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⚡ Plugs in under 2 minutes. No tools, no shop visit.
Easy GPS Tracking in Philadelphia for Cars, Trucks and Small Fleets
Plug it into your car or work van, open the app, and see where it is from anywhere in Philadelphia, from Fishtown to South Philly. No wiring, no shop visit, no contract.
- Updates every 5 seconds
- No contract
- 30-day money-back
Quick answer: Philadelphia police counted about 14,000 stolen vehicles in 2025 by early November. A plug-in OBD-II tracker shows your car or van 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.
Philadelphia theft data
Car theft in Philadelphia by the numbers
About 14,000 stolen by early November 2025 was up 3% from the year before. The Philadelphia metro ranked seventh in the U.S. for thefts in 2025.
14,000
vehicles stolen in Philadelphia, Jan to early Nov 2025 (PPD)
19,117
stolen in the Philadelphia metro in 2025, 7th in the U.S. (NICB)
3%
more PPD theft cases in 2025 than at the same point in 2024
923
of 3,497 cars stolen in Philly by mid-April 2026 were Hondas (PPD)
- Hondas are the target. Police broke up two theft rings in April 2026 that went after newer Hondas, mainly CR-Vs, for resale and parts.
- Late night is peak time. PPD names 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. as peak theft hours and warns that thieves copy key fob signals to take push-button cars.
- 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 Philadelphia drives
Trades & work vans
Contractor vans sit on rowhouse blocks overnight. See every van on one map, and get an alert if one moves after hours.
For business →Turo hosts near PHL
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-95 & the Schuylkill
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 Philadelphia? Yes, on vehicles you own or co-own, or with the owner's consent. Pennsylvania has no tracker-specific law, but using a tracker to follow or harass someone can be charged as stalking under 18 Pa.C.S. 2709.1. Full Pennsylvania 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 Philadelphia
Runs on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile LTE-M networks, anywhere you have cell signal.
Fairmount
Hondas were targeted here overnight in July 2026. Arm Car Alarm at night.
Northwest Philadelphia
Base of a Honda theft ring police broke up in 2026. Get an alert if the car moves.
Philadelphia International Airport
Long trips out of PHL. Check the car from your gate.
Center City
Garages and street parking. The map keeps the last location underground.
South Philly Sports Complex
Game days at the stadiums. Share Location to find the car after.
Navy Yard
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 Philadelphia?
Yes, on vehicles you own or co-own, or with the owner's consent. Philadelphia follows Pennsylvania law, which has no tracker-specific statute, but using a tracker to follow or harass someone can be charged as stalking under 18 Pa.C.S. 2709.1.
Can I check my car at PHL 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 Center City parking garages?
Usually. Underground and thick concrete garages can weaken GPS and cell signal, so the map may show the last location until the car is back on the street.
What should I do if my car is stolen in Philadelphia?
Call Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Plug it in today. Track it in 2 minutes, anywhere in Philadelphia.
Ordering 4 or more for your Philadelphia business? Our team will set it up for you.
Sources
- CBS Philadelphia: police campaign against high-tech auto theft (Philadelphia Police Department, November 2025)
- 6abc: Philadelphia police bust 2 car theft rings targeting Hondas (PPD figures, April 2026)
- NICB: U.S. vehicle thefts experience historic decline (2025 metro area totals)
- NBC10: Hondas among cars stolen in Philly in 2026 (PPD data and Fairmount thefts, July 2026)
Also referenced: 18 Pa.C.S. 2709.1 (see the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania attorney for your situation.