A GPS tracker is much better for car protection in terms of vehicle recovery. An AirTag can sometimes help you find your car if it passes near other Apple devices, but this won’t really give you real-time updates. It also won't work well in less-populated areas. A dedicated GPS tracker, however, uses satellites and cellular service for a much more reliable, powerful, and accurate connection.
According to the South African Police Service’s quarterly crime statistics, between January 2025 to March 2025 there have been 7 731 motor vehicle and motorcycle thefts reported. At Cartrack we completely understand what some car owners face when deciding between a GPS tracker and an Airtag. So, we’re here to help you make an educated decision.
With thousands of cars stolen annually, vehicle theft is a serious issue—especially in South Africa. Losing a car can also be extremely stressful in addition to being a financial loss. Although steering locks and alarms offer some prevention, the reality is that savvy thieves can easily get around these.
For this reason, a lot of South African drivers are using tracking devices as an additional precaution. Usually, there are only two options to consider: a GPS tracker and AirTag's. But which is better suited for serious vehicle protection? Let’s fully explore each of these devices and understand why a GPS tracker offers far greater security than an AirTag ever could for your car.
So what exactly is an AirTag? An AirTag is a bluetooth tracking device owned by Apple designed to locate personal belongings. It’s a small and discreet tag that works via the ‘Find My’ network using nearby iPhones to update the location.
The AirTag was designed to help you find personal items like keys, wallets, and bags—not cars. While AirTags are small and easy to place, they completely rely on Apple's "Find My" network. What this does is make their performance dependent upon how many iPhones exist, limiting how well they can protect your vehicle in real-life theft cases.
The pros of an AirTag for tracking your car are:
The cons of an AirTag for tracking your car are:
For everyday items, an AirTag is convenient. But for serious car protection? It falls short!
A GPS tracker is a specialised vehicle tracking device that provides precise, real-time location updates via satellites and mobile networks. GPS trackers, as opposed to AirTags, are made specifically for the purpose of preventing car theft, assisting in vehicle recovery, and offering other useful safety features.
GPS trackers are mainly designed for vehicles, in contrast to AirTags, which are designed for items. So no matter where your car is, a GPS tracker provides precise, real-time location updates via satellite technology and mobile networks. In South Africa, where auto theft is a major problem, a GPS tracker can also send theft alerts.
They can also put you in touch with expert recovery teams and provide you with full visibility via a mobile app. Let’s take another look at some pros & cons:
The pros of a GPS tracker for tracking your car are:
The cons of using a GPS tracker for tracking your car are:
A sure way to make sure you’re making the right choice for your vehicle’s protection is by comparing the key features, reliability, and overall value of each device. While an AirTag can be a handy tool for tracking your small personal belongings, a vehicle tracker GPS is purpose-built to safeguard your car. That’s because it offers you real-time monitoring, theft alerts, and recovery support.
By comparing the technology, cost, and protection provided by each of them, you can easily see why the best GPS tracker for car safety in South Africa is the superior choice.
In South Africa, every second is crucial when your vehicle is stolen. Even a few minutes can make an impact whether you get your whole vehicle back or just parts of it. This is why, compared to an AirTag, a GPS tracker offers you far more protection:
Simply put, the best hidden GPS tracker for car protection is the better option if you're serious about keeping your vehicle safe in South Africa.
Now, you may be wondering, ‘Why do people prefer using Cartrack’s GPS tracking systems?’ Well, as a company born in South Africa, we completely understand the importance of not only being quick, but also being efficient when it comes to retrieving stolen assets—as every second counts.
Nationwide reach, around the clock
No matter where you are in South Africa, our tracking network will cover you. Our teams remain on standby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—so your car is always protected.
A mobile app for seamless control
We put complete visibility at your fingertips. Using our user-friendly mobile app, you can:
A trusted service by millions of South Africans
Over two million drivers already rely on our service to protect their cars. We’re honoured to be acknowledged as the top vehicle tracker GPS provider for peace of mind and proven outcomes. Our excellent customer service and reputation as one of the most trustworthy tracking companies on HelloPeter speaks for itself. We hold a 9.5 Trust Index rating on HelloPeter, the highest in our industry, and have an overall score of 4.15 out of 5 stars.
GPS trackers and AirTags aren’t the only devices available to protect your vehicle. Your budget and needs play a major role in what device you’ll choose. To make sure you have a complete overview on what products exist, we’ve put together a comprehensive overview for you to make an informed decision.
Yes, but only to a point. AirTags get their location updates from nearby iPhones, so they work better in busy cities. However, they don't let you track things in real time or get alerts when something is stolen; and thieves can easily find and disable them.
Yes, a hidden GPS tracker used for car protection is much harder for thieves to find and take off, which makes it much more likely that you'll get your car back if it's stolen. Additionally, there’s often more than one GPS tracker installed in your vehicle, so you will always be protected.
Yes, a lot of South African insurance companies see GPS trackers as a good way to protect your property and may offer you lower premiums. GPS trackers greatly increase the chances of recovering a stolen vehicle, which is why AirTags are not recognised for this purpose.
Not all GPS trackers require a monthly subscription. Some products are sold as the best GPS tracker with no monthly fee or the best vehicle tracking device with no monthly fee. Most of the time, these only let you track your location. But subscription-based services offer theft alerts, help with recovery, and monitoring around the clock.
No, unfortunately AirTags don’t offer any recovery support, immobilisation, or theft alerts. AirTags are Bluetooth devices, so only when and if your vehicle happens to pass another Apple device will it then be able to provide you with location updates.
AirTag or GPS tracker for car protection in South Africa? Discover the pros, cons, and why a GPS tracker offers safer, smarter vehicle security.
