Vehicle Tracking Systems UK 2026: Costs, Providers & Fleet Tracking
Quick Answer
Vehicle tracking systems typically cost from around £10 per vehicle per month for basic GPS tracking, while advanced telematics, video, compliance and fleet-management systems cost more.
The right system depends on what you actually want to improve.
| Your priority |
What we would compare first |
| Know where vans are |
Basic GPS vehicle tracking |
| Reduce unnecessary mileage / idling |
Fleet telematics |
| Improve driver behaviour |
Telematics + driver scorecards |
| Evidence around road incidents |
Video telematics / dash cams |
| Dispatch mobile engineers |
Live tracking + routing / job integration |
| Manage HGVs |
Advanced telematics + relevant compliance tools |
| Manage EVs |
EV-capable fleet telematics |
| Track plant, trailers or equipment |
Asset tracking |
| Manage a large mixed fleet |
Full fleet-management platform |
Our view: most businesses should not start by asking which vehicle tracker has the most features.
Start with the fleet problem you want to solve, then pay only for the tracking, telematics or fleet-management capability required.
Free quotes • No obligation • Compare UK vehicle tracking providers
How Do We Work?
Our comparisons are researched and reviewed by the Compare Your Business Costs editorial team using provider information, pricing data and UK business buying criteria. See how Compare Your Business Costs works.
Authored by: Ally Cox – Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist, 10+ years’ experience.
Reviewed by: James Ward.
Last Updated: September 2026
Contents:
Key Takeaways
- Basic GPS vehicle tracking can currently start from around £10 per vehicle/month.
- Quartix currently publishes UK plans from £9.99 per vehicle/month.
- Basic GPS tracking is different from full fleet telematics.
- Advanced telematics can add driver behaviour, diagnostics, fuel/energy data, maintenance and fleet reporting.
- Video telematics combines tracking data with dash-cam footage and safety tools.
- Asset tracking is better suited to trailers, plant, machinery and equipment.
- Plug-and-play trackers can suit small fleets, while fixed installations may be preferable for longer-term or more advanced setups.
- Vehicle location and driver-behaviour data can be personal data under UK data-protection law.
- Employers must tell workers and relevant passengers about vehicle monitoring.
- If work vehicles are also used privately, monitoring during private use will rarely be justified.
- Compare total contract cost, hardware, installation and service scope rather than headline price alone.
What Is Vehicle Tracking?
Vehicle tracking combines location technology, connectivity and fleet software to show how company vehicles are being used.
Depending on the system, this can include:
- live vehicle location
- route history
- journey records
- mileage
- arrival/departure times
- geofences
- idling
- speed
- harsh braking
- rapid acceleration
- driver identification
- vehicle diagnostics
- maintenance alerts
- fuel or energy usage
- EV battery information
- dash-cam events
- asset location
Not every tracking package includes all of these features.
Vehicle Tracking vs Telematics vs Fleet Management
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different levels of capability.
|
GPS tracking |
Telematics |
Fleet management |
| Live location |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Route history |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Driver behaviour |
Sometimes |
Usually |
Usually |
| Vehicle diagnostics |
Limited |
Often |
Often |
| Fuel / energy analytics |
Limited |
Often |
Often |
| Maintenance |
Limited |
Often |
Usually |
| Routing / dispatch |
Limited |
Sometimes |
Often |
| Compliance tools |
Limited |
Available |
Available |
| Best for |
Visibility |
Efficiency / safety |
End-to-end fleet operations |
Our View: Don’t Buy Telematics If You Only Need a Map
A trades business with three vans may simply need to know:
- where each van is
- where it travelled
- when it arrived
That business may not need:
- AI dash cams
- engine diagnostics
- advanced driver scoring
- tachograph integration
- EV energy analytics
The cheapest suitable system is better than the most sophisticated system you rarely use.
How Much Does Vehicle Tracking Cost in the UK?
