Does CarMax Use GPS Tracking Devices (2024)

Does CarMax Use GPS Tracking Devices – Get The Facts!

Today, we’re going to answer the question “does CarMax put GPS tracking devices on their cars?”

The short answer is no, CarMax doesn’t put any type of tracking device on its cars…officially! The truth is that car dealerships often use GPS devices to track cars, protect their fleets, and enforce rental contracts, and they often forget they’re even there.

In fact, there are news stories about used car dealers illegally hiding location tracking devices on their inventory.

Don’t worry, in this article, you’ll find out where GPS trackers are commonly hidden, CarMax’s policies on tracking devices, and industry comparisons. This information will help you make informed decisions and ensure your vehicle’s privacy.

CarMax’s Official Policies on Tracking Devices

CarMax does not place tracking devices on the cars they sell.

Your privacy and security are important to them - it’s also the law and industry standard to not track your location if you purchase a vehicle from them!

However, there are a few reasons why you might still find a tracking device on your car. Sometimes, a tracking device might be left accidentally if the car was previously repossessed or involved in a legal issue.

Or, sometimes, some people at dealerships can be more sinister…

For example, a dealership in Fresno was found to be installing GPS trackers on cars without a customers' consent. This kind of practice goes against what CarMax stands for. They respect your privacy and ensure that no tracking devices are left on your vehicle. There are also numerous posts on Reddit from disgruntled users claiming to have found tracking devices.

There are some exceptions to CarMax’s no-tracking policy, though.

If a car was repossessed, it might have had a tracking device installed. It should be removed before you drive it off the lot, though. CarMax thoroughly inspects and removes any GPS trackers that might be present. Their process includes detailed inspections and certifications to guarantee that no tracking devices remain on your car when you drive it home.

Verifiable sources:

  • CarMax Privacy Policy: CarMax Privacy Policy
  • Federal Trade Commission on Vehicle Repossession: FTC Repossession
  • Where To Find A GPS Tracker On A CarMax Car

    Does CarMax Use GPS Tracking Devices (1)

    Secretly Track Car

    CarMax says they don't install GPS trackers, but it's always good to check your vehicle for peace of mind. They may have installed one for fleet management, during a test drive, or because they don’t trust you to uphold your end of the lease agreement.

    If you think there might be a GPS tracker on your car, it's important to know where to look.

    GPS trackers can be small and discreet, so it might not be obvious to you if there’s one on your vehicle

    Here's where you should start looking to make sure your car is tracker-free:

    • Under the Car: Inspect the undercarriage, near the wheels, and along the frame. Trackers can be attached with magnets or hidden in crevices. Pay close attention to areas near the exhaust system and suspension components. Look for unusual devices, magnets, or wires in odd places.
    • Inside the Dashboard: Look behind the dashboard, especially near the OBD-II port - typically located under the dashboard on the driver's side, near the steering column. This area is a common spot for vehicle managers to place tracking devices. Check around the steering column and behind the glove compartment as well.
    • Under Seats: Lift the seats and check for any unusual devices or wiring. This location is discreet and often overlooked. Be sure to check both front and back seats.
    • Inside Bumpers: Inspect the front and rear bumpers for hidden devices. Trackers can be placed inside or attached to the bumper’s inner surfaces. Look for any signs of tampering or new fasteners.
    • Under the Hood: Check the engine bay, especially around the battery and fuse box. Trackers can be hidden among the wires and components. Examine the air filter housing and other large components that could conceal a device. Just make sure your engine is off and you wear protective gloves.
    • Inside Wheel Wells: Inspect the inner lining of the wheel wells. Trackers can be attached here, hidden from plain sight. Use a flashlight to make your life a little easier.

    Sadly, CarMax and other used vehicle retailers use unauthorized tracking devices more often than you’d think. Checking your car for GPS devices only takes 10-15 minutes maximum. Make sure to do a quick inspection while on the lot, and make sure to be firm when asking the company to remove any location trackers.

    Car Dealer Practices and Comparisons With GPS Tracking

    CarMax stands out because they do not use GPS trackers for repossession on their cars. Unlike many car dealers, CarMax avoids installing any tracking devices on the vehicles they sell.

    This is a huge advantage for you, because it means your location isn’t always available to anyone who works at the dealership. That’s taking a huge risk! You never know who could see your location.

    Many car dealers offering in-house financing or operating “buy here, pay here” lots often use GPS tracking technology.

