this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2026
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A local city proudly mentioned on the news that they had a system that could track TPMS sensors. Pretty much all cars after 2008 uses TPMS sensors that each broadcast a unique identifier to the car. They aren't hard to remove, and you can buy valve stems that fit your car (0.452 hole) at any auto parts store.
By "aren't hard to remove" you actually mean requires dismounting the tire from the rim, remounting it, and then balacing it. This is far beyond the capabilities not to mention equipment of the typical layperson. Plus, your state is likely to conveniently fail your car on its next inspection for a nonfunctioning TPMS system, same as your check engine light.
If you're going to go the distance anyway, get your tire shop to mount aftermarket Autel sensors in your rims. Using the readily available diagnostic tool, you can occasionally reprogram those (wirelessly!) with a set of random IDs and then also program your car to use them. You'll be a lot tougher to track if your signature is different every week.
I'm not about to do this just yet, but I do have the tool for more mundane purposes and I only paid around $200 for it several years ago.
Well crap, that's not a cheap solution but I'm glad you commented because I didn't know these Autel sensors existed and that you could reprogram them. I mean, this threat is semi hypothetical right now (not like it's been used in the wild by authorities or anything) but one day it might be. Continual reprogramming would be a valid solution.
It seems most states with mandatory vehicle inspections don't fail for TPMS problems.
https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/what-are-state-tpms-regulations
That only lists 18 states...
My own state requires it despite that list implying they don't. Thus I really don't think that chart is completely accurate. If you have ANY warning lights on your dash at inspection you will be failed here.
It certainly doesn't require removing the tire from the rim. I removed each wheel, broke the bead on the side that has the valve stem, pried the tire back away from the rim, remove the sensor (mine had a convenient little part you can push to release them) then air the tire back up and put the wheel back on the car. Didn't even have to re-balance them.
If we want to take steps to protect ourselves from such tracking, we cannot afford to simply say "It's ToO hArD!!!!1!" with a multi-paragraph reply that took more time to type out than it took for me to remove one sensor. Can't do it? Learn how. Defeatist replies belong on Reddit with all the other propaganda.
Do you drive around with no license plate on your car, too?
Hope y threw ur phone away and got rid of ur head unit while u were at it. Tpms tracking is just about the last fucking thing I'd ever worry about especially with the lack of range those transponders have. Nobody is tracking you via tpms 😂
You know that you can leave your phone at home, right?
EDIT: Also, another Defeatist reply.
State inspection of your vehicle? Wtf? I've heard of California with catalytic converters because the smog, that's it. I
I don't understand the confusion.
Your who is going to do what now?
(Posted from a state that doesn't check anything except emissions, and even then only for some cars in some urban areas.)
They aren’t hard to remove, and you can buy valve stems that fit your hole at any auto parts store.
Good to know.
They are hard to remove, and require a variety of expensive specialty tools to do properly.