Tracking prices depend on hardware, features, installation and contract.
| Tracking requirement |
Useful budget guide |
| Basic GPS tracking |
From around £10-£20/vehicle/month |
| Tracking + driver behaviour |
Often around £12-£30+/vehicle/month |
| Advanced telematics |
Quote/package dependent |
| Video telematics |
Higher due to camera hardware/service |
| HGV/compliance platforms |
Quote based |
| Asset tracking |
Device/service dependent |
These are budgeting guides rather than guaranteed market prices.
Current Vehicle Tracking Price Example: Quartix
Quartix is useful because it currently publishes straightforward UK vehicle-tracking prices.
| Quartix plan |
Current monthly rental |
Key difference |
| Info Point |
£9.99/vehicle |
Basic GPS tracking |
| Info Plus |
£11.99/vehicle |
Geofencing, trip reports and driver behaviour |
| Info Fleet |
£15.99/vehicle |
Fleet management, alerts and fuel-card integration |
| Enterprise |
POA |
Custom requirements |
Prices exclude applicable taxes and should be checked before purchase.
Our View
This illustrates the most important vehicle-tracking pricing lesson:
moving from basic tracking to more useful fleet-management capability does not always require doubling the monthly cost.
Compare the features you will actually use rather than automatically choosing the cheapest tier.
Vehicle Tracking Cost by Fleet Size
Fleet size affects the overall bill, but it should not dictate which system you need.
| Fleet |
What we would compare |
| 1 vehicle |
Basic GPS or potentially no tracking |
| 2-5 vehicles |
GPS + route history/mileage |
| 5-20 vehicles |
Tracking + driver/fleet reports |
| 20-50 vehicles |
Telematics + reporting/integrations |
| 50+ vehicles |
Full fleet-management platform |
Our View
A 30-vehicle company does not automatically need an enterprise telematics platform.
Equally, a five-vehicle delivery company might justify sophisticated routing and ETA tools if vehicles are central to customer service.
Operational dependency matters more than fleet size alone.
What Determines Vehicle Tracking Price?
Ask whether your quote includes:
- monthly software
- tracking hardware
- installation
- SIM/data connectivity
- mobile app
- driver behaviour
- fuel reporting
- maintenance
- dash cams
- asset trackers
- API/integrations
- support
- removal/reinstallation
Plug-and-Play vs Hardwired Vehicle Trackers
|
Plug-and-play |
Hardwired |
| Installation |
Usually simple |
Professional installation may be required |
| Setup speed |
Fast |
Slower |
| Visibility |
Can be easier to identify/remove |
More discreet |
| Vehicle data |
Device dependent |
Can support richer integrations |
| Best for |
Small/simple fleets |
Long-term/advanced fleets |
Providers such as Webfleet currently offer both self-installed OBD-II and fixed-installation vehicle-tracking options.
Our View: Hardwired Is Not Automatically “Better”
Choose based on the requirement – a plug-in device may be completely adequate where:
- vehicles change regularly
- tracking needs are basic
- rapid installation matters
Hardwired devices can make more sense where:
- tracking is long term
- tampering is a concern
- more vehicle data is required
- advanced fleet features are being used
Vehicle Tracking vs Dash Cams
|
Vehicle tracking |
Dash cam/video telematics |
| Vehicle location |
Strong |
Can be included |
| Route history |
Strong |
Can be included |
| Driver behaviour events |
Often |
Often + video context |
| Video evidence |
No |
Yes |
| Incident context |
Limited |
Stronger |
| Privacy considerations |
Significant |
Potentially higher |
Our View
GPS tells you:
where and when something happened.
Video can help show:
what happened.
That can be valuable for fleets where collision evidence and driver safety justify the additional cost and privacy considerations.
What Is Video Telematics?