    These GPS trackers for cars help manage the risk of loan defaults by enabling real-time location tracking for repossession purposes. This practice is widespread and accepted within the industry.

    In contrast, other car dealerships, especially those offering in-house financing, rely on GPS trackers.

    These dealers use vehicle managers to monitor the real-time location of their cars. This approach helps them protect their investments and ensures they can quickly locate and repossess a car if necessary.

    However, it raises privacy concerns among customers.

    A recent news story highlighted a case where Bond Auto Sales in St. Petersburg, Florida, used GPS tracking to repossess vehicles. The dealership faced lawsuits for placing covert GPS devices on cars without informing buyers. When customers paid off their loans, the dealership removed the devices during “safety checks.”

    This case demonstrates the effectiveness of GPS trackers for repossession but also sparked a debate on customer privacy and consent.

    Expert opinions suggest that the use of GPS car trackers for repossession is a double-edged sword. It helps car dealers minimize losses and manage their inventory effectively but can erode customer trust and raise privacy issues.

    The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises consumers to understand these practices before purchasing a vehicle from dealers who use these tracking devices.

    Understanding these industry practices helps you make informed decisions. When choosing a car dealer, consider their policies on GPS trackers and how they align with your privacy expectations.

    What Happens When Carmax Repos Your Car – Timeline Of Events

    So what exactly happens when Carmax repossesses your car? The process is pretty simple:

    So, what exactly happens when CarMax repossesses your car? The process is pretty straightforward:

  • Defaulting on Payments: If you fail to make your auto loan payments, you will be in default. This is a serious issue, as being in default means you have violated the terms of your loan agreement.
  • Activating GPS Tracker: Once you are in default, CarMax can activate the real-time GPS tracker to locate the vehicle. This allows them to pinpoint the car's location accurately.
  • Hiring a Repo Man: Using the GPS tracking data, CarMax hires a repo man to find and repossess the car. The GPS tracker helps the repo agent locate the vehicle quickly, often without needing to contact you directly.
  • Reporting to Credit Bureaus: The auto loan default will be reported to all major credit bureaus. This negative mark on your credit report can significantly impact your personal credit score, making it harder to obtain loans or credit in the future.
  • Vehicle Repossession: The repo man will physically retrieve the car from its location. This can happen at any time, often without prior notice, and the car will be taken to a secure facility.
  • Notification: After the repossession, you will be notified of the action and given information about how to retrieve your personal belongings from the vehicle.
  • Possible Auction: If you do not make arrangements to pay off the remaining loan balance and fees, the car may be sold at auction. The proceeds from the sale will go towards paying off your debt. If the sale price does not cover the full amount owed, you may still be responsible for the remaining balance.
  • Understanding this process can help you take steps to avoid repossession, such as contacting CarMax to discuss alternative payment arrangements if you’re struggling to make your loan payments.

    Carmax Locator –Carmax Locations Near Me

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    Find The GPS Tracker Hidden On Your Car Instantly!

    If you believe a car dealer has equipped a real time GPS tracker on your car, the first thing you should do is get a GPS bug detector. These detectors will instantly detect a tracking device on your car no matter where it’s hidden.

    Remember, a GPS tracker for a car can literally track everywhere you go. That means they’ll know where you work, where you sleep, and where you hang out in your free time. That’s an invasion of privacy at best and a danger at worst.

    Sure, a car dealer might say the purpose of the technology is for CarMax repossession, but you should have a say in the matter. So find the GPS bug with a tracker detector and remove it!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is GPS Tracking Legal For Car Repossession?

    Yes, GPS tracking is legal for car repossession, as long as the dealer has a legal right to repossess the vehicle. The use of GPS tracking devices must also comply with federal and state laws regarding privacy and tracking.

    Can The Dealer Disable The Car Remotely Using GPS Tracking?

    Yes, car dealers can disable the car remotely using a hardwired GPS tracker - this can also be done using a killswitch.

    The ability to immobilize the vehicle is a feature many car dealerships call upon if you fail to make payments. Can they legally do this? Yes, and the reason is because you don’t technically own the vehicle until you make the final payment.

    What Happens To The Vehicle After it Is Repossessed?

