PIN vs NFC, iButton and BLE for Fleet Driver ID
Updated: 6 days ago
We supply driver identification keypads to fleet and telematics projects worldwide, and the question we get asked most is which method to use: a PIN keypad, RFID card, iButton fob or Bluetooth tag. This guide answers it with our actual part numbers, specifications and prices — not generic advice.
The short answer
For fleets worldwide, a PIN keypad is the best starting point, because there is no card or fob to lose, forget or hand to a colleague. Below is which of our six models fits which situation.
Best overall - EC-19521. PIN up to 14 digits, 1-Wire, 55 × 44 × 23 mm. The default choice for van and car fleets.
Best for tight cabs - TC-261048. Five physical keys, PIN up to 14 digits, 1-Wire, 28 × 48 × 13 mm. The smallest unit we make.
Best weatherproof — DC-51145. PIN up to 14 digits, IP65, 73 × 46 × 17 mm. For exposed cab positions.
Best rugged — STL-1307. 14-digit PIN, IP68 resin filled, 122 × 50 × 21 mm. Trucks, plant, external mounting, pressure washing.
Best if you want cards too — GC-2673. 14-digit PIN plus a 13.56 MHz NFC reader, IP68. Emulates a DS1990A iButton, so the tracker treats an NFC tap exactly like a fob.
Best wireless — NN-21382. Bluetooth 4.0, 14-digit PIN, 10 m range. No data cable. Compatibility must be confirmed for the exact tracker model, firmware and configuration; BLE support alone does not guarantee a compatible keypad workflow.
Compare our six models
EC-19521 — 1-Wire · up to 14 digits (0–9 then *) · 8–36 V DC · <5 mA · 55 × 44 × 23 mm · −20 to 70 °C · 150 cm cable · Teltonika, Ruptela, Queclink, Digital Matter
DC-51145 — 1-Wire · up to 14 digits · IP65 · 8–36 V DC · <5 mA · 73 × 46 × 17 mm · −20 to 70 °C · 150 cm cable
TC-261048 — 1-Wire · up to 14 digits using five physical keys (1–5 then *) · 8–36 V DC · <5 mA · 28 × 48 × 13 mm · −20 to 70 °C · 150 cm cable
STL-1307 — 1-Wire · up to 14 digits (0–9 then #) · IP68 resin filled · 8–36 V DC · <5 mA · 122 × 50 × 21 mm · −20 to 70 °C
GC-2673 — 1-Wire + NFC 13.56 MHz (ISO/IEC 14443 A/B) · up to 14 digits (then #) · IP68 · 6–32 V DC · read distance up to 5 cm · 122 × 50 mm
NN-21382 — Bluetooth 4.0 · up to 14 digits · 8–36 V DC · <5 mA · 10 m range · reverse-polarity protected
Separate vehicle power does not remove the need for a supported data interface. Wired 1-Wire keypads require a compatible 1-Wire input on the tracker. The FMB920 and FMC920 do not provide that input, so do not specify a wired 1-Wire keypad for those models. Consider the NN-21382 BLE keypad only after confirming the exact tracker model, firmware and fleet-platform workflow.
PIN keypad vs RFID vs iButton vs BLE
PIN keypad. The driver types a code. Nothing to issue, nothing to lose, nothing to lend. Adding or removing a driver is a list change, not a physical hand-over. Best for high-turnover teams, agency drivers and pool vehicles.
RFID card or fob. Fast and familiar — the same gesture as a building access card. But cards get left at home, shared between drivers, and reissued at your cost. Good where drivers already carry a company card.
iButton. A rugged contact key touched to a reader. Cheap and almost indestructible, but it is another item on a keyring, and a driver who forgets it cannot work. Common on older installs.
BLE. Wireless, no cable run to the tracker. The practical reason to choose it is not convenience — it is that some trackers have no 1-Wire pin at all, and a compatible BLE workflow may be an option, but support depends on the exact tracker model, firmware and configuration.
Read the full breakdown in our iButton vs RFID vs PIN comparison.
Which trackers do they work with?
