Saving advice needed on GPS tracker devices

[QuarterMillionMan]

Apple air tags, Samsung smart tags, Tile, Lo Jack, Ravelco, etc. With cars being so expensive I hope to keep my 2018 Dodge Journey with 85,000 miles for at least 5 more years and not need to buy a new car should my car get stolen and I live in Los Angeles which must be the stolen car capital of the nation. It is equipped with a manufacturer alarm system but I'm looking into a tracking device should it get stolen. I have an iPhone 14 so I'm leaning towards an Apple air tag for $29, and no monthly subscription is needed. I heard Tile offers subscription but for basic functions none is needed. LoJack or Revelco would be ideal but $1000 is a bit steep.

[riverwed070707]

I've tried both tile and air tag (we did giveaways of them for my job so I got samples!). The batteries don't last forever and are not replaceable so in the case of wanting to track your car, I feel like you'd want to set a reminder to replace once a year so when the time comes you need it, you don't find out the battery has died. Also noteworthy that tile when you want to access its location, it sets off a dinging noise, so if you were trying to be discrete with the thief so they don't go unload it somewhere else after disposing of your device, air tag would probably be the better choice. On the downsides of air tags, they only work if there is another iphone nearby. Just a couple considerations.

Thinking outside the box, I have a Driveology device from my insurance company to get a discount on my car insurance. I can see the last place my car was parked from the Driveology device - its not only free but it also saves me about $120/yr

[QuarterMillionMan]

Thanks riverwed good information.

[Drake3287]

I'm another Apple AirTag fan. Bought 4 of them last year before we went on vacation to Europe. Put one hidden in each piece of luggage and one in each of our cars, about the cheapest insurance you can buy. Although no one's stolen our cars yet, it's nice to check the Apple app to see that our luggage has made through a lay over or to our final distention. Batteries are good for a year so no worries there. Costco has the best price on the 4 pack if you need more than one.

[ua_guy]

Air Tags work for this, but, it's not really addressing prevention of your car actually being stolen. It's making sure you get your damaged/abused car back when police finally catch up to it. I'd think about that one.

Guys I know with cars they don't want stolen sometimes pull fuses or yank a coil wire if they have to leave their car somewhere and don't want someone to try to start it and drive off with it. Some have an interrupt switch hidden somewhere strange, basically cuts power to the fuel pump or ignition. Creates a little funhouse for the thief who won't spend that much time trying to figure it all out.

[QuarterMillionMan]

All I know for prevention is the alarm and a steering wheel lock bar but only use it in sketchy areas because it takes extra time to use it but I know that I should always use it but I admit that I'm too lazy. As for the air tag I would use one for my car and one for my ebike but if my ebike gets stolen in Mexico where I use it a lot the chances of every recovering it would be nill, lol.

[disneysteve]

All I know for prevention is the alarm and a steering wheel lock bar but only use it in sketchy areas because it takes extra time to use it but I know that I should always use it but I admit that I'm too lazy.

The two best forms of protection are being sure to always close the windows and lock the doors and never leaving any objects in sight inside the car. No phone, wallet, keys, GPS unit, CDs, packages or envelopes, change, travel mug, nothing. Don’t give a crook any reason to want to get in.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I ordered from the apple store a $29 air tag (with free shipping) to use as a cheap tracking device for my car. If it works good I'll get another one for my ebike. I can see where it would be also good for a pet's collar, or suitcase, etc.