There is a wide range of car tracker products and services on the market, some more advanced and more expensive and other basic GPS versions that are much more affordable but what is “best” depends more on your needs than the actual products and packages on offer.
In this article, I list the top 5 car tracking companies (in my opinion) to make it easier for you to select the best option for your needs. At the end, you’ll also find some information about Track My Stuff, a company that will help you gather and compare a range of quotes from some of the top tracking companies (all four of the first companies on our list).
Make sure you don’t opt for the most comprehensive packages only to never use the additional services it comes with. If you’re not interested in tracking mileage or driver behaviour or work from home, don’t get the R300 per month packages, it’s a waste of resources.
This is another reason why I suggest you use Track My Stuff, they’ll ask you what it is you need and make sure you don’t end up with the most expensive package only to never use a single feature it offers.
The below car tracking companies are listed in ALPHABETICAL ORDER – while I’ve tried to list all the features and all the packages on offer, this list is not all-inclusive.
1. Beame
Link to their website: beam-e.com
Beame is one of MiX Telematics’ brands and is on the fast track to becoming one of the country’s most popular wireless car tracker and recovery products. They have a reliable network of recovery agents across the country and will quickly track and recover your stolen vehicle.
Their tracker is completely wireless and can quickly and easily be installed into any vehicle from a motorbike to a large truck. You’ll need to have the battery replaced in three years’ time – something which is done at no additional charge.
They’re accepted by all major South African insurers and recommended by many including Outsurance and King Price. They have around 250 fitment centres across the country, so you can rest assured that you can easily find and get to one without much effort.
Beame’s packages and plans
Beame’s basic package offers:
- A lifetime warranty on installation and replacements of the wireless device – absolutely free
- Quick installation since the Beame device is wireless and battery-powered
- Jamming detection – their control centre will be alerted automatically
- Access to Beame’s Smartphone App that lets you check the status of your device battery, report your vehicle stolen, and more
Beame Protect includes:
- A lifetime warranty on installation and replacements of the wireless device – absolutely free
- Quick installation since the Beame device is wireless and battery-powered
- Jamming detection – their control centre will be alerted automatically
- Access to Beame’s Smartphone App that lets you check the status of your device battery, report your vehicle stolen, and more
- Accident assist
- Fines assist
- License assist
- Pothole assist
- Bail assist
Beame monthly costs
Beame starts from 142.22 per month which gives you access to all the features you really need. You will also have to pay a once-off administrative fee of R150 which can be done online via cheque or credit card payment.
Sign up for Beame online
You can make use of Beame’s website to sign up for their services. You will need to complete a form online and provide, your ID number, vehicle registration or VIN number, and your banking details.
2. Ctrack
Link to their website: c-track.com
While Ctrack is more known to be a provider of fleet tracking services, they also offer personal vehicle tracking and stolen vehicle recovery. Their packages range from a simple insurance-focused plan to a more comprehensive plan with lots of added benefits.
Ctrack Secure offers:
- View the status of your vehicle from any device
- No-go area alerts
- Battery system and tamper warning alerts
- Accident and rollover detection
- App called Ctrack Mobi
- Trip reports
You can add their Backup product which offers stolen vehicle response and an automatic health check. In addition to this, you can also opt in for their value-added services which include:
- SOS panic
- Emergency medical response
- Medical transport and guaranteed acceptance into hospital
- Towing and roadside assistance
- Legal and medical assistance
- Access to medical advice and medical assistance hotlines
3. Matrix
Link to their website: matrix.co.za
If you’re looking to secure your vehicle – and peace of mind, Matrix offers a reliable car tracker and recovery service. As a customer-centric company, they offer great customer service and you can rest assured that their capable recovery personnel will ensure quick and effective tracking and recovery.
Matrix payment options
Their packages allow you to either pay off the hardware as part of your monthly instalment or purchase the hardware upfront and enjoy the lower monthly instalment.
