Teltonika FMC003 vs FMB003: OBD plug-in trackers compared
If you do not want an installer anywhere near your vehicles, these are the two units to look at. Both push into the OBD port under the dashboard and start reporting in about a minute, with no wiring, no fuses and no bodywork. The differences are the mobile network and how much they can read out of the vehicle itself.
The short version
Take the FMC003 (£40.00 inc VAT) if you want fuel and real odometer data from the vehicle, or if the van is a long-term keeper. Take the FMB003 (£29.99 inc VAT) for basic location on a short-life vehicle.
Side by side
| Teltonika FMC003 | Teltonika FMB003 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Fleetalyse-ready) | £40.00 inc VAT | £29.99 inc VAT |
| Price (unlocked, no SIM) | £81.99 inc VAT | £45.99 inc VAT |
| Mobile network | LTE Cat 1 with 2G fallback | 2G GSM only |
| Satellite systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, SBAS, QZSS, DGPS, AGPS | GPS/GNSS |
| Position accuracy | Under 3 m | Under 3 m in normal conditions |
| OBD protocols | HS CAN, MS CAN, SW CAN, K-Line | Standard OBDII |
| Vehicle data | OEM fuel level, real odometer, up to 32 OEM parameters where supported | Real odometer, fuel and OEM parameters where supported |
| Backup battery | 170 mAh Li-Ion | Internal backup battery |
| Size | 67.2 × 49.6 × 25 mm | Ultra-small |
| Fitting | OBDII plug-and-play | OBDII plug-and-play |
The OEM data difference
This is the part worth understanding before you choose. Both units can read the standard OBDII channels, but the FMC003 supports four CAN protocols and can pull up to 32 manufacturer parameters where the vehicle exposes them — genuine fuel level from the vehicle's own sender, true odometer, and engine data that never has to be estimated.
That changes what your reports mean. Fuel figures derived from GPS distance and an assumed MPG are a guess; fuel read from the vehicle is a measurement. If you are trying to control fuel spend or settle arguments about mileage claims, the FMC003 is the one that gives you something defensible.
How much any given vehicle exposes varies by make, model and year. We can tell you what to expect for your fleet before you order — ask us with a couple of registrations.
The part most comparisons leave out: 2G is going away
Every UK network has already switched off 3G. 2G is next, and the dates are published:
- EE — 2G switch-off begins May 2029
- O2 — switch-off begins summer 2029
- Vodafone — during 2030
That matters more than any feature on the spec sheet. A 2G-only tracker fitted today has a working life measured against those dates, not against the hardware warranty. If the vehicle will still be on the fleet in 2030, the cheaper device is not the cheaper decision — you pay for the unit twice, plus the fitting labour twice.
Where 2G still makes sense: short-term hire fleets, vehicles due for disposal inside three or four years, and low-value assets where a replacement in 2029 is simply accepted. Everywhere else, buy 4G.
What both do well
Both give live tracking, route history, geofences, driver behaviour and eco-driving scoring, towing detection and unplug alerts. That last one matters on plug-in trackers: a driver who does not want to be tracked can remove an OBD unit in two seconds, and both devices will tell you when it happens. The FMC003 adds crash detection on top.
A note on plug-in versus hardwired
Plug-in trackers trade a little security for a lot of convenience. If concealment matters — vehicles at risk of theft, or drivers you have real concerns about — a hardwired unit such as the FMC920 tucked behind the dashboard is the better answer. For a fleet of vans doing ordinary work, the OBD unit that takes a minute to fit wins on the day.
Buying either one
- Teltonika FMC003 — £40.00 inc VAT
- Teltonika FMB003 — £29.99 inc VAT
Both come Fleetalyse-ready with a 4G global IoT SIM, or unlocked with no SIM if you run your own platform. Subscriptions start at £5.99 per device a month including VAT, API access included.