How did an Apple AirTag track my driving lesson without our knowledge?

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Level 1

4 points

How did an Apple AirTag track my driving lesson without our knowledge?

Hi, I’m a driving instructor and while on a lesson today my student said that an Apple AirTag had been tracking our lesson. Neither of us have purchased one of these products and her phone showed the route we had taken on her phone with the warning message that we had been tracked.

can anyone explain how this happened please? My thoughts are that someone has placed one of these devices on my car, should I be concerned about theft of my vehicle?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Growing concern.

iPhone 16 Plus, iOS 26

Posted on Dec 10, 2025 7:13 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Phil0124

Level 10

216,842 points

Dec 10, 2025 7:36 AM in response to Sconch1

It's possible someone left an AirTag in the car at some point by mistake. They may be looking for whatever it's attached to.

Unless you have an iPhone, you would not get an alert.

About the theft of your car, hard to say, not sure why they'd want to track the car to steal it later if they already know where it has been to place the AirTag in it.

Your best recourse is to try to find the AirTag if it is in the car.

It could also have been in a nearby car on the street as you moved, and the iPhone may have picked it up, and just assumes it was moving with you, but is not.

click here ➜ What to do if you get an alert that an AirTag, set of AirPods, Find My network accessory, or compatible Bluetooth location-tracking device is with you - Apple Support

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Answer 2

etresoft

Level 9

56,308 points

Dec 10, 2025 7:48 AM in response to Sconch1

Most likely it was just some other car nearby that followed your route for some period of time.

None of this stuff is 100% perfect.

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