MX1 Core Security offers:
- 24-hour access to Matrix recovery services
- Stolen vehicle recovery at no additional cost
- Vehicle positioning pinpointing
- Ability to track your vehicle even in basements and under cover
- Dedicated recovery teams at your service
The MX1 costs R116 per month with the upfront hardware payment and R160 per month without it.
MX2 Safety Enhancer offers:
- 24-hour access to Matrix recovery services
- Stolen vehicle recovery at no additional cost
- Vehicle positioning pinpointing
- Ability to track your vehicle even in basements and under cover
- Dedicated recovery teams at your service
- Advanced alert features that notify you when your vehicle is moved without consent
- Boarder alerts
- A panic remote for added safety
The MX2 costs R201 with the upfront hardware payment or R267 without it.
MX3 Advanced Safety offers:
- 24-hour access to Matrix recovery services
- Stolen vehicle recovery at no additional cost
- Vehicle positioning pinpointing
- Ability to track your vehicle even in basements and under-cover
- Dedicated recovery teams at your service
- Advanced alert features that notify you when your vehicle is moved without consent
- Boarder alerts
- A panic remote for added safety
- Internet and App vehicle tracking
- Harsh event reports in the event of an accident
- Automated Tax logbook that uses GPS
- Roadside and medical assistance
- Driver no-go zones
This package costs R217 per month without the upfront hardware payment or R318 per month if you prefer to pay the hardware off.
4. Netstar
Link to their website: netstar.co.za
As the pioneer of the vehicle recovery industry in South Africa, they’re a trusted brand that offers personal, business, and commercial car trackers and vehicle recovery services. They also provide a range of fleet management and tracking solutions as well as insurance vehicle telematics.
They boast a 90% vehicle recovery rate and offer one of the lowest monthly plans on the market at just R99 per month. What I specifically like about them is that they offer simplicity as well as more complex service add-ons which means you get to choose how much, or how little, you need.
Netstar Nano offers:
- Stolen vehicle recovery
- A fitment certificate for your insurance company
- A wireless tracker with a three-year battery life
- This package will cost you R99 per month for 36 months
Netstar Basic offers:
- Stolen vehicle recovery
- A fitment certificate for your insurance company
- A wireless tracker with a three-year battery life
- Signal jamming alert
- Impact detection
- Battery disconnect alert
- This package will cost you R139 per month for 36 months
Netstar Plus offers:
- Stolen vehicle recovery
- A fitment certificate for your insurance company
- A wireless tracker with a three-year battery life
- Signal jamming alert
- Impact detection
- Battery disconnect alert
- Tracking via the internet and their App
- Logbook for Tax purposes
- Driver behaviour reporting
- Car park jamming alert
- This package will cost you R169 per month for 36 months
Netstar Early Warning offers:
- Stolen vehicle recovery
- A fitment certificate for your insurance company
- A wireless tracker with a three-year battery life
- Signal jamming alert
- Impact detection
- Battery disconnect alert
- Tracking via the internet and their App
- Logbook for Tax purposes
- Driver behaviour reporting
- Car park jamming alert
- Auto-arm proximity tag
- A wireless panic button
- Early theft warning alert
- Tow-away alert
- This package will cost you R199 per month for 36 months
5. Tracker
Link to their website: tracker.co.za
Probably South Africa’s most well-known stolen vehicle recovery company. With over 20 years in the industry, they’ve served the people of South Africa well and have earned their well-deserved reputation.
Tracker has over a million subscribers
They currently have over a million active car tracker subscribers but you may be surprised to find that tracking vehicles are not all that they do. With a host of data, they’ve essentially become a data company focused on vehicle telematics. This is essentially vehicle communication technology at its finest.
How to get Tracker for your vehicle
You’ll likely be automatically connected to Tracker through a dealer, insurance provider, or your vehicle’s original equipment manufacturer but, if not you can visit their website and request a tracker quote.
Tracker monthly costs
Tracker offers private vehicle owners tracking services starting at R179 per month (this is for their most basic plan). You will obviously pay more if you opt to have the installation fees spread out over your 36-month contract. Ideally, you can pay the installation fee upfront and reduce your monthly Tracker installment.
