GPS tracking laws in the UK, what is legal and what you need to know

GPS tracking of vehicles and assets is lawful in the UK in most circumstances, but the legal framework varies significantly depending on who is doing the tracking, what they are tracking, and why. UK GDPR, employment law, and the Protection from Harassment Act all have relevance to different GPS tracking scenarios. LockCar explains the legal framework clearly for personal vehicle owners, employers, and fleet operators.

Tracking your own vehicle

Fitting a GPS tracker to your own vehicle for security purposes is entirely lawful. The vehicle owner has a clear legitimate interest in tracking their own property for theft prevention and recovery. This applies whether the vehicle is used solely by the owner or by other household members who are aware of the tracking.

Employer tracking of company vehicles

Employers may lawfully track company vehicles under UK GDPR using legitimate interests as the lawful basis, provided they notify employees in writing of the tracking, have a documented purpose that is proportionate to the monitoring, and retain data only for as long as necessary. Covert tracking of employees without their knowledge is generally not lawful unless there is a specific justifiable reason such as a suspected criminal investigation.

The ICO has published guidance on employee monitoring that sets out the practical requirements. A written vehicle monitoring policy provided to all employees before tracking commences, covering what data is collected, how it is used, how long it is retained, and who has access, satisfies the transparency requirement.

Tracking someone else’s vehicle

Fitting a GPS tracker to a vehicle you do not own, without the owner’s consent, is not lawful. Depending on the circumstances, it may constitute criminal damage, harassment, or a GDPR breach. Even in domestic situations such as tracking a partner’s vehicle without consent, the Protection from Harassment Act may apply if the tracking causes distress.

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