How to get free GPS tracking – step by step

What you will need

The list is short: a GPS unit, a SIM card with data and access to the application. The software and the server are free of charge on the free plan. What you get there is the current vehicle position only, refreshed every 5 minutes – no mileage log, route history, zones or notifications.

If you do not have a unit yet, consider whether the paid plan might suit you better – with annual payment the unit is included, so the gap between "free with your own hardware" and "paid with hardware included" may be smaller than it looks.

Step 1: choose a device

You need a professional GPS unit able to send data to a specified server. At SaveTrack we work with Teltonika units, which are among the standards in vehicle tracking.

There are three types to choose from by how they are fitted: into the OBD-II socket (simplest, you plug it in yourself), hard-wired (hidden, more resistant to being unplugged) or battery-powered (no wiring, suitable for trailers and machinery).

If you already have a unit from a previous solution, it can usually be reused – send us the model and we will check.

Step 2: get a SIM with data

The unit needs a data connection to send the position. At a 5-minute interval the consumption is low, so even the cheapest data plan or an IoT SIM card will do.

Things to consider when choosing: whether the vehicle travels abroad (you need data across the EU), whether the SIM has automatic disconnection on inactivity and whether it is tied to a particular handset.

One more warning: operators are gradually switching off 2G and 3G networks. If you have an older unit, check that it can also communicate over newer networks – otherwise it will one day stop sending data regardless of the SIM card.

Step 3: point the unit at our server

For the unit to know where to send data, it needs the APN of your SIM card and the address and port of our server. You will receive the specific values after registration.

The configuration can be done in two ways: via SMS commands sent directly to the number of the SIM in the unit, or via a configuration program and a cable. SMS is more convenient if the unit is already fitted in the car.

It is a one-off task. Once the unit connects, it keeps working on its own.

Step 4: check that data is arriving

After configuration the vehicle should appear in the application within a few minutes. If it does not, it is usually one of three things: a wrong APN, an incorrect server address or port, or a SIM without data activated.

A good first test is to leave the car standing outside under open sky for a while – the unit needs to acquire satellites, which may not work in a garage.

If you get stuck, send us the model of the unit and we will help with the setup.

What to watch out for

A 5-minute interval means less accurate distances. The route between two points gets "straightened out", so the distance driven comes out shorter than it really was. If you need an accurate mileage log for tax purposes, the free plan is not suitable for that.

You pay for the data. It is a small amount, but not zero – do not forget to include it when calculating the saving.

The hardware is on you, including replacement when the unit reaches the end of its life. On the paid plan with annual payment the unit is included, which over a longer horizon may work out cheaper.