OBD-II or hardwired GPS tracker: which should you get?

It is a good question, and the honest answer depends more on your company than on the hardware.

OBD-II plug-in trackers

An OBD-II tracker plugs into the vehicle's diagnostic port in about 30 seconds. We can ship it to you and walk you through it, or send a technician.

If you have strong management and don't expect people to tamper with it, OBD-II is a good choice.

It can be unplugged, and there is an alert when that happens. Sometimes it is innocent: a mechanic unplugs it to connect their diagnostic computer. If it gets unplugged during the working day, you can check what happened.

With a clear written policy that everyone has read, tampering is much less likely. There may still be the occasional employee who wants to test it. A simple call usually settles it: "I noticed your tracker must have fallen out. Could you plug it back in for us? Thanks."

Hardwired trackers

For companies that don't want any problems at all, hardwired is worth it. The unit is wired in and hidden out of sight, so nobody tampers with it or breaks it. It is there, and it works extremely reliably. A hardwired install takes about 25 to 30 minutes.

A hardwired unit can also monitor more. If you want to know when a PTO is engaged, when a beacon light is on, or read another sensor, hardwired is the better way to go. Heavy equipment is always hardwired.

The short version

• Strong management, light vehicles, want it running today: OBD-II
• Want no tampering at all: hardwired
• Need PTO, beacon light or other sensor monitoring: hardwired
• Heavy equipment: always hardwired