To find an AirTag on your car, you need to use a combination of smartphone alerts and a manual physical inspection. If you have an iPhone (iOS 14.5 or later), it will automatically notify you if an unknown AirTag is moving with you. For Android users, you can download Apple's "Tracker Detect" app to scan for them. The most effective method is a thorough, hands-and-knees search of your vehicle's interior and exterior, paying close attention to magnetic hideaways.
How Your Phone Alerts You
The primary defense is your smartphone. iPhones will display an alert stating "AirTag Found Moving With You." Tapping this notification allows you to play a sound on the AirTag to help locate it. If the AirTag has been separated from its owner for a period, this sound will play automatically. Android users must proactively open the "Tracker Detect" app to scan for nearby AirTags.
Conducting a Physical Search
Technology isn't foolproof, so a manual search is critical. AirTags are small, white discs about the size of a bottle cap. Check these common hiding spots:
- Exterior: Inside the wheel wells, secured to the underside of the chassis with its magnetic rim, behind the license plate, and within the front grille.
- Interior: Under the seats, inside glove compartments and center consoles, tucked into seat pockets, and in the trunk/cargo area spare tire compartment.
What to Do If You Find One
If you locate an unknown AirTag, do not immediately discard it. On an iPhone, you can tap the alert and use Precision Finding (if supported by your phone) to guide you directly to it with on-screen directions. Once found, you can disable it by removing the battery. Importantly, you can also scan the AirTag with any NFC-capable smartphone (both iPhone and Android) to get information, including its serial number and whether it's marked as lost.
| Method | Required Tool | Key Action | Limitation |
|---|
| Automatic iPhone Alert | iPhone (iOS 14.5+) | Wait for/ tap notification | Requires AirTag to be moving with you for some time |
| Tracker Detect App | Android Phone | Open app and scan | Requires proactive manual scanning |
| Manual Sound Playback | iPhone Notification | Force the AirTag to beep | AirTag speaker can be disabled by a malicious actor |
| Precision Finding | iPhone 11 or newer | Follow on-screen arrows | Only works with compatible iPhone models |
| Physical Inspection | Flashlight, Gloves | Visually and physically check all hiding spots | Time-consuming and requires diligence |
