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GPS Tracking by State and City: Laws, Theft Rates and Local Guides
Find your state or city to see the GPS tracking law, 2025 car theft numbers and local tips. Every guide comes back to the same simple setup: plug it in, open the app, no contract.
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Quick answer: Tracking a car or truck you own is legal in every state. 31 states have a law that names GPS trackers, and the other 19 handle tracking without consent under stalking laws. Pick your state below for its exact law and penalties.
Popular cities: New York City · Los Angeles · Chicago · Houston · Phoenix · Philadelphia · San Antonio · San Diego · Dallas · Atlanta · All 51 cities
All 50 states
Find your state
Each guide covers the state's tracking law, 2025 theft data and local cities.
- GPS tracking in Alabama
- GPS tracking in Alaska
- GPS tracking in Arizona
- GPS tracking in Arkansas
- GPS tracking in California
- GPS tracking in Colorado
- GPS tracking in Connecticut
- GPS tracking in Delaware
- GPS tracking in Florida
- GPS tracking in Georgia
- GPS tracking in Hawaii
- GPS tracking in Idaho
- GPS tracking in Illinois
- GPS tracking in Indiana
- GPS tracking in Iowa
- GPS tracking in Kansas
- GPS tracking in Kentucky
- GPS tracking in Louisiana
- GPS tracking in Maine
- GPS tracking in Maryland
- GPS tracking in Massachusetts
- GPS tracking in Michigan
- GPS tracking in Minnesota
- GPS tracking in Mississippi
- GPS tracking in Missouri
- GPS tracking in Montana
- GPS tracking in Nebraska
- GPS tracking in Nevada
- GPS tracking in New Hampshire
- GPS tracking in New Jersey
- GPS tracking in New Mexico
- GPS tracking in New York
- GPS tracking in North Carolina
- GPS tracking in North Dakota
- GPS tracking in Ohio
- GPS tracking in Oklahoma
- GPS tracking in Oregon
- GPS tracking in Pennsylvania
- GPS tracking in Rhode Island
- GPS tracking in South Carolina
- GPS tracking in South Dakota
- GPS tracking in Tennessee
- GPS tracking in Texas
- GPS tracking in Utah
- GPS tracking in Vermont
- GPS tracking in Virginia
- GPS tracking in Washington
- GPS tracking in West Virginia
- GPS tracking in Wisconsin
- GPS tracking in Wyoming
51 city guides
Find your city
Local theft numbers, neighborhoods and tips for the largest US cities, grouped by state.
-
Arizona
Phoenix · Tucson -
California
Anaheim · Bakersfield · Fresno · Los Angeles · Sacramento · San Diego · San Francisco · San Jose -
Colorado
Aurora · Colorado Springs · Denver -
District of Columbia
Washington, DC -
Florida
Jacksonville · Miami · Tampa -
Georgia
Atlanta -
Illinois
Chicago -
Indiana
Indianapolis -
Kansas
Wichita -
Kentucky
Louisville -
Louisiana
New Orleans -
Maryland
Baltimore -
Massachusetts
Boston -
Michigan
Detroit -
Missouri
Kansas City -
Nebraska
Omaha -
Nevada
Las Vegas -
New Mexico
Albuquerque -
New York
New York City -
North Carolina
Charlotte · Raleigh -
Ohio
Cleveland · Columbus -
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City · Tulsa -
Oregon
Portland -
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia -
Tennessee
Memphis · Nashville -
Texas
Arlington · Austin · Dallas · El Paso · Fort Worth · Houston · San Antonio -
Virginia
Virginia Beach -
Washington
Seattle -
Wisconsin
Milwaukee
2025 theft data
Top 10 states by car theft rate
Thefts per 100,000 residents in 2025, from NICB. Nevada and New Mexico tie for second.
| Rank | State | Per 100k | 2025 thefts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 348.0 | 136,988 |
| 2 | Nevada | 318.3 | 10,357 |
| 3 | New Mexico | 318.3 | 6,769 |
| 4 | Missouri | 280.2 | 17,496 |
| 5 | Colorado | 280.1 | 16,774 |
| 6 | Maryland | 272.9 | 17,044 |
| 7 | Texas | 240.3 | 75,269 |
| 8 | Alaska | 232.2 | 1,710 |
| 9 | Washington | 227.5 | 18,039 |
| 10 | Illinois | 223.0 | 28,327 |
Tracking laws
GPS tracking laws by state
Every state lets you track a vehicle you own. This shows whether the state also has a law that names GPS trackers.
