BEST FOR FEATURES

Trafficmaster Trackstar, £399
Like all units on test, bar the Covert Asset, the Trackstar is wired into a car’s electronics under the bonnet — some devices are so discreet, their makers will not release pictures. The Trackstar uses GPS and mobile phone (GSM) signals to track your vehicle, but it becomes a sort of sat nav if connected to a dashboard display: you can talk to a Trafficmaster operator to find routes that take into account jams, roadworks and variable speed limits, and have directions sent to the car. The Trackstar can also warn of speed cameras, provide traffic updates and, if you’re in an accident, alert the emergency services. Minimum subscription is £132 a year (£241 with the speed-camera option). A “duration” sub, for the entire period of your ownership of the vehicle, costs £369.

Verdict Security meets the sat nav with great results.

trafficmaster.co.uk

BEST FOR ADDED SECURITY

TRACKER Locate, £544
The Locate uses VHF radio waves to communicate with the company’s network of listening posts around the country, backed up by GSM and GPS signals. The advantage of VHF is that it cannot be blocked as easily as other signals — GSM and GPS can both be knocked out by a basic jamming unit — and in fact, if the Locate picks up jamming frequencies, it alerts Tracker HQ. If a vehicle is moved without its ignition being on, or the owner reports it missing, Tracker locates the vehicle and co-ordinates its recovery with the police. More than 1m British vehicles have a Tracker device installed; the company tracks seven thefts a day and claims a 99% find rate. An annual subscription costs about £150 (the first year’s charge is included in the price). A duration subscription will set you back £389.

Verdict A top-level device, but involuntary subscription costs make it expensive. It will be available from the new year.

tracker.co.uk

BEST FOR CHEAP RUNNING COSTS

NeatTrack, £299
Most tracking units cost a lot up front or entail a hefty annual sub, but the recently launched NeatTrack is trying a third business model. Its small GPS units won’t break the bank, don’t need a sub and use a pay-as-you-go Sim card with maximum monthly usage costs of £25. Choose from three units, depending on whether you want one-way or two-way calling, wired or non-wired installation (non-wired battery life is just 24 hours) and an SOS function. The user tracks his car via a website (on a PC only). Options include three mapping programs, remote ignition cut-off and the ability to call up a vehicle’s full driving history.

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