Video telematics combines:
- GPS
- vehicle data
- dash cams
- driver-behaviour events
Modern platforms can associate video with events such as:
- harsh braking
- speeding
- collisions
- unsafe driving behaviour
Providers including Samsara and Verizon Connect now position AI-enabled cameras alongside their fleet-telematics platforms.
Vehicle Tracking and Driver Behaviour
Telematics can flag driving events such as:
- speeding
- harsh braking
- rapid acceleration
- idling
- cornering events
But collecting the data is not the same as improving behaviour.
Our view: the value comes from using the information consistently for coaching, policy and fleet management rather than simply generating driver scores.
Can Vehicle Tracking Reduce Fuel Costs?
It can help identify behaviours that contribute to unnecessary fuel use, including:
- idling
- unnecessary mileage
- inefficient routes
- driving behaviour
But there is no credible universal percentage that every business will save.
The result depends on:
- current fleet efficiency
- routes
- management behaviour
- driver engagement
- how consistently reports are acted upon
We would avoid choosing a tracker based on generic “save X% on fuel” claims.
Vehicle Tracking for Route Planning & Dispatch
Live tracking can help a dispatcher:
- find the nearest driver
- respond to urgent jobs
- see route progress
- identify delays
- provide more accurate ETAs
More advanced fleet platforms can add route optimisation and job dispatch.
This is particularly useful for:
- deliveries
- field service
- mobile engineers
- maintenance teams
Vehicle Tracking for Mileage
Tracking can create automatic journey records instead of relying entirely on handwritten mileage logs which can help businesses distinguish:
- business mileage
- journey history
- vehicle use
where the system is configured appropriately. If private use is allowed, privacy controls become particularly important.
Vehicle Tracking for Maintenance
More advanced telematics systems can use:
- mileage
- engine hours
- diagnostic data
to support maintenance planning.
This can help fleets move away from purely manual servicing spreadsheets.
Vehicle Tracking for Electric Vehicles
EV fleet tracking can require different information from petrol and diesel vehicles.
Relevant functionality may include:
- battery state of charge
- remaining range
- energy consumption
- charging status
- charging-location data
Webfleet, for example, currently supports electric, plug-in hybrid and combustion vehicles in one fleet dashboard, including EV battery and range information.
See our Electric Vehicle Fleet Management guide.
What About OEM Vehicle Tracking?
Some newer commercial vehicles already contain connected-vehicle technology.
Depending on provider and manufacturer, fleet platforms can sometimes use OEM data without installing another tracker which can reduce:
- hardware installation
- vehicle downtime
- duplicate devices
But check exactly which data is available because OEM integrations vary by vehicle.
Vehicle Tracking vs Asset Tracking
Vehicle trackers are not always the right device for non-powered equipment.
Asset tracking can cover:
- trailers
- plant
- generators
- machinery
- containers
- equipment
Battery-powered asset trackers may report less frequently than a powered vehicle tracker in order to preserve battery life.
See our Asset Tracking Solutions guide.
Vehicle Tracking for Vans & Trades
A small trade fleet often needs relatively simple functionality:
- live van location
- journey history
- customer arrival times
- mileage
- theft alerts
We would normally start with basic GPS rather than buying a full enterprise telematics platform.
See our guides to:
Vehicle Tracking for Delivery Fleets
Delivery businesses may place greater value on:
- live route progress
- ETAs
- route optimisation
- proof of visit/delivery
- driver performance
That makes routing and dispatch capability much more relevant than simply knowing where the vehicle is.
See our Vehicle Tracking for Delivery Drivers guide.
Vehicle Tracking for Field Service
Field-service businesses may use tracking to:
- find the nearest engineer
- assign urgent jobs
- confirm site arrival
- reduce calls between office and field team
- provide customer ETAs
See our Vehicle Tracking for Field Service Teams guide.
Vehicle Tracking for HGV Fleets
HGV businesses often need more than basic vehicle location.
