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⚡ Plugs in under 2 minutes. No tools, no shop visit.
Easy GPS Tracking in Charlotte for Cars, Trucks and Small Fleets
Plug it into your car or truck, open the app, and see where it is from anywhere in Charlotte, from Uptown to Ballantyne. No wiring, no shop visit, no contract.
- Updates every 5 seconds
- No contract
- 30-day money-back
Quick answer: Charlotte-Mecklenburg police counted 5,960 vehicle 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.
Charlotte theft data
Car theft in Charlotte by the numbers
5,960 stolen in 2025 is about 16 cars and trucks a day. That's down from 2024, but break-ins stayed high.
5,960
vehicles reported stolen in Charlotte in 2025 (CMPD)
20,395
vehicles stolen in North Carolina in 2025 (NICB)
7,442
stolen in Charlotte in 2024, before the 2025 drop (CMPD)
#1
most stolen in North Carolina in 2024: Hyundai Elantra (NICB)
- Break-ins barely moved. CMPD logged 10,252 larcenies from cars in 2025, compared to 10,341 in 2024.
- Elantras top the state list. NICB counted 1,094 Hyundai Elantras stolen in North Carolina in 2024, more than any other model.
- 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 Charlotte drives
Trades & work trucks
Crews on job sites across Mecklenburg County. See every truck and trailer on one map, and get an alert if one moves after hours.
For business →Turo hosts near CLT
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 on I-77 & I-485
Get an alert when your new driver gets to school, practice 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 Charlotte? Yes, on any vehicle you own or lease, or with consent. Using a tracker to follow someone without their consent is a Class 2 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-196.3. Full North Carolina 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 Charlotte
Runs on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile LTE-M networks, anywhere you have cell signal.
Uptown
Garages and event nights. Car Alarm while you're out.
South End
Street parking along the light rail. Get an alert if the car moves.
NoDa
Busy weekends. Check the car from the table.
Ballantyne
Long commutes on I-485. Trip history for new drivers.
University City
Students and commuters. Share Location with family.
Charlotte Douglas Airport
Long-term lots. Check the car from your gate.
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 Charlotte?
Yes, on vehicles you own or lease, unless a protective order bars you from contacting the driver. Charlotte follows North Carolina law, and tracking someone without consent is a Class 2 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-196.3.
Can I check my car at Charlotte Douglas Airport 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 work in Uptown garages on game days?
Usually. Thick concrete decks near Bank of America Stadium and Uptown can weaken GPS and cell signal, so the map may show the last location until the car is back in the open.
What should I do if my car is stolen in Charlotte?
Call Charlotte-Mecklenburg 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 Charlotte
Plug it in today. Track it in 2 minutes, anywhere in Charlotte.
Ordering 4 or more for your Charlotte business? Our team will set it up for you.
Sources
- WBTV: violent crime drops across Charlotte in 2025 (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department data)
- Queen City Nerve: CMPD end-of-year report (CMPD 2025 vs 2024 property crime)
- Insurance Journal: NICB 2025 vehicle theft report (NICB state totals for 2025)
- FinanceBuzz: most stolen car in every state (NICB 2024 model data by state)
Also referenced: G.S. 14-196.3 (see the North Carolina 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 North Carolina attorney for your situation.