This app was mentioned in 6 comments, with an average of 14.17 upvotes
Quite simple actually. This website handles the API integrations but you just need to have an Ecobee account and then use an app using Life360 tracking. Both free and easy to set up, I use the Find my lost phone app on android to track my phone.
How much data it uses I don't know. I haven't tested any gps tracking functionality. You can test that with any existing phone though so you don't have to sign up to find out.
You can have up to 1gb free per month. 500mb is the default but if you add "friends" you get another 500mb.
TBH i don't see why it would need to keep pinging and use up data if the vehicle is not lost.
For example it could just be kept on and hidden. If your vehicle is stolen then you could use some other app to ping the hidden phone to find it.
"Find my phone" apps are common and free. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-iphone/id376101648?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fsp.android.phonetracker&hl=en
Freedompop I believe uses Sprint network. Data connectivity is not strong everywhere but I think it could be possible to use cell network to track as well. You may need to go to the police for that though.
Android find my phone. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fsp.android.phonetracker