What's the difference between an OBD tracker and other car trackers?

OBD trackers work through a vehicle's OBD-II port. If you've ever seen car mechanics plug a small device into your car, they were likely using an OBD-II scan tool to get information on what is wrong with your car. Likewise, OBD car trackers can get information from your car through the same port. Unlike other car trackers that only use GPS location information, OBD trackers get location information in addition to information from the vehicle.

Meanwhile, generic GPS trackers are what most people think of when they think of tracking. They use satellite technology to find the location of the device. Depending on the size of the device, a generic GPS tracker can be used to track many different things, from cars to people. However, they only track one thing: location. Generic trackers sacrifice richness of information for versatility. So when it comes to tracking cars, which OBD trackers specialize in, generic trackers don't seem up to snuff.

Why is OBD better for vehicle tracking?

It's easy to install and use. Once you find the OBD port in your vehicle, which is normally located under the steering wheel above the gas pedal area, installation is a breeze. You simply place the small device into the slot, and it takes car health and maintenance data from the port. With the Vyncs OBD tracker, for example, either log on to the Vyncs website or the Vyncs app in order to view the data.

It doesn't need charging. Most car trackers contain a battery that needs to be charged regularly about once a week or so. OBD car trackers don't have a battery and don't need charging. They essentially never need to be removed, so there's no fear of having it die just when you need it.

It collects more data. Because OBD trackers are plugged into the car, it can collect information from the car to help you understand your car better. By using an OBD tracker, you can track your vehicle's fuel economy and mileage. An OBD tracker such as the Vyncs tracker can also provide diagnostics for vehicle problems. Even better: the smarts from the Vyncs AI system will provide personalized suggestions on how to optimize fuel and maintenance costs.

It helps you drive better. The Vyncs GPS tracker automatically detects unsafe driving behaviors such as speeding or sudden braking. In addition to knowing where and when you (or others) are driving, you know how well you drove. Vyncs scores drivers and provides graphs and tables to evaluate the data. Comes handy if you have newly minted drivers at home.

It costs less than you think. Vyncs OBD trackers work on an annual plan, with regular Vyncs at $72.98 per year and Vyncs Fleet at $99.99 per year. Don't let the large numbers fool you; other trackers often charge per month, but when added up their annual rate is much more than that of Vyncs. For the added efficiency, data, and peace of mind it can give, it's well worth it.

If you're looking for a way to track a vehicle, it's worth thinking about what kind of tracker you want. If you favor versatility, go with a generic GPS tracker. If you want to track a vehicle in multiple aspects, not just location, OBD trackers are the way to go.