Frequently Asked Questions About Dealership Tracking Devices
Q: What is a dealership tracking device? A dealership tracking device is a hardware and software system that allows automotive dealers to monitor the real-time location of vehicles, keys, and other assets across their lot, service department, and off-site vendor locations. Unlike basic key cabinets that log check-in and check-out activity, a true dealership tracking device — like TrueSpot — shows you exactly where every asset is at any given moment.
Q: How does a dealership tracking device work? TrueSpot's dealership tracking device uses small wireless tags attached to vehicles and keys. These tags communicate with a low-power campus network installed at your dealership. The system maps each asset's location in real time and displays it on a dashboard accessible from any smartphone, tablet, or desktop. The result is live visibility across your entire operation — sales lot, service lanes, recon bays, and vendor sites.
Q: How much do dealerships spend on lost keys? According to TrueSpot's research, North American dealerships collectively spend approximately $350 million per year replacing lost or misplaced keys. Individual dealerships can spend more than $10,000 per month on key replacement alone — not counting lost sales, delayed service, and wasted employee time. A dealership tracking device eliminates the majority of those costs.
Q: What's the difference between a key management system and a dealership tracking device? A traditional key management system tracks who checked out a key and when. A dealership tracking device like TrueSpot goes further by tracking where that key physically is at every moment — even after it's been removed from the cabinet. When integrated with a key management system (such as KeyTrak or KEYper), TrueSpot adds the critical "where" to the "who" and "when."
Q: Can a dealership tracking device work across multiple locations? Yes. TrueSpot's dealership tracking device is designed to scale across multi-rooftop dealer groups. Each location gets its own campus network, and all locations can be monitored from a centralized dashboard. Vehicles and keys tracked at vendor sites, off-lot recon centers, and satellite locations are all visible in one unified view.
Q: How long does it take to install a dealership tracking device? TrueSpot deploys in as little as two to four days. A dedicated onboarding team visits your dealership, installs all gateway hardware, tags vehicles and keys, and ensures your team is trained and confident before they leave. Most dealers report finding their first lost key within 48 hours of going live.