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 Iowa for Cars, Trucks and Small Fleets
Plug it into your pickup or farm truck, open the app, and see where it is from anywhere in Iowa. No wiring, no shop visit, no contract.
- Updates every 5 seconds
- No contract
- 30-day money-back
Quick answer: GPS tracking is legal in Iowa on any vehicle you own or co-own, or with the owner's consent (Iowa Code 708.11A). A plug-in OBD-II tracker shows your car or truck live on your phone and alerts you when it moves.
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.
Iowa theft data
Car theft in Iowa by the numbers
Thefts fell about 17% in 2025, but that's still about 9 cars and trucks stolen every day.
3,293
vehicles stolen in Iowa in 2025 (NICB)
101.9
thefts per 100,000 residents (NICB)
~1,000
cars stolen in Des Moines in 2023 (DMPD)
#1
most stolen in 2024: Chevy Silverado 1500 (NICB)
- Pickups lead the list. The Chevy Silverado 1500 was the most stolen model in Iowa in 2024, with 93 taken, per NICB data.
- Kias and Hyundais are targets. Des Moines police said in July 2025 that Kias and Hyundais made up 27% of the city's stolen cars that year.
- 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 Iowa drives
Families & teen drivers
Get an alert when your new driver gets to school, practice or home.
Family guide →Turo & rental hosts
Know your car is where the renter said, with trip history for any dispute.
For Turo hosts →Small fleets
Farm trucks, grain trailers and equipment on one map. Ordering 4 or more? Contact us.
For business →
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.
Iowa law
Is GPS tracking legal in Iowa?
Yes, on vehicles you own. Since 2017, it's a crime in Iowa to place a GPS device on another person or their property to track them without consent and without a legitimate purpose.
- Owners and co-owners can track their own vehicles.
- Parents can track a car they own that a teen drives.
- Businesses can track company-owned vehicles. Employee guide.
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Your own or co-owned vehicle | Legal |
| Company-owned vehicle | Legal; tell drivers in writing |
| Tracking someone without consent (708.11A) | Serious misdemeanor |
General information, not legal advice.
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 |
Compare
ShadowGPS vs. other options
| Live updates | Monthly | Contract | Setup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirTag / Tile | No live GPS | None | None | Drop it in |
| BrickHouse | Varies by plan | About $17.99 to $34.99 | None | Plug in |
| Enterprise fleet software | 10 to 30 sec | Quote after demo | Varies | Onboarding |
| ShadowGPS | Every 5 sec | $10 to $15 | None | Plug in, 2 min |
Swipe the table to see all columns →
Competitor details from public pages, October 2026.
Coverage
Works across Iowa
Runs on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile LTE-M networks, anywhere you have cell signal.
Des Moines
About 1,000 cars stolen in 2023. Use Car Alarm overnight.
Cedar Rapids
I-380 commutes to Iowa City. Trip history for new drivers.
Davenport & Quad Cities
Work trucks crossing the river on I-74. One map for the crew.
Iowa City
Game-day crowds. Share Location to find the car.
Sioux City
Trucks on I-29 near three states. Geofence the yard.
Rural Iowa
Farm trucks and grain trailers. ShadowTrack in the case.
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 Iowa?
Yes, on vehicles you own or co-own, or with the owner's consent. Placing a GPS device to track another person without consent or a legitimate purpose is a serious misdemeanor under Iowa Code 708.11A.
Can I track farm equipment and grain trailers?
Yes. ShadowTrack is battery-powered, so it works on trailers and equipment with no OBD-II port. Put it in the weatherproof magnetic case and set a geofence around the farm.
How fast does it update?
Every 5 seconds while your car or truck is moving.
Does it work in rural Iowa?
Yes, anywhere with cell coverage. Check your carrier's map for remote land.
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.
Plug it in today. Track it in 2 minutes, anywhere in Iowa.
Ordering 4 or more for your Iowa business? Our team will set it up for you.
Sources
- NICB 2025 vehicle thefts by state (via FinanceBuzz) (state theft counts, rates and change)
- Iowa Code 708.11A (unauthorized placement of a GPS device)
- WHO Radio: car thefts in Des Moines (Des Moines Police Department figures)
- FinanceBuzz: most stolen car in every state (NICB 2024 model data)
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 an Iowa attorney for your situation.