GPS Trackers and a Car That Is Being Shipped

Published Oct 2, 20262 min read

Some owners put their own GPS tracker in a car before it ships. That can be a comfort. It is not a Bigfella tracking service, and Bigfella does not install one for you.

What IP Location wrote

IP Location published Real-Time GPS Tracking for Auto Transport: Benefits, Use Cases & How Bigfella Auto Express Does It on June 5, 2025. That article describes dispatch tracking. A device you buy and leave in the car is separate, and it is still optional.

If you use your own tracker

Charge it. Put it where it will not be mistaken for prohibited cargo and where it will not rattle into a panel. Tell dispatch it is there if it is obvious, so nobody thinks you left a bag of belongings. Do not hide it in a way that blocks pedals, airbags, or the driver’s inspection.

A dot on your phone is not the legal location for pickup and delivery. The driver still needs a person and a meet point. Status questions still go through the shipment, which is why the process can feel opaque. That side is why transport looks disorganized.

What a tracker does not do

It does not document a scratch. Photos and the bill of lading do that. It does not prove who is at fault. It does not replace carrier insurance. Security steps that do not involve a gadget are on keeping the car secure.

Battery-powered trackers die. Hard-wired ones are a project. Neither is required to book. Get A Quote works without one. Booking places a $1 authorization hold.

Questions people ask

Will the carrier disconnect my tracker?

They should not have to touch it if it is not in the way. Do not leave instructions that ask a driver to manage your electronics.

Can I track the truck instead of the car?

Not through a Bigfella public map. You are tracking your vehicle if you installed a device in it. The truck may be in a yard while your car is already unloaded, or the reverse. Read the dot with that limit.

Is an AirTag enough?

It is a consumer device with its own range and alert behavior. It can be better than nothing for your own peace of mind. It is not a dispatch tool and not something this site supports as a service.