Question: I bought a used car, and my friend told me that it probably has a LoJack system. How do if I know if my car has LoJack? And where would it be if I had it?
Answer:
There are up to 20 possible places in a vehicle where a LoJack device can be installed, so finding it can be tricky. But that’s intentional—the device is small and easily camouflaged, making it hard for thieves to disable your LoJack if your car were stolen.
Some of the most common locations for a LoJack include:
- Under the hood in front of the engine block or near the battery.
- On the floorboard under the passenger seat (you may need to slide the seat all the way back to see it).
- Inside the trunk.
- On your steering column near the onboard diagnostic (OBD) port.
What is a LoJack? LoJack is a small device that can be turned on remotely if you report your car stolen. After the theft is recorded in the national stolen vehicle database, the device will then transmit your vehicle’s location to law enforcement so they can try to recover your vehicle.
If you can’t find the LoJack unit
Even if you can’t locate the device inside your vehicle, you may have a few other options for finding out whether your car has a LoJack.
LoJack customer service
Call the LoJack customer service line and let them know that you are the second owner of the vehicle and you’re not sure whether there’s a LoJack device registered to the car. If there is one, they will help you schedule an inspection and add you as the registered owner of the device. There is a $99 transfer fee to change the registered owner of a LoJack device.
You can reach LoJack by calling 1-800-4-LOJACK (56225). You’ll likely need to provide proof that you are the vehicle owner—usually by faxing them a copy of your vehicle registration and ID.
Need to know: If your car does have a LoJack device, it’s a good idea to follow through with the inspection to be sure the unit is working correctly. Note that there is a service fee for having an inspection done, and any repairs to the device will be additional.
Registration or VIN label
Check your registration paperwork or the VIN label on your car frame near the driver’s side door. If you see a yellow sticker with “LoJack” or “LJK” printed on it, your car originally had a LoJack system installed.
Your mechanic
The next time you take your car in for routine maintenance, ask the mechanic to check for a LoJack device. Or, if you’ve had it in for servicing recently, you can ask your mechanic if they noticed any aftermarket devices that could have been a LoJack box.
The vehicle manufacturer
Call the vehicle manufacturer and ask whether LoJack security systems are included standard or as an additional package with your model, year, and trim.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Everett Cook is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than 10 years of experience across a variety of industries. In editing for Jerry, Everett’s mission is to help readers have a better understanding of the costs of owning or leasing a car and to better understand their vehicle in terms of insurance and repairs. Prior to joining Jerry, Everett was an editor for Axios. His previous work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Atlantic, Atlantic Re:think, The Boston Globe, USA Today, and others. He’s also been a freelance writer and editor with experience in SEO, audience building, and long-term content roadmaps. Everett is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.
