What is it?

There are plenty of GPS car trackers on the market but the Trusted Trackers AudioGuard is at the top end. Indeed, the AudioGuard is the brand's flagship tracker and uses the latest tech while including a host of features. These include 4G rather than 2G for better tracking performance and an AI system called Noise Ninja that will automatically start recording (in high definition audio) when noise is detected.

It uses real-time tracking, providing location updates every five seconds and through the TrackMaster app you can set up alerts for harsh driving, exceeding set speed limits and leaving designated areas. Rather than needing to be professionally installed, the AudioGuard is merely a small device that plugs directly into your vehicle's OBD port.

Trusted Trackers says it sets 'a new standard in vehicle tracking and security' which goes some way to justify the £250 price tag and £150 a year subscription cost, although the first year subscription is thrown in free of charge. You can but it directly from Trusted Trackers.

What's it like?

The Trusted Tracker AudioGuard is a small unassuming black unit that plugs into the OBD port in your car. If you don't know what that is, don't worry. OBD stands for on board diagnostics and it's a small port usually under the driver's side dashboard. It's how mechanics diagnose problems with your car. It should be very easy to find but a quick look at your handbook will explain where it is. 

All you have to do is plug the AudioGuard unit in, download the TrackMaster app onto your phone and you're ready to go. We had zero issues setting ours up on our 2020 Audi e-tron and once signed into the app, it was instantly working.

The app itself is easy to use with a simple dashboard showing you the vehicle status and a map for location. Usefully there are plenty of reports you can dive into including trip history (although only for the past 31 days) and a 'violation log.' It's clear the app is designed for fleets rather than individuals but it works well nonetheless. The alerts for harsh driving and exceeding speed limits prove very interesting...

The GeoFence feature is another useful feature. You can set an area on the map (although it's a bit fiddly on the app) and it will alert you if the car enters or exits it. It's a shame you can't set this for ULEZ zones or similar as that would perhaps prove more useful. 

In our six months testing the AudioGuard, we found it be exceptionally reliable. We didn't have any connection issues and it didn't crash or need resetting. Instead it went about its business with no fuss. 

The NoiseNinja feature is interesting, recording even the quietest of sounds automatically if it detects noise. The recording is uploaded to the app so you have a record available. You may feel uncomfortable listening in to conversations of others, indeed this raises questions about intrusion into others privacy, but in the event of an accident or incident, having the sound recording could prove incredibly useful. Similarly if your car is stolen, the AudioGuard will record any conversations, as long as it is still plugged in. 

Should I buy one?

It's likely you have one of two reasons for buying a tracker. Either as a device to track your car should it be stolen or as a way of keeping tabs on your car when others are driving it. That may sound a bit big brother but for worried parents it's a useful way of keeping an eye on where (and how) your offspring are driving.

If you're looking for the former, the AudioGuard is unlikely to be your best bet. Given that many car thieves steal vehicles using the OBD port, anything they find plugged in is going to be flung out the window and into the nearest ditch. For £250 you'd be better off with something like the Tracker Retrieve, which has the big advantage of being covertly installed.

Where the AudioGuard excels is as a tracking device for shared cars or for parents worried about their son or daughter getting their first set of wheels. But why should you buy it over a cheap Tile tracker that you can get from Halfords for £25 for example?

Well the Trusted Trackers AudioGuard is far more than merely a location device. Thanks to the in-depth TrackMaster app it has huge functionality, allowing you to not only see, in real time, where your car is, but also how the car is being driven. Alerts for going over the speed limit or harsh driving are very useful. 

For parents of new drivers we think it's an ideal way of encouraging good driving and keeping them safe out there. Plus if their car breaks down, you can instantly see where it is and direct the breakdown recovery. Similarly, if you share your car with others, it's ideal for keeping track on how and where it's being driven.