Choosing a GPS tracker for your fleet doesn’t have to be complicated. Compare Quartix Hardwired, Connect & Track and Plug & Track devices and discover how live tracking, geofencing, driver behavior, reports and other fleet management tools can help your business.
Choosing a GPS tracker for your business is not only about knowing where your vehicles are. The right fleet tracker should fit your vehicles, your drivers, the way your business operates and how much flexibility you need.
Quartix offers three main vehicle tracking devices: Hardwired, Connect & Track and Plug & Track. All three connect your vehicles to the Quartix telematics platform, giving businesses access to valuable information about vehicle movements, journeys and driver activity.
The main difference is how the device is installed and how permanent that installation needs to be.
Whether you operate one van, a growing fleet of 20 vehicles or hundreds of commercial vehicles, there is a Quartix installation option designed around the way you work.
The three devices provide the same core live tracking and basic reporting capabilities, while the hardwired device offers additional specialist functionality.
Learn about all the insights these trackers can offer, like: Live tracking, geofencing, driver behavior, trip reports, security and alerts and vehicle inspection app.
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The Quartix Hardwired tracker is the most permanent of the three installation options.
It is installed out of sight within the vehicle and normally fitted by a trained engineer. Installation typically takes around 30–40 minutes. Once fitted, the device is difficult to access or tamper with, making it particularly suitable for businesses that intend to keep the tracker in the vehicle for the long term.
The device can also support additional functionality, including Driver ID key fobs and inputs for equipment such as tailgate lifts or emergency doors. This can make it particularly valuable for more complex commercial vehicles.
For fleets where several employees share the same vehicles, Driver ID can also help associate journeys and trip-specific data with the individual driver, rather than only with the vehicle.
Think of a business that has invested in its vehicles and expects them to remain part of the fleet for several years.
For example, a large construction company operating 100 vans, trucks and specialist vehicles may not need to move its trackers around. Instead, it wants a reliable, permanent solution that is difficult to interfere with and can support additional vehicle inputs.
A waste management company could also benefit. Its vehicles may have specialist equipment, and additional inputs can provide useful information beyond basic location tracking.
For a medium-sized electrical contractor with 15 permanently assigned vans, the Hardwired option can provide a fit-and-forget approach: once installed, the tracker stays with the vehicle while the business uses the Quartix platform to monitor journeys, driver behavior and vehicle activity.
Choose this option when you need:
The Hardwired tracker is therefore often the strongest choice for established fleets where security, permanence and additional functionality are more important than portability.
Connect & Track is a self-install GPS fleet tracker designed for businesses that want flexibility without sacrificing a discreet installation.
Instead of plugging into the OBD port, Connect & Track connects to the vehicle’s battery using two wires. The device can then be secured out of sight.
It does not require an engineer, and it can be moved between vehicles, making it useful for businesses with leased vehicles, temporary contractors or vehicles that change regularly.
The device can store up to 500 trip events and supports over-the-air upgrades. It also provides tamper alerts, helping fleet managers know if the device has been disturbed.
Imagine a small landscaping company with six vans.
During its busy season, the company brings in temporary subcontractors and occasionally hires additional vans. Permanently installing a tracker in every temporary vehicle would not be particularly practical.
With Connect & Track, the business can install the device itself, monitor the temporary vehicle alongside its existing fleet and then move the tracker when the vehicle is no longer required.
The same principle can work for a medium-sized cleaning company using leased vehicles or a growing delivery business that frequently replaces vans.
It can be a good choice when you want:
It sits between the simplicity of Plug & Track and the permanence of Hardwired.
Plug & Track is Quartix’s simplest self-install option.
The device plugs directly into the vehicle’s OBD diagnostic port, meaning installation can be completed without booking an engineer. 6-pin and 9-pin adapters are also available at no additional cost for compatible vehicles. It is particularly suited to cars and vans and is convenient for businesses that regularly change vehicles.
This makes Plug & Track especially useful for leased and rented vehicles, temporary replacement vehicles and businesses that need to transfer a live tracker between vehicles.
It also includes an internal battery, storage for up to 500 trip events and tamper detection. The system can identify events such as the tracker being plugged in or unplugged, or a vehicle moving with the ignition off.
Consider a small plumbing business with three vans.
The owner does not have a dedicated fleet manager and wants something straightforward. Rather than arranging an engineer visit, the tracker can be plugged into the OBD port and the business can begin using its Quartix tracking system.
Now consider a medium-sized property maintenance company with 30 leased vans. Vehicles may be replaced at different times throughout the year. A portable OBD tracker means the tracking hardware can move with the business rather than being permanently tied to one vehicle.
For a large service company, Plug & Track can also be useful where a fleet contains many standard cars and vans and portability is more important than specialist hardware integrations.
Choose it when you prioritize:
The easiest way to decide is to start with your vehicles rather than the software.
Consider the types of vehicles in your fleet, whether vehicles are shared between multiple drivers, whether any are leased, and whether you need to monitor additional equipment such as tailgate lifts or emergency doors. These practical requirements, together with any specialized reporting needs, can help you decide whether a hardwired or self-install tracker is the better fit.
There is no single “best” GPS tracker for a fleet.
The best choice depends on whether you need permanence or flexibility, what types of vehicles you operate, whether vehicles are leased or owned, whether multiple drivers use the same vehicles and whether you need specialist integrations.
With Hardwired, Connect & Track and Plug & Track, Quartix gives businesses three ways to connect their vehicles to the same wider tracking ecosystem.
The result is more than simply seeing a vehicle on a map. It is a way to improve visibility, understand journeys, encourage safer driving, protect vehicles and make better operational decisions.
Whether you manage one vehicle or a large commercial fleet, the first step is choosing the tracker that fits the way your business actually works.
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