A Guide to Vehicle Tracking Costs in the UK

The cheapest fleet tracking systems cost as little as £7.50 per vehicle, per month, while very advanced options can set you back more than £100 per vehicle, per month. For a quality system that will cater to all your core needs without breaking the bank, you can expect to pay roughly £15 to £30 per vehicle, per month.

Ultimately, tracking system prices depends on several factors including feature needs, contract lengths, the hardware you require, and more. And with most vehicle tracking suppliers hiding their prices behind quote forms, you’re likely to need to contact providers directly for exact costs.

To save you going to each provider you’re interested in, try our free quote-finding tool to receive tailored quotes from tracking system suppliers best suited to you. Or you can read on for a rough guide on what tracking system costs you can expect.

How Much Does a Vehicle Tracking System Cost?

The most basic vehicle tracking systems, with rudimentary hardware for active GPS tracking, start at around £7.50 per vehicle, per month to lease.

To buy an active tracking system outright, you could spend upwards of £200 per unit, plus installation costs of £20 to £75. There are likely to be ongoing software costs, too.

However, providers are increasingly packaging active tracker costs with their monthly subscription costs for software, so there may not be any upfront spending at all depending on the provider. Similarly, many providers now opt for plug-and-play devices which can be installed yourself with little bother.

Passive trackers can cost as little as £100 upfront. Given the nature of passive tracking hardware, where you receive location updates upon arrival at certain locations such as depots, you are unlikely to get the same breadth of software features for tracking your vehicles. However, this can mean lower or no ongoing software costs, depending on the provider package.

Factors that can influence vehicle tracker costs

• Your fleet (size and type of vehicle)
• Your choice of tracker (active or passive?)
• Your tracking system needs (location-based or Telematics?)
• The tracker installation type (wired or plug-and-play)
• Whether you buy outright or lease

Vehicle Tracking System Costs by Fleet Size, Features and Price

The easiest way to compare tracker system costs is to split the market into three tiers: entry-level, advanced, and expert. Each tier is associated with a particular fleet size and features, and with a certain cost range too, which you can see in the table below:

Note: Prices are ‘per vehicle’.

Check out the sections below for a more detailed breakdown of each tier.

Larger fleets generally require more in-depth tracking and telematics data than smaller ones, so will need a more sophisticated system.

As shown in the table above, we would say fleet size is the biggest factor in increasing the cost of a fleet tracking system since most contracts are priced per vehicle.

Recommendations for different fleet sizes

We recommend different tracking solutions based on your fleet size. Larger fleets, whether they include lorries, vans, cars, or motorbikes, typically need more detailed tracking systems than smaller fleets.

Costs depend on the package you choose, too. For example:

• Trackit 247 offers basic tracking at £8/month and advanced tracking at £12/month.
• Radius has a custom quote-based pricing based on features and contract length, with prices starting from £7.50/month on a 24-month contract featuring vehicle location, performance insights and driver behaviour tools.

All tracking systems should include route tracking and route mapping as standard. Let’s see how the different levels of vehicle tracking compare after that:

Entry-level fleet tracking costs (1-50 vehicles)

Entry-level vehicle trackers are often plug-and-go options that you can buy off the shelf from around £50, depending on the manufacturer.

As you’d expect, they are a basic option. They’re usually passive, meaning they collect data but it won’t update automatically or be visible in real time.

If you have a smaller fleet and only need to map and track vehicles, then great – opt for a simple, entry-level tracker. If you’re after more specialised functionality – think traffic updates, fuel tracking and driver alerts – you’ll want something a little more hi-spec. Read on.

Advanced level fleet tracking costs (50-100 vehicles)

You can rent more advanced fleet tracking systems from around £15 per calendar month, or buy for around £200 per device. Depending on your fleet size, this means costs can quickly build up – so make sure you’re getting the best deal you can. If you’re unsure about the best option for you, we can help.

Advanced trackers are typically active – they collect a whole host of data and feed it back in real-time. This works both ways – with an advanced system, drivers can receive alerts from HQ as well as traffic updates.

Of course, this added functionality bumps the price up. But larger fleets in particular find they can recoup this expense quickly as they become more efficient.

Expert level fleet tracking costs (100+)

If you have a fleet of 100 vehicles or more, it’s worthwhile investing in the highest tier of fleet management. These trackers are active, can track individual vehicle and driver performances, and are backed by a range of sophisticated reporting software. They are easily the best option for larger fleets, which face their biggest expenses in terms of fuel, vehicle maintenance and labour costs.

Expert level devices cost upwards of £300. It’s much more common – and cost-effective (in the short run, at least)– to rent one. When leasing, you’ll be looking at a monthly cost of around £20 to £50+ per vehicle, as well as potentially paying for installation.