For wired keypad projects, confirm the exact tracker's 1-Wire driver-identification input, firmware and platform support before choosing a model. A product-family name or connector alone does not prove compatibility. The FMB920 and FMC920 have no 1-Wire input; consider the NN-21382 BLE keypad only for a verified tracker, firmware and fleet-platform workflow.
On Teltonika hardware the driver ID arrives as AVL I/O element 78. Note that the value is byte-reversed relative to the PIN entered: 123456 arrives as 0140E2010000009E, where 01 is the family ID, 9E the CRC, and 40E201000000 reversed in two-digit pairs gives the PIN. This catches out most first-time installers.
Tested by Teltonika and Ruptela
Our keypads have been independently tested and validated by Teltonika Telematics UAB on the FMC650, and by Ruptela on the Trace5-LTM. Both reports confirm correct 1-Wire driver ID operation with the EC-19521, TC-261048 and DC-51145. We are also listed in the Wialon hardware catalogue.
Download the reports: Teltonika Telematics test report (PDF) · Ruptela test report (PDF).
Why buy from a specialist supplier
We design and supply these keypads for fleet and telematics projects worldwide. Buying direct means factory pricing with no middlemen, OEM and white-label options for resellers and telematics providers, and technical support from the specialist team familiar with the products and integrations.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a special tracker for driver ID?
You need a tracker that supports the chosen keypad's interface and driver-identification workflow. Wired 1-Wire keypads require a supported 1-Wire input. Bluetooth availability alone does not prove BLE keypad compatibility. Send us the exact tracker model, firmware and fleet-platform details before ordering.
Can I mix methods across my fleet?
Yes. You can run PIN keypads on some vehicles and RFID or iButton on others, all reporting into the same platform.
How many drivers can I have?
Up to 4,000 on Teltonika FMB1xx models running firmware 03.27.xx or later, and 1,000 on the FM64 series with CSV import.
Can the keypad immobilise the vehicle?
Yes, with a tracker that supports immobilisation. Note that if the authorised ID list is left empty, any ID will disable the immobiliser — populate it before the vehicle enters service.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. We supply worldwide from UK-based stock.
Are driver ID keypads a legal requirement for UK fleets?
Not for most fleets — but insurers increasingly expect them, and for operations under Working Time Directive obligations or running tachograph vehicles, driver authentication is standard practice. The practical reason most fleets fit one is simpler: if there is an incident, a driver ID record proves who was at the wheel.
Harsh environments and international fleets
If your vehicles work in dust, heat, pressure-washed cabs or open plant, pick a sealed unit from the table above: the resin-filled IP68 STL-1307 for external and rugged mounting, or the GC-2673 IP68 keypad with NFC reader if you want a card or tag option alongside PIN entry. Backlit keys matter more than they sound — a driver fumbling for an unlit keypad on a 3 a.m. shift will simply stop using it.
Running fleets outside the UK, or through patchy coverage? The keypad itself needs no mobile network — it talks to the tracker over 1-Wire, RS232 or Bluetooth LE, and it is the tracker that transmits. Pair it with a tracker that has LTE plus 2G fallback, such as the Teltonika FMC130, which buffers driver ID and journey records through coverage blackspots and forwards them once a signal returns. We supply B2B customers worldwide. Ask us to confirm current stock, dispatch time and keypad compatibility for your project before ordering. Device installation, configuration, platform integration and testing are the customer's responsibility.
Talk to us
Tell us your tracker models and vehicle types and we will tell you exactly which keypad fits before you order. Browse the full driver identification keypad range or read more about driver identification for fleet management.
Related Hardware
Related hardware from UK stock: iButton readers, RFID readers and NFC readers.
Complete Driver Identification Kits Guide
This article is part of our driver identification content hub. For the full buying framework, hardware comparison and deployment checklist, read the complete Driver Identification Kits guide.
Useful next steps for fleet buyers
For a broader buying path, connect this comparison to the Driver Identification Kits guide and then check the live driver identification keypad page for the current hardware options.
For setup and rollout details, continue with the GPS Driver ID setup guide; for African fleets, use the Driver Identification for African fleets guide.
Product pages for keypad buyers
If the goal is to choose the best Driver ID keypad rather than just understand the technology, use the main Driver Identification Keypad commercial page as the starting point.
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