What is a driver identification keypad?

A driver identification keypad is a device fitted in a vehicle that links each trip to the person driving. The driver enters a personal PIN, or taps a card or tag, and the GPS tracker records that ID alongside the trip data.

What is the difference between PIN, BLE, iButton and RFID driver ID?

PIN keypads need no token and suit shared fleets. BLE keypads pair wirelessly to avoid cabling. iButton uses a contact token and RFID uses a contactless card or fob. PIN methods avoid lost or shared credentials; token methods suit settled driver-to-vehicle assignments.

Which driver ID method is best for shared or pool fleets?

A PIN keypad is usually best for shared and pool vehicles, because there is no physical token to lose and reassigning a driver is just a new code.

Do driver ID keypads work with any GPS tracker?

Most keypads work with major tracker brands such as Teltonika, Queclink, Ruptela and Digital Matter, provided the connection method matches. Wired keypads use 1-Wire/iButton and BLE keypads use Bluetooth. Confirm compatibility before ordering.

Can a driver ID keypad immobilise a vehicle?

Yes. When paired with a tracker that supports immobilisation, a keypad can prevent the vehicle from starting until a valid PIN is entered.

PIN vs BLE vs iButton vs RFID: Choosing a Driver ID Keypad

Joseph Cimand
Jun 29
3 min read

A driver identification keypad is the simplest way to tie every journey to the person who actually drove the vehicle. But “keypad” covers several different technologies — wired PIN keypads, Bluetooth (BLE) keypads, iButton and 1-Wire contacts, and RFID or NFC cards — and the right one depends on your trackers and how your fleet operates. This guide compares the methods and shows which of the driver identification keypad models we stock fits each scenario, whether you run a fleet directly or specify hardware as an installer or telematics service provider (TSP).

GC-2673 IP68 driver ID keypad with PIN and NFC reader

How a Driver Identification Keypad Works

A driver identification keypad wires into, or pairs with, the GPS tracking unit already fitted to the vehicle. Before driving, each driver enters a unique PIN; the tracker records that ID alongside the trip data, so every journey, harsh-braking event or speeding alert is attributed to a named driver rather than just a registration plate. Most keypads also give audible and visual feedback, and many can warn or immobilise if no valid ID is entered. The result is accountability: you know who was driving, when, and how.

Wired PIN Keypads (1-Wire / iButton)

The most common driver ID method is a wired PIN keypad connected to the tracker over the 1-Wire (Dallas iButton) protocol. Drivers key in a personal PIN — nothing to carry, nothing to lose, and reassigning a driver is just a new code. Our STL-1307 heavy-duty IP68 keypad is a good example: a rugged, backlit 1-Wire keypad rated IP68 for trucks, plant and outdoor mounting, compatible with Teltonika, Queclink, Ruptela, Digital Matter and CalAmp trackers. Wired keypads suit shared and pool vehicles where the same van is driven by several people in a day.

STL-1307 heavy-duty IP68 wired driver ID keypad

PIN Plus RFID / NFC Cards

Where some drivers prefer a tap-card and others a code, a dual-method keypad covers both. Our GC-2673 IP68 keypad and NFC reader combines a PIN keypad with a built-in 13.56 MHz NFC reader, so a driver can either enter a PIN or tap a compatible card. That removes the classic RFID weakness — a lost or shared card — by always leaving the PIN as a fallback. It connects over 1-Wire/iButton and NFC and works across the major telematics platforms.

Bluetooth (BLE) Wireless Keypads

If you want to avoid running data wiring through the dashboard, a BLE keypad talks to the tracker wirelessly over Bluetooth Low Energy. Our NN-21382 BLE keypad installs fast with minimal wiring and pairs with Bluetooth-enabled Teltonika and Queclink trackers — ideal when you are deploying across many vehicles and want to keep install time and cable complexity down. The trade-off with any wireless method is that the credential must stay with the right person, so BLE suits fleets issuing a keypad or tag per driver.

NN-21382 Bluetooth BLE wireless driver ID keypad

iButton, RFID and the Token Problem

iButton contacts and RFID fobs are the token-based alternatives: rugged and quick to use, but every driver needs a physical credential. Tokens get lost, shared or left in the vehicle, which undermines the data and adds replacement cost and downtime. They work well for settled driver-to-vehicle assignments, but for high-turnover or pool fleets a PIN keypad is usually the more practical and tamper-resistant choice.

The Driver ID Keypad Models We Stock

We hold a range of driver identification keypads in UK stock to cover every install: the GC-2673 dual PIN + NFC IP68 unit, the STL-1307 heavy-duty IP68 1-Wire keypad, and the NN-21382 BLE wireless keypad, alongside IP65 wired, compact 5-digit PIN, and 10-digit high-security models. You can see the full line-up on our driver ID keypad range page.

Matching the Keypad to Your Tracker

The keypad has to match how your tracker communicates. Wired keypads like the STL-1307 use 1-Wire/iButton and pair with trackers such as the Teltonika FMB225 and FMB204; BLE keypads like the NN-21382 pair with Bluetooth-enabled units such as the Teltonika FMT100. If you are unsure which keypad works with your hardware, browse our GPS tracker range or contact us and we will confirm compatibility before you order.

Get the Right Hardware First Time

Choosing a driver identification keypad is ultimately about matching the login method — PIN, BLE, iButton or NFC — to how your vehicles are actually used. Tracking Hardware UK supplies driver ID keypads and the GPS trackers they pair with from UK stock, with technical support to make sure the two work together. Browse our driver ID keypad range → or get in touch to confirm compatibility before you order.