Does a GPS tracker replace a microchip?

No. A microchip is the identification implant and the database record. A GPS tracker is a device on a collar.

GOV.UK says you must have your dog or cat microchipped and registered on a database that meets government standards, and that you can be fined up to £500 if the animal is not microchipped when it needs to be. The chip shows a number when someone scans the animal. It does not send a map to your phone.

Tractive's own comparison says the same split for its product: the chip is under the skin, has no battery and cannot fall off; the tracker is on the collar, needs a subscription and charging, and can fall off if the collar comes off. The page says a tracker cannot replace a microchip.

Keep the keeper's details current on the database. GOV.UK says that is your job, and that an update might cost a fee.

Sources

• Get your dog or cat microchipped — GOV.UK, accessed 14 November 2026.
• What's the difference between a microchip and a tracker? — Tractive Help Centre, accessed 14 November 2026.

On this site

Read microchip versus a GPS tracker and how a cellular GPS pet tracker works.