Yes, you can. Here is why most GPS trackers come with a subscription, what to look out for before you sign up, and how to avoid being locked in.
Key takeaways
- Live GPS trackers need a SIM and mobile data, so most have an ongoing fee.
- Check for minimum terms, cancellation fees and whether the SIM is included.
- Buying online usually gives you 14 days to cancel after your item arrives.
- Drift membership is monthly with no lock-in, or yearly with a 14-day refund window.
Why trackers usually have a subscription
A GPS tracker works out where your car is, then needs to send that location to your phone. That takes a SIM card, mobile data, servers to store your journeys and an app to show them. Those cost money every month, which is why most live trackers have an ongoing fee.
Some trackers ask you to buy and top up your own SIM. Others include the SIM and data in the subscription.
The main types of deal
- Fixed-term contracts. You commit for a set period and may pay to leave early.
- Monthly rolling. You pay month by month and can stop when you like.
- Pay yearly. One payment for the year, usually cheaper per month.
- No subscription at all. Bluetooth finder tags have no monthly fee, but they rely on a nearby phone picking up their signal, so they don't give you a live GPS map or movement alerts in the same way.
What to check before you sign up
- Is there a minimum term, and is there a fee to cancel early?
- Can you cancel online, or do you have to phone?
- Is the SIM and mobile data included, or is that a separate bill?
- Does a yearly plan have a cooling-off period with a refund?
- What happens to the tracker if you stop paying?
- Does it need fitting by an installer, which adds cost?
Your rights when you buy online
If you buy a tracker online, you usually have extra rights. GOV.UK explains that customers who buy online, by mail or by phone can cancel within 14 days of receiving their item, even if nothing is wrong with it. They then have another 14 days to send it back, and the seller must refund them within 14 days of getting it back (GOV.UK: accepting returns and giving refunds).
How Drift does it
We built Drift so you never feel stuck:
- The tracker is a one-off £39.99.
- Monthly membership is £9.99 a month. Cancel anytime, with no lock-in.
- Yearly membership is £99 a year. Cancel within 14 days of starting for a full refund once the tracker is returned.
- The SIM is fitted in the tracker, so there is no separate SIM bill.
- No download. Drift is a web app at live.driftgps.app that runs in your phone's browser.
Monthly or yearly?
Twelve months at £9.99 comes to £119.88, so the yearly plan at £99 works out £20.88 cheaper over a year. Monthly suits you if you want to try it first or only need tracking for a while. Yearly suits you if you know you will keep it.
Plug-in or fitted?
How the tracker is fitted affects the cost too. Trackers that need an installer usually cost more upfront. Our guide to OBD vs hardwired trackers explains the difference.
Frequently asked questions
Can I track my car with no subscription at all?
Bluetooth finder tags have no monthly fee, but they depend on a nearby phone picking them up. For a live GPS map, journey history and movement alerts, you need a tracker with mobile data, which almost always means a subscription.
Can I cancel Drift anytime?
Yes. Monthly membership can be cancelled anytime with no lock-in. The yearly plan can be cancelled within 14 days of starting for a full refund once the tracker is returned. After that, cancelling stops the next renewal.
Do I need my own SIM card for Drift?
No. A SIM is fitted in the Drift tracker and mobile data is part of your membership, so there is no separate SIM bill.
What happens to the tracker if I cancel?
The tracker needs an active membership to send location data, so it stops reporting when your membership ends. You can start again later if you change your mind.
Drift
Know where your car is
Drift is a small plug-in tracker and web app that shows your car on a live map and alerts you if it moves when it shouldn't. It can't promise to get a car back, but it helps you and the police know where it is.
See how Drift works