OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostics II) is the standard diagnostic port fitted to every vehicle. Originally designed for emissions and fault diagnosis, over time it became the most common access point for aftermarket telematics devices.
How it works
The OBD-II socket — usually under the steering wheel — exposes a set of standardised parameters (fault codes, engine RPM, speed, vehicle status). A telematics device plugged into the port reads this data and, through telematics and a built-in SIM, transmits it to a platform. It’s the “plug & play” method: insert the device and the vehicle is tracked within minutes.
OBD-II in fleets
OBD-II tracking is the classic choice for vehicles that aren’t natively connected, or when you want a fast, reversible install with no work on the wiring. For richer parameters, many platforms read the CAN bus directly. Optivo supports both approaches in its fleet tracking platform.
FAQ
Are OBD-II and CAN bus the same thing?
No. OBD-II is the standard diagnostic socket; the CAN bus is the internal network the vehicle’s control units talk over. The OBD-II port exposes some CAN bus data in a standardised format.
Does OBD tracking require installation?
Minimal: the device clips into the OBD-II socket with no wiring or workshop, and it’s removable. It’s the “hardware” alternative to hardware-free tracking via Cloud OEM.