Depending on the operation, compare systems supporting areas such as:
- driver identification
- tachograph workflows
- driver hours
- commercial navigation
- vehicle diagnostics
- trailer tracking
- fuel reporting
- compliance reporting
Providers such as Webfleet and Samsara offer broader commercial-fleet and compliance functionality beyond basic GPS tracking.
Is Vehicle Tracking Legal in the UK?
Vehicle tracking can be used by UK employers, but monitoring workers must comply with data-protection law.
Vehicle tracking data can be personal information when it identifies or relates to a worker.
Employers should have a clear purpose for tracking and use the data in a way that is:
- lawful
- fair
- transparent
- necessary
- proportionate
Workers should be informed about:
- what is monitored
- why it is monitored
- when monitoring occurs
- how the data is used
- who can access it
- how long it is retained
Can You Track Company Vehicles Outside Working Hours?
This deserves particular attention.
The ICO says that where workers are allowed to use a work vehicle privately, employers will rarely be able to justify monitoring during private use.
For mixed business/private vehicles, compare systems offering:
- privacy mode
- private journey controls
- working-hours settings
Do not buy a tracking system that forces you to collect more employee-location data than you actually need.
Do Employees Need to Consent to Vehicle Tracking?
Not necessarily.
An employer needs an appropriate lawful basis for processing personal data.
Consent can be problematic in employment because of the imbalance of power between employer and worker.
The more important requirements are that monitoring is appropriately justified, lawful, fair and transparent.
Do You Need a DPIA?
A Data Protection Impact Assessment may be required where monitoring is likely to create a high risk to people’s rights and freedoms.
Even where one is not strictly required, assessing:
- purpose
- necessity
- proportionality
- privacy impact
before deployment is good practice.
Vehicle Tracking Policy Checklist
Your policy should explain:
- why vehicles are tracked
- which vehicles are tracked
- what information is collected
- when tracking operates
- private-use arrangements
- privacy mode
- who can access reports
- how long data is kept
- whether driver behaviour is monitored
- whether data can be used in employment processes
- how staff can raise questions
Our View: Avoid Using Tracking as a Hidden Performance Tool
A business may buy GPS primarily for:
- route management
- security
- dispatch
and later start using it to judge:
- breaks
- productivity
- driver performance
That change in purpose matters.
The way data is used should remain consistent with the purpose explained to workers and with data-protection requirements.
Best Vehicle Tracking Providers to Compare
There is no universal best provider – we would shortlist them by fleet requirement.
| Provider |
Why compare it |
| Quartix |
Clear pricing and straightforward SME tracking |
| RAM Tracking |
SME and mid-sized fleet tracking |
| Webfleet |
Established fleet telematics, routing and EV capability |
| Verizon Connect |
Broader fleet management, assets and video |
| Samsara |
Connected operations, telematics, video and equipment |
| Teletrac Navman |
Advanced commercial fleet and compliance use cases |
| Trakm8 |
Telematics and camera-based fleet solutions |
| Movolytics |
Driver behaviour and fleet efficiency |
| Crystal Ball |
Tracking for smaller/mobile workforces |
Quartix Vehicle Tracking
Quartix currently has one of the clearest published price structures so worth comparing for:
- SMEs
- vans
- service fleets
- businesses wanting straightforward GPS pricing
Its current tiers progress from basic location/history through:
- geofencing
- driver behaviour
- fuel-card integration
- fleet management
See our Quartix Vehicle Tracking review.
Webfleet
Webfleet is more relevant where fleet management goes beyond simple GPS.
Current functionality includes:
- vehicle tracking
- driver behaviour
- fuel and energy reporting
- maintenance
- routing
- asset/trailer tracking
- EV management
- video telematics
- tachograph tools
See our Webfleet review.
Samsara
Samsara combines vehicle telematics with a wider connected-operations platform.
Its current UK offering includes:
- real-time GPS
- routing
- vehicle diagnostics
- fuel/energy information
- maintenance
- AI dash cams
- asset/equipment tracking
- driver workflows
Our view: this makes more sense for businesses wanting one broader operational platform than for a sole trader wanting to locate one van.