You may get the tracking hardware thrown in for nothing when you purchase fleet tracking software, too, though for that perk you’ll often be paying upwards of £35 per month on tracking software per vehicle anyway. This is true of Verizon Connect for example, which has a combined tracking software and hardware subscription for around this price.

This may all seem expensive, but the level of sophistication in these devices means they can provide real, tangible cost-saving benefits to your business, which can more than justify your outlay over the length of the contract.

Fleet Tracking: Should You Buy or Rent?

There’s no right or wrong answer. Buying makes sense for some businesses, while others would do better to rent.

So, you’ve decided you need a vehicle tracking solution, and you’ve got a rough idea of how much one might cost. Now, to buy or to rent? That’s the question.

Both have their own benefits and drawbacks. Consider these carefully in order to maximise your return on investment:

Buying a vehicle tracking solution

If your business isn’t likely to change a lot in the near future, and you have the budget available, buying a vehicle tracking system often makes the most sense. Even with the additional costs that can occur, it will almost always work out to be the most cost-effective option over time.

Leasing a vehicle tracking solution

If you decide to rent a vehicle tracking system then you’ll have to pay less initially. However, this comes at the price of ongoing monthly fees, usually for a minimum of 24 months, which can rack up over time.

Renting will make more sense for companies that need the most up-to-date software, or which don’t currently have the budget required to purchase a system outright.

Fleet Tracking Contracts

To get the best deal for your business, pay close attention to the type of vehicle tracking contract you’re signing. Some companies offer flexible pricing, where you pay slightly more upfront for the devices and subsequently pay a lower monthly fee. Likewise, the opposite is also true, so talk with your provider to find the right deal for your business.

There are two main options available to you: perpetual licenses and subscription-based licenses. Both have pros and cons, which we’ll look at in more depth below:

Perpetual licenses

Perpetual licenses require you to buy the fleet tracking devices and software upfront with no restrictions on use.

Subscription-based licenses

With a subscription-based license, you pay a monthly fee in order to continue using the fleet tracking software and devices. Many fleet tracking providers will charge you a modest upfront fee for the devices and then pay the monthly fee afterwards.

Additional Fleet Tracking Costs

Regardless of the contract you sign, keep an eye out for these extra costs:

• Setup and installation costs
• Customisation or bespoke design costs
• The cost of integrating the fleet tracking software with existing systems and software
• Outside technical support for software systems
• Incurring charges if your vehicles travel outside of a certain area, e.g. city limits
• Roaming charges for vehicles using GPS signals outside of city limits
• Termination fees – although these vary by supplier

You can easily identify and budget for these extra costs, just be sure to ask the right questions and read your contract thoroughly.

6 Tips To Save Money on Your Vehicle Tracking

1. Compare quotes

Yes, it’s an obvious one – but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t collect a variety of tracker prices before making their choice. It could save you money, and needn’t be a hassle. Fill in our free comparison form to get quotes from up to four Expert Market-approved suppliers — hassle-free!

2. Be wary of longer contracts

If you do opt for renting, look at how long you’ll be tied into a contract for. If it’s a number of years, think about looking for a different option, or reconsider buying a system outright. Also be wary of contracts that renew automatically.

3. Check your tracking system is scalable

Your vehicle tracker should help your business grow, not become an obstacle. Check out the prices and protocol for adding more vehicles to your system. If it seems complicated or costly, it might be better to look elsewhere.

4. Double check the equipment

This doesn’t mean manually examine every tracking device you’ll be using, but check whether the SIM cards in the GPS trackers are locked to a single network. Locked SIMs can struggle for signal in remote areas, making your vehicle tracking system redundant. A SIM card that works with multiple networks should have no trouble finding signal whenever, wherever.

5. Check how often the GPS ping updates

An industry standard GPS updates itself with a fresh location ping about every two to five minutes. However, opting for slower pings can result in a cheaper monthly bill, although at the cost of reduced tracking and location accuracy. Higher frequency pings increase accuracy and the amount of data tracked, but will be more expensive in the long run – think about which should be a priority for you.

6. Find out what training is provided

A tracking system that seems cost effective can quickly become less appealing if you can’t get it to work properly! Most suppliers tend to include some complimentary training as standard, but it’s good to be clear on how many employees this extends to, and whether support will be ongoing.

Next Steps: How To Get Your Fleet Tracker

When it comes to choosing and paying for a vehicle tracker, you’ve got plenty of options. Expert Market is here to help find the right choice for you.

Our team fully researches all articles and has an excellent relationship with some of the best suppliers around. We can help you find the best deal for your fleet.

Start saving money on fuel costs and improve productivity by getting your free vehicle tracking price quotes today. Simply fill in our free comparison tool with information about your fleet, and we’ll match you up with the vehicle tracking system companies that can best cater to your needs. They’ll then be in touch directly with tailored, no-obligation quotes, and answers to your questions. It’s a fast and easy way to compare the right systems for you.