Vehicle tracking is not just about fitting a tracking device into a certain vehicle and letting another remote piece of hardware home in on the device whenever the need arises. Vehicle tracking is a technology, and like most technologies it has undergone great changes ever since it was first introduced for use within the shipping industry. In addition, like most technologies, vehicle tracking requires a system of some sort for it to operate to its fullest potential.

A vehicle tracking system is a set or collection of electronic devices used to track down the located of a certain vehicle by its owners or other third party groups. The scope of these systems also includes the protocol these electronic devices use in order to communicate with each other and perform their functions as intended.

Popular vehicle tracking systems used today include:

LoJack - LoJack is a vehicle tracking system developed and manufactured by LoJack Corporation. Its name, LoJack, is a rather comical derivative of the term "hijack".

GPS has many user-friendly functions. For one, because it uses satellite tracking, it doesn't need a direct line with the sky. This makes it more efficient and reliable in numerous ways. GPS's efficiency is even preferred by numerous law enforcing automobiles, and it's considered their most common way of tracking vehicles.

LoJack - This tracking device is developed and produced by Lojack Corporation. The name "LoJack" is supposed to be a humorous word coined from the word "hijack".

According to tests, LoJack has a 90% efficiency rate when it comes to vehicle recovery. There are also studies saying that LoJack and tracking systems like it don't only stop carjackers from escaping with the vehicle, but they also lessen carjacking crimes in general. It's a very effective type of vehicle tracking system.

Another type of vehicle tracking systems is the LORAN, which uses radio frequency similar to LoJack.