RE Auto Solutions Blog

Straight answers,
no sales pitch.

Practical guides on car trackers, dash cams, fleet cameras and asset tracking in South Africa — written by the people who install this equipment, not a marketing team.

AirTag vs a Dedicated GPS Tracker: Which Actually Protects Your Car?

An Apple AirTag is cheap and easy to hide in a car. A dedicated GPS tracker isn't. Here's the honest, practical difference for South African drivers.

Do You Still Need a Car Tracker If Your Insurer Already Requires One?

What 'requires a tracker' actually means on a South African car insurance policy, and how a missing or lapsed tracker can get a claim denied entirely.

Is It Legal to Record Inside Your Car in South Africa?

What South African law actually says about dash cams, cabin audio, and using footage as evidence — explained in plain language, not legalese.

Does Load Shedding Affect Your GPS Tracker or Dash Cam?

Your car's electrical system doesn't care about load shedding — but your tracker's network coverage might. Here's what actually happens during an outage.

How to Register Your Dashcam on the Uber App (Step-by-Step)

A step-by-step walkthrough for South African Uber and Bolt drivers: how dashcam registration actually works, and what footage protects you in a dispute.

GPS Tracker vs Telematics: What's the Actual Difference?

Telematics gets used as a fancier word for GPS tracking, but it actually describes something broader. Here's the real distinction, in plain language.

What to Check Before You Sign a Tracker Contract in South Africa

A tracker contract is a multi-year commitment, not just a device purchase. Here's what to actually read before you sign, not after a problem shows up.

Why Bakkies Are South Africa's Most Stolen Vehicles, and How to Protect Yours

Double-cab bakkies consistently top South Africa's vehicle theft statistics. Here's the actual reason why, and what genuinely reduces the risk.

Is It Legal to Track Employees' Company Vehicles in South Africa?

Tracking company vehicles is generally legal in South Africa — but POPIA sets real conditions around disclosure and fair use that employers need to get right.

Uber and Bolt Drivers: Why a Tracker Is a Business Tool, Not Just Security

For e-hailing drivers, a GPS tracker isn't only about theft recovery — it's route proof, dispute evidence, and a way to protect your income, not just your car.

Do Trackers Still Work in Areas With No Cellular Signal?

Farms, remote roads, and mountain passes can have patchy cellular coverage. Here's what actually happens to a GPS tracker when there's no signal to report over.

What to Do in the First 10 Minutes After Your Car Is Stolen

The first few minutes after realising your car is gone genuinely matter. Here's the practical order of steps, tracker or not.

Asset Tracking Beyond Cars: Trailers, Generators and Equipment

Vehicles aren't the only thing worth tracking. Here's how asset tracking works for generators, equipment and other high-value, easily moved items.

CANBUS vs Basic GPS Trackers: What's the Real Difference?

CANBUS tracking reads data straight from your car's own computer. Here's what that actually adds over a basic GPS tracker, and when it's worth paying for.

Buying a Used Car? Here's How to Check If It Already Has a Tracker

A used car can come with a tracker already fitted — sometimes still reporting to the previous owner. Here's how to actually check, and what to do about it.

Once-Off vs Subscription Trackers: Which Costs Less Over Five Years?

A once-off tracker purchase and a monthly subscription model can end up costing very different amounts over time. Here's how to actually run the comparison.

Does Fitting a Tracker Actually Lower Your Car Insurance Premium?

Insurers treat a tracker as a genuine risk reducer, not just a checkbox — here's how it actually affects your premium, and what determines the size of the saving.

Catalytic Converter Theft in South Africa: Can a Tracker Actually Help?

Catalytic converter theft takes minutes and often happens while the car is parked at home. Here's what a standard vehicle tracker can and can't do about it.

Kids' GPS Watches vs Vehicle Trackers: Why They're Not the Same Job

A GPS smartwatch and a vehicle tracker solve completely different problems, even though both show a moving dot on a map. Here's the actual difference.

Tracking a Teen Driver: Spying, or Just Being a Responsible Parent?

Tracking a new driver's car raises real questions about trust. Here's a practical, honest way to think about it — and how to actually talk to your teen about it.

Motorbike GPS Trackers: What Riders in South Africa Need to Know

Motorbikes get stolen fast and disappear faster than cars. Here's what actually matters when choosing a tracker built for a bike, not a car.

Trailer and Caravan Tracking: Protecting What's Behind Your Bakkie

Trailers and caravans have no ignition, no immobiliser, and often no tracker — which is exactly why they're an easy, quiet target. Here's what to do about it.

Fleet Tracking for Small Businesses: Do You Actually Need It?

Fleet tracking isn't just for large logistics operations. Here's how to tell whether it's worth it for a small business running just a handful of vehicles.

South Africa's Hijacking Hotspots: What the Data Actually Shows

Hijacking risk in South Africa isn't spread evenly — certain provinces, times of day and road types show up disproportionately in the statistics.

The Most Hijacked and Stolen Cars in South Africa Right Now

Certain makes and models are consistently targeted more than others in South Africa. Here's why, and what it actually means for your own risk.

GPS Jamming: How Hijackers Try to Beat Trackers (and How Trackers Fight Back)

GPS jamming devices are real and cheaply available online. Here's how they actually work, and what modern trackers do to stay ahead of them.

Five Signs Your Car Tracker Isn't Actually Working

A tracker that's silently stopped working is worse than no tracker at all, because you think you're covered. Here's how to actually check.

Can You Install a GPS Tracker Yourself, or Do You Need a Professional?

Plug-and-play OBD trackers make DIY installation look easy. Here's what you actually gain and lose compared to a professional, hardwired install.

Selling Your Car? Here's What Happens to Your Tracker

A fitted GPS tracker doesn't automatically follow you or disappear when you sell your car. Here's what to actually check before you hand over the keys.

What Happens After You Report Your Car Stolen With a Tracker Fitted?

A walkthrough of what actually happens, step by step, once you call your tracker's monitoring centre after a theft or hijacking in South Africa.

Immobiliser vs Tracker: What's the Difference, and Do You Need Both?

An immobiliser stops your engine from starting. A tracker finds your car after it's gone. They solve different problems — here's how to think about which one you need.

How Much Does a Car Tracker Actually Cost in South Africa?

A realistic breakdown of what car tracking actually costs in South Africa — installation, monthly fees, and the extra line items people forget to budget for.

Is a Car Tracker Legally Compulsory in South Africa?

There's no national law forcing every driver to fit a tracker — but a web of insurance, finance and bank conditions makes it compulsory in practice for many.

Tracker vs Netstar vs Cartrack: Which Is Actually Best in South Africa?

A plain comparison of South Africa's three biggest vehicle tracking brands — what genuinely differs between them, and what matters less than the marketing suggests.