Recover (their most basic plan) includes:
- Theft retrieval
- App and web access to monitor your car’s location
- License reminders for both your driving and car licenses
- A vehicle expense log for everything from fuel to maintenance
- Trip logbook allows you to log mileage for business and private needs
Trackers Protect package offers:
- Theft retrieval
- App and web access to monitor your car’s location
- In-app car guard that allows you to set a specific location for your car and be notified immediately if it moves
- License reminders for both your driving and car licenses
- A vehicle expense log for everything from fuel to maintenance
- Risk notifications that will let you know when your battery has been disconnected or when high-risk events such as border crossing or entry in high-risk areas are detected
- Trip logbook allows you to log mileage for business and private needs
Care, Trackers most comprehensive plan offers:
- Theft retrieval connected to their extensive national track and recovery network
- Location tracking uses GPS and GSM to let Tracker’s monitoring centre where your car is
- Reports on your vehicle that can be used for any purpose
- App and web access to monitor your car’s location
- In-app car guard that allows you to set a specific location for your car and be notified immediately if it moves
- License reminders for both your driving and car licenses
- A vehicle expense log for everything from fuel to maintenance
- Roadside and medical assistance can be activated via your Assist Button
- Service reminders a month before your next service is due
- Share My Journey allows you to let your family know where you are via the Tracker App where they can monitor your journey and safe arrival
- Risk notifications that will let you know when your battery has been disconnected or when high-risk events such as border crossing or entry in high-risk areas are detected
- Trip logbook allows you to log mileage for business and private needs
- Zones management allows you to set safe and no-go zones on a map and will notify you when it happens
- Accident assistance sends out medical and towing help if your vehicle is involved in an accident
- Impact detection allows Tracker to detect when your car has been involved in any sort of accident or incident that caused a detectable impact
How to choose a vehicle tracking provider
You can make use of Track My Stuff and quickly and easily obtain multiple car tracker quotes from the first four car tracking companies listed above. Track My Stuff offers a reliable quote service (just like Hippo does for insurance quotes!) and will help you find the most suitable and affordable option for you.
You can also read our article about how to get tracker quotes online that will explain the Track My Stuff service in more detail should you wish to make use of their free service.
Do you currently subscribe to any of the above car tracker services? Let us know your experience with them or leave a review down below to help others decide which option to go for!
Pls call me
If you need a Tracker call me on [not allowed].
Car tracker
I need car track that I can view the movement, listen to the voice, disconnect and connect power by using cell phone please
hi Cyril I hope this finds you well, i would love to assist you with a tracking unit for your car.
Good day.
please share the tracker company that has that device.
please email me at boitumelojabu37@gmail.com
I need a car tracker which will update me with every movement of vehicle,listen to the voice through cellphone,roadside assistance,recovery if stolen.
Hi Nosipho
Send me your contact details on [not allowed]
Can you track ny tv please
Hi , I trust that you are well I work for a tracking company that can assist you with a recovery warranty if your vehicle does not get recovered and gives you a discount of up to 40% if you have insurance… There is much more benefits for you as the client but for more information just send me a whatsapp/call
Thank you
I need a quote for my car. It will operate under bolt service so I need strong tracker to keep me informed the whereabout of my car.
belony. there is no way netstar with their pathetic service recover 90%, to my knowledge, Cartrack is the only tracking company with an independent audit of their recovery rate and that rate was standing at 94%, Tracker is the best known tracking company but is owned by a british company i believe, they are not even a registered security company and falls undr MRI motor retail industry, netstar cant find a bee in a beehive, they have no knowledge of how to serve people with after sales issues, C track has the worst fitments i have witnessed in my life, Matrix is the best of the useless group in the author’s experiance, Cartrack uses a simular device wich they refer to as a mini track, wireless and has no gsm network, but is potent as hell, fitted to all high risk vehicles at NO COST TO THE CLIENT, and the reason for this is because Cartrack offer a R150 000 to R1000 000 recovery assurance, thats how dedicated this company is and how sure they are to recover a stolen vehicle, regardless of wether the client has insurance or not. adding to that, the author makes mention of how big Tracker is, Cartrack has a netional footprint exceeding 1.5 million subscribers, they are also very very wel represented with equal succes in 23 countries accross the entire world, they offer everything everyone else offer from as little as R99?month, they also offer unique stuff like carwatch and vehicle immobilitation from their easy to use convenient app, added to all the above< Cartrack has unique to this industry, advance fitment methods that is second to none.
