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The primary complaint the owner of a 2024 GMC Sierra has after buying his truck brand new is that the dealership sold him unnecessary dealer add-ons that other shoppers should be aware of―including a tracking device.
He states that this device does nothing for him but everything for the dealership at his expense.
I highly recommend everybody to check their OBD2 port for this kind of thing, and if you are not paying for it and are aware of it, remove it and throw it in the trash because this is a sinister device.”
Why Car Dealerships Install GPS Trackers on New Vehicles
Car dealerships may install GPS trackers on new (or used) cars for three main reasons related to security and business operations.
- Inventory Management―Dealerships often track cars on their lots to prevent theft, manage test drives, and locate vehicles quickly. With hundreds of cars spread across large lots (sometimes multiple lots), a GPS helps sales staff and managers find any vehicle quickly.
- Security & Theft Prevention―New cars are valuable assets. Installing trackers helps dealers recover stolen vehicles or deter theft altogether.
- Demo or Loaner Vehicles―If a new car is being used as a loaner or is out on an extended test drive, the dealership may use a tracking device to monitor its location and duration of use.
However, there is a fourth and more insidious reason: making YOU pay for something THEY need that you don’t, by including the tracking device as part of their pre-installed add-on packages, which claims it is an “alarm” system or “anti-theft” device.
Please Note: There are other insidious reasons/possibilities for tracking devices placed on cars such as for collecting meta data about your driving and shopping habits, etc., but let’s stick with the host’s point of his video.
Follow along with the host of the Gears and Gadgets YouTube channel episode titled, “If You Bought a New Car Recently… You Need to Check for This Hidden GPS Device” to understand why a tracker on your car could be a problem waiting to happen that you can easily avoid.
In the video, you will discover not only how easy it is to find and remove GM dealership tracking devices but also the reason why three add-ons you might want (but not from the dealership) include:
- Window tinting
- Ceramic coat protection
- Drop-in Bedliner
If You Bought a New Car Recently… You Need to Check for This Hidden GPS Device
One Final Note:
If you’re buying a car and a GPS tracker is included, ask about it—especially:
- Is it active, and why?
- Is it removable?
- Is there a subscription fee?
- Is it part of a required or an optional package?
- Can you access the tracker data if your vehicle is stolen?
- How can they show that only you and not someone from the dealership has access to its tracking data after buying the vehicle?
You have the right to know if a tracker is installed and whether it’s collecting data after your purchase.
For an additional recent GM-related article, here is one titled “Worst Start To Owning A 2021 Chevy Bolt EV Premier ―New Owner Shares Why Buying These Particular Used Chevy Bolts is Just Asking for Trouble.”
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
Image Source: Deposit Photos
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Source: torquenews.com
