔ Improved driver efficiency
✔ Optimised routes
✔ Upgraded customer service
✔ Lower insurance premiums
✔ Promote responsible driving
✔ Enhanced record keeping
✔ Manage life cycle of vehicles

Are these apps suited for businesses with larger fleets?

Many apps impose limits on the numbers of cars that you can track, so bear this in mind. If you have a larger fleet, a standalone app won’t be suitable. And if your vehicles are travelling all over the country and beyond, you can’t risk your drivers’ phones losing connectivity or battery.

The most intuitive vehicle tracking apps belong within fully-realised integrated vehicle tracking systems. These are tailored to the demands of your business and provide advanced data on a day-to-day basis. To compare quotes from these vehicle trackers, click here to get rolling.

Is vehicle tracking with an app legal?

In principle, yes. Your drivers will just need to sign a contract specifying the extent of the tracking. What is illegal is tracking your team without their knowledge, and outside of their working hours.

So, if you’re relying on a standalone app, you’ll have to make sure your drivers disable the app when they clock off. They can do this by switching off the phone, or altering their location preferences.

If you're working with a full vehicle tracking system, you should invest in one that has tracking devices that can be remotely disabled by you at a particular time, or switched off by your drivers when they clock off.

How does the GDPR affect my right to track my fleet?

As of May 2018, businesses all over Europe have had to meet new standards regarding privacy and compliance. To make sure you’re still making the grade legally, you need to be answering ‘yes’ to the following:

• Is my vehicle tracking necessary?
• Is it fair, with a solid legal basis? Do I have a legitimate interest in the collection of this data?
• Have all my employees been informed and understand?

GDPR means you’ll have to be completely transparent with your employees about your vehicle tracking. You’ll need to tell them the reason for the tracking, the extent of the surveillance, and how the data will be used. Basically, give them the what, the how, the why, and the who, and you can’t go wrong!