    After the vehicle is repossessed, it is typically sold at auction to recover the outstanding debt. The proceeds from the sale are used to pay off the debt, and any remaining funds are returned to the owner. If the vehicle is not sold enough to cover the debt, the owner may still be responsible for the remaining balance. You can learn more about what happens next here: https://www.debt.org/faqs/repossession/

    Can You Prevent Your Automobile From Being Repossessed?

    Yes, you can prevent your car from being repossessed by making timely payments on your auto loan. If you are struggling to make payments, you can contact your lender to discuss options such as deferment, forbearance, or a modified payment plan.

    How Long Does It Take For A Car To Be Repossessed?

    The timeline for vehicle repossession varies depending on the lender and state laws. In some cases, the lender may start the repossession process as soon as you miss a payment, while in other cases, they may wait several months before taking action. Generally, lenders must provide notice of the repossession and give you an opportunity to make payments before seizing the vehicle.

    Does CarMax Use GPS Tracking Devices (2024)

    FAQs

    Does CarMax Use GPS Tracking Devices? ›

    CarMax's Official Policies on Tracking Devices

    Does CarMax put trackers on cars? ›

    CarMax statement: CarMax does not place Apple Air Tag devices in the vehicles it sells. The privacy of our customers is extremely important, and we take this situation very seriously.

    Do financed cars have trackers on them? ›

    Car dealerships often install GPS trackers on financed cars to protect their financial interests. Since the dealership technically owns the vehicle until the buyer or lessee pays off the loan, they have the legal right to track the car's location.

    Do dealerships install tracking devices? ›

    Do dealerships put GPS trackers on cars? Why? Yes, many dealerships install GPS trackers on their cars. It helps in managing and protecting the inventory, enabling quick recovery in case of theft and offering valuable data on the vehicle's usage and condition.

    What does a tracking device look like on a car from a dealership? ›

    What do car trackers look like? Each GPS tracker looks slightly different. A battery-powered portable tracker, for example, is usually square- or rectangular-shaped and may have a magnetic case it attaches to. If it is an OBD tracker, it looks like a plug that goes under the steering wheel.

    Do car trackers give exact location? ›

    GPS trackers communicate with networks of satellites that transmit radio signals. These signals help pinpoint the exact location of the device. With a tracker installed in your car and an app on your phone, you can see the vehicle's location in real-time.

    Can I remove a GPS tracker on a financed car? ›

    A vehicle that is under an installment plan from a dealership is categorized as a security measure. In case you remove the GPS tracker, you could be committing an illegal act as you will be hindering with something that the creditor has installed for security purposes.

    Do repo people track your car? ›

    A repo man locates your car by employing a variety of tools and techniques, such as GPS tracking, scouring your digital footprints, conducting stealthy physical surveillance, or following a paper trail that contains critical information about you.

    Can a cell phone detect a GPS tracker? ›

    You can detect trackers that are currently near you and separated from their owner's device with manual scan. It's possible that the trackers found in a manual scan are simply misplaced or temporarily separated from their owner's device.

    Is there an app to detect a GPS tracker on your car? ›

    Tracker Detect – Apps on Google Play.

    Where do car dealerships hide GPS? ›

    It depends on the size of the device(GPS tracker) which is being implanted in the car. It could be anywhere around the dashboard, below the windscreens(convenient place), below the steering wheel, above the clutch/brake area etc.

    Who puts trackers on cars? ›

    Most of the trackers are added by the owner, but any person can equip a vehicle with such a device without the knowledge or consent of the owner.

    What year can cars be tracked? ›

    If your vehicle was manufactured after 1995, then YES, your vehicle most likely has an EDR that is monitoring your driving activity. However, by law, EDRs can only store data for a 20 second window around a crash event. All other driving data is purged and deleted.

    Can a company put a tracker on your car? ›

    It's a criminal invasion of privacy in California to use GPS tracking to determine the location or movement of a person without their consent. Employers should notify employees of GPS tracking devices and gain their consent. This applies even for company-owned vehicles.

    Do cars have built in trackers? ›

    Today, an increasing number of new cars come equipped with built-in GPS tracking systems. Luxury and high-end vehicles have often led the way in integrating sophisticated tracking technology, making GPS trackers a standard or optional feature in models from renowned brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.

    Does credit acceptance put trackers on cars? ›

    Does Credit Acceptance have trackers on cars? In 2017, the Federal Trade Commission announced an inquiry into Credit Acceptance's use of trackers called GPS starter interrupters. 5 Since then, Credit Acceptance has discontinued the practice; the company stopped using them in mid-2019.

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