Usually only on a vehicle you own. Putting a tracker on a car titled to someone else — even a spouse — is illegal in a lot of states, and can run into stalking and privacy laws even where there's no tracker statute.
Whose car is it, really?
The whole question turns on ownership. If the vehicle is titled to you — or jointly to you and your spouse — you generally have the right to put a tracker on your own property. If the car is titled solely to the other person, you're attaching a device to their property and monitoring their movements, which many states treat as illegal electronic tracking.
"Marital property" muddies this. A car used by both spouses but titled to one person is still, legally, that person's vehicle in most states — being married doesn't automatically give you the right to track it.
What to watch out for
Even states without a specific GPS statute can treat covert tracking as stalking or harassment. And in a divorce or custody case, evidence that you secretly tracked someone often hurts you more than it helps.
Location data gathered illegally can be thrown out and can expose you to criminal or civil liability. Where the answer above is anything but a clean "legal," don't rely on a tracker before talking to a lawyer.
What a licensed investigator can legally do
A licensed private investigator generally can't place a tracker on a vehicle you don't own either — the ownership rule binds them too. What they do instead is lawful:
- Mobile and stationary surveillance — following and documenting movement in public, where there's no expectation of privacy.
- Timestamped photo and video logs that stand up because they were gathered legally.
If anyone offers to "just slap a tracker on it," that's a red flag — it's illegal for them too.
Get this handled the right way
Know what's legal where you are, then connect with a licensed investigator who can document movement so it counts.
Start a caseGeneral legal information only, not legal advice. No attorney–client or investigator relationship is created by reading this.
This guide is general legal information, not legal advice, and laws change. GPS tracking and surveillance can carry criminal and civil penalties. Confirm the current law for your state at the official code and consult a licensed attorney before tracking anyone.