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 Virginia 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 Virginia. No wiring, no shop visit, no contract.
- Updates every 5 seconds
- No contract
- 30-day money-back
Quick answer: GPS tracking is legal in Virginia on vehicles you own, or with consent. Secretly placing a tracker to follow another person without consent is a Class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code 18.2-60.5). A plug-in OBD-II tracker shows your car or van 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.
Virginia theft data
Car theft in Virginia by the numbers
Thefts fell about 24% in 2025, but that's still about 26 cars and trucks stolen every day.
9,537
vehicles stolen in Virginia in 2025 (NICB)
108.1
thefts per 100,000 residents (NICB)
19%
drop in Fairfax County car thefts in 2025 (FCPD)
#1
most stolen: Honda Accord
- Sedans and pickups lead. A January 2026 Compare the Market study ranked the Honda Accord, Ford pickup and Hyundai Elantra as the most stolen models in Virginia.
- Fairfax is down, not done. Fairfax County's police chief told WTOP that stolen cars fell 19% in 2025. Thousands are still taken statewide each 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 Virginia 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
Every truck, trailer and mower 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.
Virginia law
Is GPS tracking legal in Virginia?
Yes, on vehicles you own. Since 2013, it's a crime in Virginia to secretly place a tracker to follow another person's location without their consent.
- 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.
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Secretly tracking a person without consent (18.2-60.5) | Class 1 misdemeanor |
| Owner tracking fleet vehicles | Exempt |
| Parent or guardian tracking a minor | Exempt, with conditions |
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 Virginia
Runs on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile LTE-M networks, anywhere you have cell signal.
Fairfax & Arlington
Beltway commutes on I-495 and I-66. Trip history for new drivers.
Virginia Beach & Norfolk
Busy lots off I-64 and I-264. Use Car Alarm overnight.
Richmond
Work vans on I-95 and I-64. Unplug alerts help most.
Chesapeake
Suburban driveways off I-64. Movement alerts while parked.
Roanoke
Trucks along I-81. Share Location to find the car.
Rural Virginia
Farm trucks and equipment. Geofence the property line.
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 Virginia?
Yes, on vehicles you own, or with consent. Under Va. Code 18.2-60.5, secretly placing a tracker to follow another person without consent is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Fleet owners and parents of minors are exempt in the cases the law sets out.
Can I check on my car while I'm deployed or traveling?
Yes. The app works from anywhere you have internet, and Car Alarm alerts you if the car moves while it's parked.
Does it keep working in DC and Maryland?
Yes. It works anywhere with cell coverage, not just in Virginia, with updates every 5 seconds while the car moves.
How fast does it update?
Every 5 seconds while your car or truck is moving.
Does it work in rural Virginia?
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 Virginia.
Ordering 4 or more for your Virginia business? Our team will set it up for you.
Sources
- NICB 2025 vehicle thefts by state (via FinanceBuzz) (state theft counts, rates and change)
- Code of Virginia 18.2-60.5 (unauthorized use of electronic tracking device)
- WTOP: crime in Fairfax County fell in 2025 (Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis)
- WVVA: most stolen vehicles in Virginia (Compare the Market study)
Also referenced: Acts of 2013, c. 434 and later amendments, as listed on the Code of Virginia 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 Virginia attorney for your situation.