Verizon Connect
Verizon Connect combines:
- near-real-time vehicle tracking
- route history
- geofences
- fleet reports
- driver behaviour
- maintenance
- asset tracking
- AI dash cams
See our Verizon Connect review.
Which Provider Should You Compare?
| Your requirement |
Providers worth comparing |
| Simple SME GPS |
Quartix, RAM Tracking, Crystal Ball |
| Driver behaviour |
Quartix, Movolytics, Webfleet |
| Advanced telematics |
Webfleet, Verizon Connect, Samsara, Teletrac Navman |
| Video telematics |
Samsara, Verizon Connect, Webfleet, Trakm8 |
| HGV / compliance |
Webfleet, Teletrac Navman, Samsara |
| EV fleet |
Webfleet, Samsara and other EV-capable platforms |
What Features Should You Actually Pay For?
Essential for Most Fleets
- live location
- route history
- geofences
- mileage reporting
- mobile access
Useful for Growing Fleets
- driver behaviour
- idling
- maintenance alerts
- driver ID
- fuel reports
- automated alerts
Advanced Requirements
- AI dash cams
- vehicle diagnostics
- tachograph management
- commercial navigation
- EV charging/range analytics
- advanced routing
- APIs
- asset sensor data
Our View: More Alerts Are Not Better
A common tracking mistake is turning on:
- every speeding alert
- every geofence alert
- every idling alert
- every driver event
until managers stop paying attention.
Choose reports and alerts that lead to a clear action.
Does Vehicle Tracking Prevent Theft?
No tracking system can guarantee that a vehicle will not be stolen. Tracking can, however, provide:
- location information
- movement alerts
- geofence alerts
that can help a business respond more quickly to unauthorised movement.
Can Vehicle Tracking Reduce Insurance Costs?
Possibly, but never assume it will.
Insurance pricing depends on the insurer, risk and fleet.
If insurance savings are part of the business case, ask your insurer or broker what telematics or camera technology they recognise before buying.
How to Calculate Whether Vehicle Tracking Is Worth It
Do not compare the monthly tracker bill in isolation.
Consider whether the system could help improve:
- avoidable mileage
- idling
- dispatch efficiency
- vehicle utilisation
- maintenance planning
- admin time
- customer ETA queries
- vehicle/asset security
Simple example
Ten trackers at £15/month cost:
£150/month
or:
£1,800/year
The system only needs to create more than £1,800 of genuine annual operational value to produce a positive return before other costs.
That is a better business case than assuming every fleet will save a fixed percentage on fuel.
When Is Vehicle Tracking Probably Worth Comparing?
Compare systems if:
- you have several vehicles
- you regularly dispatch field staff
- customers ask for ETAs
- mileage administration is difficult
- idling or route efficiency is a concern
- driver behaviour matters
- vehicles or equipment are high value
- maintenance is difficult to coordinate
- you need better fleet visibility
When Might Vehicle Tracking Not Be Worth It?
It could add little value where:
- one vehicle is used very rarely
- routes are fixed and obvious
- there is no operational need for location information
- nobody will actually review or act on the data
What to Ask Before Signing a Vehicle Tracking Contract
- What is the cost per vehicle?
- Does that include the hardware?
- Does it include installation?
- Is the hardware rented or owned?
- Is the tracker plug-in, fixed or OEM based?
- How frequently is vehicle location updated?
- How long is trip history retained?
- Which driver-behaviour reports are included?
- Is privacy mode available?
- Can access be restricted by manager?
- Are fuel reports included?
- Are maintenance alerts included?
- Does it support dash cams?
- Does it support EVs?
- Can it track assets and trailers?
- What integrations are included?
- Is API access extra?
- What support is included?
- What is the minimum contract?
- Does it auto-renew?
- What does early cancellation cost?
