You will not be allowed to compare more than 4 products at a time
View compare
⚡ Plugs in under 2 minutes. No tools, no shop visit.
Easy GPS Tracking in Austin for Cars, Trucks and Small Fleets
Plug it into your car, open the app, and see where it is from anywhere in Austin, from South Congress to the Domain. No wiring, no shop visit, no contract.
- Updates every 5 seconds
- No contract
- 30-day money-back
Quick answer: Austin police counted 4,659 auto thefts in 2025. A plug-in OBD-II tracker shows your car or truck live on your phone and alerts you the moment it moves, so you can tell police exactly where it is.
Choose your tracker
Two trackers, one app
One-time hardware price. Both show up on the same map.
ShadowAuto
$69.90+ plans from $12/mo · No contract
- Plugs into the OBD-II port. Never needs charging.
- Car Alarm alerts you if it moves while parked.
- Engine codes and unplug alerts.
ShadowTrack
$69.90+ plans from $12/mo · No contract
- Battery-powered. Runs for weeks on a charge.
- No OBD-II port needed: trailers, mowers, boats.
- Add the weatherproof magnetic case.
Austin theft data
Car theft in Austin by the numbers
4,659 in a year is about 13 cars and trucks a day. That is well down from 2023, but Austin still had the fourth most vehicle thefts of any Texas city in November 2025.
4,659
auto thefts in Austin in 2025 (APD)
75,269
vehicles stolen in Texas in 2025 (NICB)
36%
fewer Austin auto thefts than in 2023, APD's highest year
#1
most stolen in Texas, Nov 2025: Chevy Silverado (DPS)
- Three years of decline. APD counted 7,689 auto thefts in 2023, 6,395 in 2024 and 4,659 in 2025.
- Fourth in Texas. Only Houston, Dallas and San Antonio had more vehicle thefts than Austin in November 2025, per the Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority.
- A tracker is the backup. Lock it, take the keys, and use GPS so you know where it went. What to do if it's stolen.
Who it's for
Built for how Austin drives
Trades & work trucks
See every work truck on one map, geofence each job site, and get an alert if one moves after hours.
For business →Turo hosts near AUS
Know your car is where the renter said, with trip history for any dispute. Set a geofence around the airport lot.
For Turo hosts →Families & UT students on I-35 & MoPac
Get an alert when your driver gets to campus, school or home, and see each trip in the app.
Family guide →
How it works
Tracking in 3 easy steps
1
Plug it in
Plug ShadowAuto into the port under your dash. Every car and light truck since 1996 has one.
Is GPS tracking legal in Austin? Yes, on any vehicle you own or lease, or with the owner's consent. Putting a tracker on someone else's vehicle without consent is a Class A misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code 16.06. Full Texas tracking law.
Pricing
Simple pricing, no contract
$69.90 per tracker, one time. Then a plan per tracker, per month. Cancel any time.
| Trackers | Monthly | Quarterly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | $15/mo | $13/mo | $12/mo |
| 4+ (bulk order) | $13/mo | $11/mo | $10/mo |
Around town
Works across Austin
Runs on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile LTE-M networks, anywhere you have cell signal.
Downtown & Sixth Street
Garages and late nights. Share Location to find the car.
UT Austin & West Campus
Student cars on the street. Get an alert if one moves.
South Congress & South Lamar
Apartment lots and street parking. Arm Car Alarm overnight.
The Domain & North Austin
Long MoPac commutes. Trip history for new drivers.
Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS)
Check the car from your gate on long trips.
East Austin & SH 130
Work trucks on job sites. Geofence the yard after hours.
Reviews
What our customers say
Rated 4.5 out of 5 across 205 reviews of ShadowAuto and ShadowTrack.
★★★★★
Perfect for peace of mind
"I bought this for my teenage daughter who just started driving. Setup was literally plug and play, took 2 minutes. The app is super intuitive too."
Sarah M. · Parent · ShadowAuto
★★★★★
Exactly what I needed for my fleet
"I run a small delivery business with 6 vans. Plugged it into each van, downloaded the app, and within minutes I could see all my vehicles on one dashboard."
Michael T. · Small business · ShadowAuto
★★★★★
Small business must-have
"The magnetic mount lets me move it between vehicles easily, and the tracking is always accurate. A fantastic investment for any small business."
Robert C. · Small fleet · ShadowTrack
FAQ
Common questions
Is it hard to set up?
No. ShadowAuto plugs into the OBD-II port under your dash in under 2 minutes, with no tools or wiring. ShadowTrack sits in a magnetic case.
Is there a monthly fee?
Yes. Live tracking uses a cell connection, so plans run $10 to $15 per tracker per month. No contract. Cancel any time.
Does it need a SIM card?
No. The connection is built in and covered by your plan.
Is GPS tracking legal in Austin?
Yes, on any vehicle you own or lease, or with the owner's consent. Austin follows Texas law, and putting a tracker on someone else's vehicle without consent is a Class A misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code 16.06.
Can I check my car at Austin-Bergstrom while I travel?
Yes. Open the app from your gate to see the car live, and set a geofence around the parking lot so you get an alert if it leaves.
Does it help during ACL Fest, SXSW or a big game?
Yes, anywhere with cell signal. Use Share Location to walk back to the car, and turn on Car Alarm so you know if it moves while you're out.
What should I do if my car is stolen in Austin?
Call Austin police first and give them the live location from the app. Don't try to recover the car yourself.
How fast does it update?
Every 5 seconds while your car or truck is moving.
How do I order 4 or more trackers?
Bulk orders of 4 or more go through our team. Contact us and we'll set up the account and the 4+ rate.
More GPS tracking near Austin
Plug it in today. Track it in 2 minutes, anywhere in Austin.
Ordering 4 or more for your Austin business? Our team will set it up for you.
Sources
- KXAN: Austin auto theft numbers (Austin Police Department figures, January 2026)
- NICB 2025 vehicle thefts by state (via FinanceBuzz) (state theft counts, rates and change)
- Austin American-Statesman: Texas cities and models stolen most (Texas MVCPA city rankings and DPS model data, November 2025)
Also referenced: Texas Penal Code 16.06 (see the Texas page). Pricing current as of October 2026, in USD, per tracker. Some retailer links are affiliate links. Legal information is general and not legal advice; consult a Texas attorney for your situation.