Quick Answer
Vimcar is the best fit for most small trades with 2-10 vans: self-install OBD dongle, no engineer required, from £7.90/vehicle/month on a 24-month term. Quartix is the runner-up at a similar price with excellent UK support and no auto-renewals. Teletrac Navman is a serious enterprise platform but the pricing and contract terms are overkill for anyone running under 15 vehicles. Basic GPS devices (£80-200 one-off, no monthly fee) are worth considering if you only need theft recovery with no reporting requirements.
Table of Contents
- Why fleet tracking matters in 2026
- The options compared
- Vimcar deep dive
- Teletrac Navman deep dive
- Quartix deep dive
- When basic GPS beats a subscription
- Head-to-head comparison table
- Pricing at a glance
- Calculate your fleet ROI
- Watch: fleet tracking guides
- What UK trades are saying
- Review sentiment
- The verdict
- FAQs
Why fleet tracking matters in 2026
Van theft is up 35% since 2021 according to Home Office crime statistics. Fuel prices have stayed stubbornly high. Insurers now regularly ask whether you have tracking fitted before quoting. And HMRC mileage record-keeping requirements have not softened. For any trades business running two or more vehicles, tracking is no longer optional; it is baseline compliance and cost management.
But the market is messy. You have enterprise platforms built for 50-van haulage firms trying to sell into 4-van electrical contractors. You have subscription trackers at every price point from £3 to £45/month. And you have a growing category of one-off-purchase GPS devices that do the job without ongoing fees. This article cuts through the noise and tells you what is actually worth buying for a small UK trades fleet in 2026.
The options compared
There are four realistic options for a trades fleet in 2026. Two are subscription platforms aimed at SMEs (Vimcar and Quartix), one is an enterprise platform (Teletrac Navman), and the fourth is the growing category of one-off GPS hardware with no monthly fee. Each serves a different type of business.
Vimcar
Teletrac Navman
Quartix
Vimcar: best for small trades fleets
Vimcar launched in Germany in 2013, entered the UK market in 2020, and has built a strong reputation as the go-to tracker for SMEs who want professional fleet data without enterprise complexity. The hardware is an OBD2 plug-in dongle: plug it into the diagnostic port under the dashboard and you are live within minutes. No wiring, no engineer, no downtime.
The app covers live location, trip history, driver behaviour, mileage logs (HMRC-compliant), and basic route analysis. The more expensive tiers add driver identification (via NFC key fob), maintenance reminders, and speed alerts. For most plumbing, electrical, or building firms with under 10 vans, the entry tier covers everything you actually need.
Vimcar
Self-install OBD dongle. Live tracking, trip history, HMRC mileage logs, driver behaviour scoring. From £7.90/vehicle/month on 24-month contract. No professional install required. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Lowest entry price for a quality subscription tracker
- Self-install in under 30 seconds, no electrician needed
- HMRC-compliant mileage log built in
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Clean app with no learning curve
- NFC driver ID on higher tiers
Cons
- OBD dongle requires a spare OBD port (most modern vans have one)
- Fewer integrations than enterprise platforms
- No built-in dashcam option
- 24-month contract required for best price
Best for: Electrical, plumbing, heating, or general building firms with 2-15 vans who want reliable tracking and HMRC logs without enterprise complexity.
Vimcar pricing (February 2026)
Monthly: £11.90/vehicle/month • 12-month: £9.90/vehicle/month • 24-month: £7.90/vehicle/month. Hardware (OBD dongle) included. VAT at 20% applies. The 24-month contract is the sweet spot; the saving versus monthly works out at £48/vehicle/year.
Teletrac Navman: enterprise-grade fleet management
Teletrac Navman is a different beast. The company was founded in the US in 1988 and is now part of the Fortive Corporation, a £24bn industrial technology group. Their UK platform, DIRECTOR, is a comprehensive fleet management suite: real-time tracking, driver behaviour, compliance reporting (tachograph integration, DVSA Earned Recognition), fuel management, dashcam integration, and full workshop maintenance scheduling.
For a 50-van national construction firm with a transport manager and compliance obligations, it is an excellent system. For a 5-van roofing contractor who just wants to know where their drivers are and stop fuel being siphoned, it is far too much. Getting a price from Teletrac Navman involves a sales call, a demo, and a custom quote. Expect to pay £20-40/vehicle/month all in, plus hardware costs.
Teletrac Navman
Professional-install wired tracker. Full fleet management: compliance, tachograph, dashcam integration, maintenance scheduling, DVSA Earned Recognition. From ~£20-40/vehicle/month (custom quote required). 12-24 month contracts typical.
