What Are Vehicle Trackers? What Those in Auto Sales School Should Know

Buying a car is a pretty big purchase. For many, it can be a little nerve-wracking, especially if they’ve sprung for their dream car. They might worry about it getting scratched or dinged. Or they might even worry that it could get stolen. Fortunately, safety tech has come a long way, and there’s a lot to put customer minds at ease. 

How can vehicle trackers help, and what information can you pass along to nervous buyers?

Here’s a look at some important facts about this security technology!

Car Theft Is a Common Concern for Customers

If you have a customer who’s a little worried about their car being stolen, that concern might be coming from a very reasonable place. In fact, car theft is fairly common in Canada. According to the RCMP, a car is stolen approximately every seven minutes. Perhaps more worrying still is that it also cautions that “an experienced thief can steal a car in as little as 30 seconds”.

However, you might be surprised to find out which cars are most likely to be targeted. The Insurance Bureau of Canada noted that in 2019, among the top ten cars stolen, the majority were Ford F350s from various model years. This shows that even buyers of second-hand cars might be right to be worried—especially if they’ve sprung for a Ford pickup truck. 

What Auto Sales School Students Might Want to Know About Vehicle Trackers

So, given how common vehicle theft is, what can salespeople say to soothe nervous buyers? Fortunately, quite a few tech developments have taken place over the years, so there’s a lot of advice professionals can give during their auto careers

While decades ago, loud car alarms that went off all the time might have been one of the few options available, there are a few sleeker and better ways for car owners to keep their new purchases safe. Vehicle trackers are discreet, and rather than prevent the initial theft from happening, they make sure that whoever tries to steal the car is quickly found. In fact, this technology is especially popular with truck fleets, car rental companies, and other commercial enterprises. If one of their vehicles is stolen, the information from the tracker can be used to quickly locate the car and catch the people behind the theft. 

Graduates of auto sales school may also know that some car insurance companies also use vehicle tracking technology as an app or an installed device. Drivers who agree to this option are often rewarded with a discount, which can be especially handy for those looking to keep their car costs down. 

Legalities Around Vehicle Trackers

While vehicle trackers are a handy anti-theft device, their tracking abilities are something that regulatory bodies are mindful of. That’s why there are a few laws and legalities surrounding their use and installation. For example, while car owners can have a vehicle tracker installed on their car, they can’t have one added to another person’s car unless that person knows about it and has given their permission. This means that parents can’t secretly install a tracking device on their teen’s car to keep tabs on them. Even police must obtain a specific warrant in order to place a tracking device on a vehicle. This helps to maintain privacy and prevent vehicle trackers from being used for reasons other than safety and theft prevention. 

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