| State | Tracking law | 2025 thefts | Per 100k |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Has a GPS tracker law | 7,494 | 145.2 |
| Alaska | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 1,710 | 232.2 |
| Arizona | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 12,760 | 168.9 |
| Arkansas | Has a GPS tracker law | 4,469 | 144.3 |
| California | Has a GPS tracker law | 136,988 | 348.0 |
| Colorado | Has a GPS tracker law | 16,774 | 280.1 |
| Connecticut | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 5,916 | 161.0 |
| Delaware | Has a GPS tracker law | 1,641 | 156.3 |
| Florida | Has a GPS tracker law | 27,142 | 116.7 |
| Georgia | Has a GPS tracker law | 17,237 | 153.8 |
| Hawaii | Has a GPS tracker law | 1,584 | 110.4 |
| Idaho | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 1,078 | 53.9 |
| Illinois | Has a GPS tracker law | 28,327 | 223.0 |
| Indiana | Has a GPS tracker law | 11,106 | 160.2 |
| Iowa | Has a GPS tracker law | 3,293 | 101.9 |
| Kansas | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 5,973 | 201.4 |
| Kentucky | Has a GPS tracker law | 6,926 | 151.1 |
| Louisiana | Has a GPS tracker law | 8,659 | 187.6 |
| Maine | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 853 | 60.6 |
| Maryland | Has a GPS tracker law | 17,044 | 272.9 |
| Massachusetts | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 6,393 | 89.6 |
| Michigan | Has a GPS tracker law | 17,298 | 171.3 |
| Minnesota | Has a GPS tracker law | 9,570 | 165.1 |
| Mississippi | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 4,526 | 153.4 |
| Missouri | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 17,496 | 280.2 |
| Montana | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 1,424 | 125.2 |
| Nebraska | Has a GPS tracker law | 3,372 | 168.1 |
| Nevada | Has a GPS tracker law | 10,357 | 318.3 |
| New Hampshire | Has a GPS tracker law | 567 | 40.3 |
| New Jersey | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 14,124 | 148.6 |
| New Mexico | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 6,769 | 318.3 |
| New York | Has a GPS tracker law | 24,206 | 121.0 |
| North Carolina | Has a GPS tracker law | 20,395 | 184.5 |
| North Dakota | Has a GPS tracker law | 932 | 117.5 |
| Ohio | Has a GPS tracker law | 20,628 | 173.9 |
| Oklahoma | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 7,062 | 172.3 |
| Oregon | Has a GPS tracker law | 8,868 | 207.9 |
| Pennsylvania | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 20,568 | 157.7 |
| Rhode Island | Has a GPS tracker law | 1,191 | 107.3 |
| South Carolina | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 10,082 | 183.6 |
| South Dakota | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 1,383 | 149.2 |
| Tennessee | Has a GPS tracker law | 13,642 | 188.1 |
| Texas | Has a GPS tracker law | 75,269 | 240.3 |
| Utah | Has a GPS tracker law | 3,166 | 90.4 |
| Vermont | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 731 | 113.1 |
| Virginia | Has a GPS tracker law | 9,537 | 108.1 |
| Washington | Has a GPS tracker law | 18,039 | 227.5 |
| West Virginia | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 1,450 | 82.0 |
| Wisconsin | Has a GPS tracker law | 7,020 | 117.8 |
| Wyoming | No tracker law (stalking law applies) | 430 | 73.3 |
General information, not legal advice. Open your state's guide for the statute and penalties.
FAQ
Common questions
Is GPS tracking legal in every state?
Yes, on a car or truck you own, in all 50 states. What changes from state to state is the penalty for tracking someone else's vehicle without the owner's consent. Pick your state above for its law.
Which states have a GPS tracker law?
31 states have a law that names electronic tracking devices. In the other 19, tracking someone without consent falls under stalking or harassment laws. The table above shows which is which.
Which state has the highest car theft rate?
California, with 348.0 thefts per 100,000 residents in 2025, followed by Nevada and New Mexico at 318.3 each (NICB).
Does ShadowGPS work in every state?
Yes. It runs on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile LTE-M networks, so it works anywhere you have cell signal. Updates come every 5 seconds while your car or truck is moving.
Is there a monthly fee?
Yes. Plans run $10 to $15 per tracker per month. No contract. Month-to-month, or prepay and save.
Plug it in today. Track it in 2 minutes, in any state.
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Sources
- NICB: 2025 Vehicle Theft Report release (state theft counts and rates)
Also referenced: state-by-state NICB 2025 table via FinanceBuzz; each state's statute is cited on its own guide. Legal information is general and not legal advice; consult a local attorney for your situation.