Pros
- Most comprehensive compliance and reporting suite
- Tachograph integration for LGV operators
- DVSA Earned Recognition support
- Excellent dashcam integration options
- Strong UK support team
Cons
- No public pricing; sales call required
- Professional installation needed (extra cost, downtime)
- Overkill and overpriced for under 15 vehicles
- Complex interface with a steep learning curve
- Long minimum contracts standard
Best for: Large trades businesses or construction firms with 15+ vehicles, LGV operators needing tachograph compliance, or businesses with a dedicated transport manager.
Quartix: the value subscription tracker
Quartix has been operating since 2001 and is listed on AIM, meaning it publishes proper accounts and is not going anywhere. Their tracking system is straightforward: professional-install wired unit (or plug-in for newer models), live tracking, trip history, speed alerts, driver behaviour, and simple mileage reporting. Pricing sits at roughly £9.99/month/vehicle on annual contracts, directly comparable with Vimcar's 12-month rate.
Where Quartix stands out is UK support and contract terms. They do not auto-renew without notice, a source of complaints about some competitors. They offer a lifetime warranty on hardware. And their UK-based support team is consistently rated well. If the Vimcar OBD dongle approach worries you and you want a properly wired-in unit, Quartix is the alternative to seriously consider.
Quartix
Wired professional-install tracker. Live tracking, trip history, mileage reports, driver behaviour. ~£9.99/vehicle/month. No auto-renewals. Lifetime hardware warranty. UK-based support. 12-month minimum contracts.
Pros
- No auto-renewals; clear contract terms
- Lifetime warranty on hardware
- UK-based customer support
- Listed company, financial stability
- Competitively priced for wired trackers
Cons
- Professional installation required (unlike Vimcar OBD)
- Interface less polished than Vimcar
- Fewer integrations with third-party apps
- Higher upfront install cost
Best for: Trades businesses wanting a wired-in tracker with no surprise auto-renewal, solid UK support, and fair contract terms. Good if Vimcar's OBD-only approach concerns you.
When basic GPS beats a subscription
There is a growing category of GPS trackers that require no monthly subscription: devices like the VanGuardian (£99+VAT) or the SmartFleet AT211 (£150+VAT). You buy the hardware, pay a one-off SIM activation fee, and get location updates via SMS or a basic app for a small annual data cost.
For a sole trader with one van, or a small firm where theft recovery is the only goal and HMRC mileage logs are done on a spreadsheet, these work fine. The limitations: no live driver behaviour data, basic or no reporting, often no driver ID, and limited ongoing development. If you need to prove compliance or manage multiple drivers, these fall short quickly.
Basic GPS: what you trade away
No-subscription devices save you £95-200/year per vehicle versus a Vimcar or Quartix subscription, but you lose: HMRC-compliant mileage logs (valuable if you claim mileage), driver behaviour data, speed alerts, geofencing notifications, and the operational reporting that helps you cut fuel costs. For most trades with more than one vehicle, the operational savings from a proper subscription tracker pay for themselves within 6 months.
Head-to-head comparison
Here is how the three main subscription platforms stack up against each other and against a basic no-subscription tracker:
| Feature | Vimcar | Quartix | Teletrac Navman | Basic GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-install | ✓ OBD plug-in | ✗ Wired install | ✗ Wired install | ✓ Varies |
| Entry price/month | £7.90 | ~£9.99 | £20-40 (quote) | £0/mo (one-off hw) |
| Live tracking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Varies |
| HMRC mileage log | ✓ Automatic | ✓ Basic | ✓ Advanced | ✗ |
| Driver behaviour | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ Advanced | ✗ |
| Driver ID (NFC) | Higher tiers | Available | ✓ | ✗ |
| No auto-renew | Standard terms | ✓ Explicit policy | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tachograph integration | ✗ | Limited | ✓ Full | ✗ |
| Money-back guarantee | ✓ 30 days | Standard terms | ✗ | Retailer-dependent |
| Best for fleet size | 2-15 vans | 2-20 vans | 15+ vans | 1-2 vans |
Pricing at a glance
All prices are per vehicle per month, excluding VAT. Hardware costs are noted separately where applicable.
- OBD2 plug-in dongle (self-install)
- Live GPS tracking
- Automatic HMRC mileage log
- Driver behaviour scoring
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- NFC driver ID (higher tiers)
View Vimcar
- Wired professional installation
- Live GPS tracking
- Trip history and mileage reports
- Driver behaviour data
- Lifetime hardware warranty
- No auto-renewals
View Quartix
- Professional wired installation
- Full compliance suite (tachograph, DVSA)
- Advanced driver behaviour
- Dashcam integration
- Workshop maintenance scheduling
- DVSA Earned Recognition support
Get a Quote
Annual cost per van: subscription trackers vs basic GPS
Based on entry-level pricing per vehicle. Vimcar and Quartix on 12-month contracts. Teletrac Navman estimated at £30/month.
