How to Improve GPS Accuracy
The Meter app provides a tool to fine-tune your GPS accuracy radius:
Start a Meter trip.
While the meter is running, look for the GPS Accuracy Radius button in the bottom sheet.
Adjust the Radius:
Smaller radius = more accurate GPS reading
Larger radius = smoother tracking if GPS frequently loses signal
Additional Tips for Better GPS Performance
Stay Outdoors When Possible: GPS works best in open areas with a clear view of the sky.
Enable High Accuracy Mode: On Android, go to Settings > Location > Mode and select High Accuracy.
Keep Your Device Updated: Ensure that your phone's operating system and the Meter app are updated.
Restart Your GPS: Turning airplane mode on and off or restarting your phone can help reset the GPS signal.
Disable Battery Optimization for Meter: On Android, go to Settings > Battery > Meter App > Don't Optimize. Battery optimization can cause the GPS service to be killed mid-trip, which leads to distance gaps.
Set Location to "Allow All the Time": On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Meter > Permissions > Location > Allow all the time. On iOS, go to Settings > Meter > Location > Always.
Driving Through Tunnels and Underground Areas
GPS signals cannot penetrate underground. When driving through a tunnel, the meter may temporarily stop updating distance and fare until the GPS signal recovers after you exit.
What to expect:
The trip timer continues running normally during tunnel passages.
Distance and fare may pause while underground and resume after exiting.
The app should draw a straight line between the tunnel entry and exit points once signal recovers.
If tracking does not recover after exiting:
Make sure you are running the latest version of the Meter app. Recent updates include improvements to GPS recovery after signal loss.
Ensure Location permission is set to Allow all the time (Android) or Always (iOS).
Disable battery optimization for the Meter app on Android (Settings > Battery > Meter App > Don't Optimize).
If the issue persists, contact us through the in-app chat with details about the tunnel location and your device model so we can investigate.
Stop-and-Go Traffic and Short Trips
In heavy traffic with frequent stops, GPS distance tracking may accumulate slightly less distance than expected. This is because the app filters out GPS noise (small random position jumps that happen when stationary) to avoid overcharging passengers.
To get the most accurate readings in stop-and-go conditions:
Keep the Meter app in the foreground when possible.
Disable battery optimization for Meter (Android) to prevent the system from killing the GPS service during stops.
Update to the latest version of Meter — we continuously improve distance accuracy in updates.
What to Do If Your Trip Mileage Seems Wrong
If your recorded trip distance is significantly different from the actual distance you drove:
Check your distance unit: Make sure you're using the correct unit (miles vs. kilometers). Go to Settings and check your distance preference. See How to Change Between Miles and Kilometers for help.
Check GPS accuracy during the trip: If the GPS Accuracy Radius was set too large, the app may have filtered out valid location updates. Try a smaller radius next time.
Review trip conditions: Driving through tunnels, dense urban areas, or areas with poor cell coverage can cause GPS gaps that result in lower recorded distance.
Check Android permissions: Make sure Location is set to "Allow all the time" and battery optimization is disabled for Meter. These settings prevent the system from interrupting GPS tracking.
Update the app: Make sure you're running the latest version of Meter, as GPS tracking improvements are included in updates.
Contact support: If the recorded distance is significantly wrong (e.g., 2 miles recorded for a 10-mile trip), contact us through the in-app chat so we can investigate your trip data.