- What happens to installed hardware if we leave?
Hidden Vehicle Tracking Costs
Check for:
- installation
- hardware purchase
- monthly hardware rental
- SIM/data charges
- dash cams
- driver-ID accessories
- asset trackers
- fuel-card integration
- API access
- premium reports
- training
- removal
- reinstallation in replacement vehicles
- early termination
What Happens When You Replace a Vehicle?
This is an easy cost to overlook.
Ask:
- Can the tracker be moved?
- What does removal cost?
- What does reinstallation cost?
- Can hardware be transferred between registrations?
This is particularly important for fleets that regularly change leased vehicles.
Our Verdict: What Is the Best Vehicle Tracking System?
There is no universal best vehicle tracker.
The right level of technology depends on the fleet problem you need to solve.
Our recommendations:
- Small van fleet: basic GPS tracking
- Growing service fleet: GPS + driver behaviour + reporting
- Delivery operation: tracking + routing / dispatch
- Safety-focused fleet: telematics + video where justified
- HGV fleet: advanced fleet/compliance platform
- EV fleet: EV-aware telematics
- Plant/equipment: asset tracking
Then compare providers on:
- the features you will actually use
- total contract cost
- hardware/install costs
- privacy controls
- support
- contract flexibility
The best tracking system is not the one collecting the most data. It is the one that gives managers useful information they can actually act on.
Compare Vehicle Tracking Providers
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does vehicle tracking cost?
Basic UK GPS tracking can currently start from around £10 per vehicle/month. More advanced telematics, cameras, compliance and specialist hardware increase the cost.
What is the cheapest vehicle tracking system?
Simple GPS-only tracking is normally the lowest-cost option. Quartix currently publishes an entry-level UK plan at £9.99 per vehicle/month.
What is the difference between tracking and telematics?
Tracking primarily provides vehicle location and journey information. Telematics adds broader vehicle and driver data such as driving behaviour, diagnostics, maintenance, fuel/energy use and advanced reporting.
Is vehicle tracking legal in the UK?
Vehicle monitoring can be used in the UK, but employers must comply with data-protection requirements and monitor workers lawfully, fairly and transparently.
Can my employer track a company vehicle outside work?
If private use is allowed, the ICO says employers will rarely be able to justify monitoring during private use. Privacy mode or equivalent controls can therefore be important.
Do employees have to consent to GPS tracking?
Not necessarily. Employers need an appropriate lawful basis. Consent can be difficult to rely on in employment, but workers must still be appropriately informed about monitoring.
Can vehicle tracking reduce fuel costs?
Tracking and telematics can identify idling, unnecessary mileage and inefficient driving, but the level of saving depends on the fleet and whether managers act on the data.
Is hardwired tracking better than plug-and-play?
Not always. Plug-and-play devices can be ideal for simple fleets and quick installation. Hardwired systems can suit longer-term installations, tamper concerns and more advanced requirements.
Do I need dash cams as well as tracking?
Only if video evidence, incident context or driver-safety monitoring justifies the additional cost and privacy considerations.
Can vehicle tracking monitor EVs?
Yes. Some fleet platforms can report EV battery level, remaining range, energy use and charging information alongside petrol and diesel vehicles.
Can I track plant and trailers?
Yes. Dedicated asset trackers can monitor trailers, machinery, plant, containers and other powered or unpowered equipment.
Which vehicle tracking provider is best?
There is no universal best provider. Quartix can suit straightforward SME tracking, while providers such as Webfleet, Verizon Connect, Samsara and Teletrac Navman can suit more advanced fleet-management requirements.
Related Vehicle Tracking Guides
James Ward is the CEO & Founder of Compare Your Business Costs — a UK-verified comparison platform helping SMEs save money on business broadband, leased lines, phone systems, mobile telecoms, managed services and IT support. With over 10 years of experience in telecoms and technology procurement, James is a trusted UK business expert featured in national media and verified on Companies House.