Calculate your fleet tracking ROI
Use this calculator to estimate how quickly fleet tracking will pay for itself based on your fleet size and fuel spend.
Fleet tracking ROI calculator
net annual saving
net annual saving
net annual saving
Figures show annual net saving (fuel savings minus subscription cost). Teletrac Navman estimated at £30/vehicle/month. Excluding VAT.
Watch: fleet tracking guides for trades
These videos cover everything from basic tracker setup to comparing enterprise platforms for UK fleets.
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How To Tech
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Top 7 Best GPS Trackers for Car 2026
Review with Harper & Max
Top 5 Best Fleet GPS Tracking Systems 2025
HypeTech Picks
What UK trades are saying
Here is what tradespeople and small fleet operators are actually saying across forums and social media about fleet tracking in 2026.
How each platform fares on review sites
Review sentiment for fleet tracking tools is heavily influenced by fleet size. SME users rate Vimcar and Quartix highly; enterprise users rate Teletrac Navman well but SME users often cite pricing complexity as a frustration.
Vimcar
Quartix
Teletrac Navman
The insurance angle
Several UK van insurance providers offer premium discounts of 5-15% if a Thatcham-approved tracker is fitted. The Vimcar OBD dongle is not Thatcham-certified (it is plug-in, not hardwired). If an insurance discount is your priority, choose a hardwired unit from Quartix or another Thatcham-approved provider. The premium saving can cover the entire subscription cost.
The verdict
Our verdict for UK trades
For most small trades businesses running 2-10 vans, the choice comes down to Vimcar versus Quartix. Both are priced similarly on annual contracts. Vimcar wins on ease of installation and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Quartix wins on contract transparency, lifetime hardware warranty, and being a hardwired (therefore Thatcham-eligible) unit.
Best for SMEs (2-10 vans): Vimcar at £7.90/mo. Self-install, money-back guarantee, clean app.
Best for contract terms: Quartix. No auto-renewals, lifetime warranty, UK support.
Best for large fleets (15+): Teletrac Navman. Compliance suite, tachograph integration, enterprise reporting.
Best for sole traders: Basic GPS device (no subscription). Theft recovery only, £80-200 one-off.
If you are still deciding, start with Vimcar's 30-day money-back trial on your 2-3 busiest vans. You will know within 2 months whether the fuel and admin savings justify rolling it out across the fleet.
Best for most small trades fleets:
Vimcar, from £7.90/van/monthMore fleet and operations guides for UK trades
TrainAR Academy has step-by-step guides on fleet management, van security, job scheduling, and digital admin workflows built specifically for UK tradespeople. Free to access.
Explore TrainAR AcademyFrequently asked questions
It depends on the tracker. Thatcham-approved hardwired trackers (Category S5 or S7) can get you a 5-15% premium reduction from many UK insurers. OBD plug-in dongles like Vimcar are generally not Thatcham-certified, so they may not trigger the discount. Always ask your insurer before buying. If the premium reduction is important, go with a hardwired unit from Quartix or a dedicated Thatcham-approved provider.
Yes, that is the main risk with any OBD plug-in device. Vimcar sends an alert if the device is removed or loses power, but by that point the tracking has already stopped. If you have drivers who might be tempted to unplug it, a hardwired tracker from Quartix or a similar provider is more tamper-resistant. Most professional hardwired units require tools and dashboard access to remove.
Yes, and this is a legal requirement under UK GDPR. You must inform employees that their vehicle is being tracked, what data is collected, how long it is kept, and why. Most fleet tracking providers include template employee disclosure notices. Tell drivers in writing before the tracker goes live. Tracking without disclosure can result in ICO action and employment tribunal claims.
Vimcar has a Private Mode feature that drivers can activate to pause data recording during personal trips. Employer admins can see when Private Mode is active but cannot see the route taken during that time. This is the standard approach for managing the work/private data split under UK GDPR. Make sure your vehicle use policy makes clear when private use is permitted and that drivers use Private Mode during those trips.
Vimcar produces the most polished HMRC-compliant mileage log automatically from trip data. Quartix also has mileage reporting but requires a bit more manual categorisation per trip. Teletrac Navman has the most advanced reporting suite but is overkill if mileage records are your main goal. Any subscription GPS tracker beats a manual logbook for HMRC purposes. The data is timestamped, GPS-verified, and exportable to CSV for your accountant.