How do I know if I have a Thatcham immobiliser?

You can rest assured that your car has a factory-fitted immobiliser if it was manufactured after October 1998. However, if your car was made before that date and you want to check if it has an immobiliser, the easiest way to check is to contact your car’s manufacturer or consult your owner’s manual.

What is Thatcham category?

What is Thatcham? Thatcham is a product research company that defines the industry benchmark for vehicle security systems. Car security products that meet requirements are categorised depending on the product’s functions. The category system ensures that products are always fit for use on the roads.

What is a Thatcham 2 1 alarm?

A 2>1 upgrade alarm is a car alarm that when fitted to a vehicle with an existing Thatcham Category 2 immobiliser upgrades the vehicles security to Category 1 status. This is an perfect option for UK cars built after 1998 that have a Cat 2 immobiliser as standard.

Does a Thatcham alarm reduce insurance?

Thatcham is an independent institution that rates car security and helps car insurance companies factor this into their price calculations. A Thatcham approved device is therefore more likely to lower the cost of your insurance.

What does Thatcham approved alarm mean?

A Thatcham device is a security device, such as an engine immobiliser or alarm, that has been certified and rated by Thatcham Research, otherwise known as the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre.

Is Thatcham 1 or 2 better?

A Thatcham Category 1 device includes both an immobiliser and an alarm, whereas Category 2-rated devices relate to only immobilisers. Which one is better for you will largely depend on your needs, but Category 1 should provide more security benefits.

How do I know if my car has a tracker?

Check the undercarriage of the vehicle. Most magnetic or old GPS trackers are attached to the underside of the car. A tracker could be hidden under your car’s trunk with the help of Velcro tape or bolted in place.

How do I know what kind of alarm my car has?

Check The Fob And Owner’s Manual If you have bought your car used, there’s a pretty easy way to check if your vehicle came with a car alarm installed: check the owner’s manual and look at the key-fob. Your vehicle’s manual is a great resource for finding out if the car came with an alarm.

What is a Thatcham device?

What is a Thatcham device? Thatcham devices are the alarms, immobilisers and other vehicle security devices that are assessed by Thatcham Research. They give these devices a Thatcham Security Certification after an assessment of their features and functions.

What does Thatcham Category 2 mean?

Thatcham Category 2 Thatcham Category 2 is for electronic immobilisers. An electronic immobiliser means that your vehicle can only be started by the correct key or fob, rather than by hot wiring for example.

How is Thatcham Research helping the auto industry?

The research facility at Thatcham houses one of only seven Euro NCAP-approved crash test facilities in the world, and Auto Express paid it a visit to get a sneak peek and find out how Thatcham Research is helping the industry. First up is the crash lab itself.

What is a Thatcham S5 or S7 device?

If you have a Thatcham Category 1 device on your vehicle, consider an S5 or S7 vehicle tracker as well. This will help to ensure your vehicle is recovered in the event that your vehicle is stolen. Thatcham Category 2 is for electronic immobilisers.