so to the author, you realy realy should not comment on trtacking companies based on your own experiace, that experiance is extremely limmited, and comparing apples with apples can only be achieved if you had knowledge of all the Tracking companies, not just 5, so i end where i started, your view based on your experiances should have been kept to yourselve, as all of it is BALONI
Had three appointments with Cartrack for installation. Each time no go.
Have cancelled with them.
hi Martiens I hope this finds you well, i would love to assist you with a tracking unit for your car.
Hy please call me [not allowed]
hi Martiens I hope this finds you well, I would love to assist you with the application for your tracker.
thank you
Hi im from Matrix .can i be of assistance to you?
Yes please.. need 4 magnetic hidden wireless cameras with power bank of 12 hours witth night vision feature.
Cartrack is a useless company, my car was stolen they didn’t find it and they refused to pay my car. I reported 3 days before my car was stolen that the tracking device is not working, they did promise to send technician and check it but they never did. Today I don’t have a car because of them. I HATE them
I like the honest and concise response.
Do yourself a favour and steer clear of any and all deals with Matrix or Beamme.
Their service is rubbish. Their reporting is inaccurate. They do not respond to downgrades. You wait for over 18x minutes on voice calls and still they are not answered. They do not respond within 48x hours to cancellation appointment requests. Their billing is not up to date and so they force you to wait for 30x days. They force their customers after all of the above to still pay for a deinstallation.
I cannot agree with you more
In February 2022 Absa bank paid matrix 36 months in advance for my tracker. After 8 months covered by matrix I decided to cancel the tracker for other reasons but also I discovered that, phone calls are never answered in this company. So because Hyundai was the one that negotiated with matrix gave me a number of the regional manager by the name of Shannon Henderson. I managed to get hold of her and I told her I wanted to cancel my contract with matrix. She cancel my tracker with immediate effect and sent confirmation via my email and did not mention anything regarding my refund. when a called her again she told me she was going to speak with the relevant department and will inform me of how much will be refunded. Until today there has been no feedback from her she is just not answering my emails and phone calls now. To everyone reading this post stay away from matrix company they are scammers! And I have contacted the consumer protector still waiting for their response.
I want to put tracking device on my car .soon as possible
Hi may i be of assistance? I can install your vehicles with Matrix.
I need a quote for my car. It will operate under bolt service so I need strong tracker to keep me informed the whereabout of my car.
Need a tracking system that is Santam approved. Must be a home installation as I can not take the vehicle to a install center. Price range between R99-R160.
I’ve had the old school original Tracker since 2008, this company is simply the best, they recovered my Polo GTi 20 min after it was stolen. Excellent service centre assistance when you are driving in high risk area’s and they once helped me to navigate to my destination when I got lost at night without networking signal, yes they aren’t the cheapest but you get value for money.
What about Fidelity SecureDrive
Please remove Tracker from the list. They do not deserve to be on it!
Would give 0 stars if I could. Do not go with Tracker, you will regret it. Terrible service and unprofessional. Charged me for a tracker they never installed. Sporadically I get calls/texts from them asking for money even though I cancelled my account A YEAR AGO and paid everything in full. They ignore every email you send to them about it. TRULY USELESS! Never seen a company with such bad manners and admin.
I’m not the only one. There are more than 2000 terrible reviews for them: https://www.hellopeter.com/tracker-connect?page=1