Key facts
- Vehicle owners should not rely on built-in car trackers for recovery of stolen vehicles, according to experts.
- A car owner's Kia was stolen and could not be recovered despite the manufacturer's ability to view its live location.
- UK law prevents manufacturer services like Kia Connect from being used for live tracking of stolen vehicles.
- Thieves were able to hack into the car and disconnect the owner's phone from the manufacturer's service.
- An Apple Airtag hidden in the car was located and discarded by thieves because it made a noise.
- Independent, certified tracking devices with independent power sources and professional monitoring centers are recommended.
Experts are warning that consumers should not expect built-in vehicle tracking systems to help recover stolen cars, citing a significant gap between consumer expectations and technical realities. Ian Fogg, a smartphone analyst, shared his experience of having his Kia stolen in March. Despite the manufacturer's Kia Connect service being able to view the car's live location, it could not be used for recovery due to UK law, which prevents such live tracking for security purposes. Kia stated that the Connect function is for 'convenience' and that releasing location data must comply with laws like GDPR.
Fogg described his car as easy to hack but difficult to track, contrasting it with the security measures on smartphones. Thieves gained access without keys and disconnected his phone via the entertainment system through an unsecured process. While he could briefly track the car using an Apple Airtag, thieves located and discarded it due to its noise-making feature, designed to prevent stalking. When Fogg contacted Kia Connect for location data after the theft, he received it 24-48 hours after the car was recorded at each location, with the vehicle eventually ending up in Lithuania.
According to the Information Commissioner's Office, organizations must respond to data access requests within one month. However, police typically require specific consent from the Home Office to demand such data without the owner's consent, which is rarely sought. Car manufacturers' policies dictate whether they share data with law enforcement. Kia offers a premium security tracking service in the US, but it is not available in the UK or Europe.
Thatcham Research recommends that car owners opt for independently certified tracking devices that have their own power source and provide real-time monitoring through a professional center. These dedicated products exist because most connected car apps are not engineered for the security function owners may assume they provide.