How to choose a fleet GPS without buying hardware
Before buying devices, it pays to know what you need to see. This guide helps you choose between a tracker, a phone app or a spreadsheet, and to test it without risking anything.
Last reviewed: October 2026
1. Start with the question, not the device
Write down what you want to know: where each vehicle is now, what it did yesterday, how far it went, how long it sat idle and what happened in the stretches with no signal. If you only need the first one, almost any option works. If you need all of it, a complete history matters more than a live map.
2. Compare the three options without the hype
A hardware tracker wires into the vehicle’s 12 V and doesn’t depend on anyone, but you have to buy and install it. An app on a phone or tablet you already own costs no hardware, but depends on the battery and the device’s permissions. A spreadsheet is free and relies on someone writing things down, so it falls behind.
3. Demand that it doesn’t lose points without signal
In fields, mountains and sheds, coverage drops. Ask whether the device saves every position and uploads it when the connection returns, whether it does so without duplicates, and whether the history ends up complete. A map with gaps can’t be used to work out kilometers, hours or hectares.
4. Look after battery and Android permissions
A tracking app needs location set to “always”, with no battery restrictions, and some phone makers close it anyway. In the vehicle, keep the device on 12 V power and check permissions when you install. Test the exact model you plan to use.
5. Test with one vehicle before you decide
Pick a vehicle, enroll a phone and drive it through the worst stretch of your route. Compare the GPS kilometers with the odometer and check whether the history came out complete. A week of testing tells you more than any brochure.
6. When a hardware tracker does make sense
If nobody can charge or look after a phone in the vehicle, if you need it to keep reporting with the ignition off, or if the device has to stay hidden for security, a 12 V tracker is the better choice. Many compatible trackers can send their position to Fleetrak.
Fleetrak is built for the second option: it uses the Android phone or tablet you already have, saves every point without signal and uploads it on return. It also accepts Traccar Client and compatible trackers, and the trial is free with no card.
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