Car tracker and immobiliser fitting happens wherever your vehicle already is: at your home, workplace, or even at the dealership before collection of the vehicle. A combined system such as the Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK generally takes around 1.5 to 2.5 hours to fit, depending on the vehicle, and once the system has been tested and activated, the certificate of installation your insurer wants is issued on the day of installation and emailed by the product manufacturer. Supply and installation starts from £295 for a Thatcham S5 tracker, £349 for a standalone immobiliser and £469 for the DEADLOCK, the tracker and immobiliser we recommend.
This guide is for anyone whose insurer has asked for a tracker or immobiliser, or who has already ordered one and wants to know what the visit involves. It follows the fitting from the phone call after your order to the moment you forward the certificate, covering what to have ready, where the system goes, how long it takes and what changes the next time you drive.
Before the fitting day
Once your order is placed, we contact you to arrange the visit. A few details at that point make the booking straightforward:
- Your insurer's deadline. If the policy says the system must be in place by a certain date, tell us at the start so the booking can be planned around it. Supply and installation is UK wide in an estimated 2 - 5 days, which is an estimate rather than a fixed date, so ordering early gives you the most room.
- Where the vehicle will be. A driveway at home, a work car park or a dealership forecourt all work. If you are buying a new vehicle, give us the dealership's details and the fitting can be arranged there before you collect it, so you drive away with the system already in place.
- The vehicle itself. Make, model, year, and whether it is petrol, diesel, hybrid or fully electric. This confirms the system you ordered suits the vehicle, which matters most on electrified models (see the E-TEC note further down).
Subscriptions are handled differently by each brand
No tracking system of any brand works without an active subscription, so it is worth knowing where yours stands before the engineer arrives. On Meta Trak tracking systems, you choose a 1 or 3 year subscription on the product page and the first term is paid at checkout, so there is nothing more to arrange; renewals are paid directly to Meta Trak. ScorpionTrack prices are for supply and installation only; you arrange and pay the ScorpionTrack subscription directly with ScorpionTrack after installation. A ScorpionTrack tracker is not monitored until that subscription is active, so plan to set it up on the day it is fitted. The Meta AUTOBLOK has no subscription.
What happens during car tracker and immobiliser fitting
The engineer comes to the vehicle, so there is no workshop to drop it at and no courtesy car to arrange. A typical visit runs in this order:
- Checks before any work starts. The engineer confirms the system you ordered against the vehicle in front of them.
- Fitting out of sight. The tracking unit, and on a combined system the immobiliser, are installed in concealed positions chosen for that particular vehicle.
- Testing. Once fitted, the system is tested to confirm it is fully functioning.
- Activation. The system is activated with the product manufacturer, which is the step that releases your certificate of installation.
- Handover. You receive your ID tags, and the engineer runs through the app with you on your own phone so you can see the vehicle, its alerts and its settings before they leave.
How long does fitting take?
A Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK or DEADLOCK E-TEC generally takes around 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on the vehicle. The vehicle is the main variable, so if you need a firmer idea for your model, ask when we call to book.
What to have ready
- The vehicle parked where the engineer can reach it and work around it safely, with room to open the doors fully.
- The vehicle's keys.
- Your phone, so the app can be set up and checked with you.
- For a ScorpionTrack system, a way to set up and pay for the ScorpionTrack subscription on the day, so monitoring can start as soon as the tracker is fitted.
Where is the tracker fitted?
Owners often ask where the unit goes. The answer depends on the vehicle and on the engineer, and that is deliberate.
A factory or dealer fitted tracking system, Thatcham S5 accredited or not, is fitted to a single standard: the dealer follows the manufacturer's installation specification, so the unit sits in the same place on every vehicle of that model, and once thieves learn that place they know where to look. An aftermarket system is fitted by independent installers across the country, each choosing their own position on that model, so there is no single known location to target. This is why many insurers ask for an aftermarket tracker rather than accepting a factory fitted one, on any make or model.
On the Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK, the tracking unit and the immobiliser link wirelessly, so there is no communication wiring running between them for a thief to follow. We do not publish where units are placed, and this guide does not describe it either.
The one fitted part designed to be within your reach is the emergency PIN override button on the Meta AUTOBLOK. It is installed inside the vehicle where the driver can get to it, so the immobiliser can still be disarmed if the ID tag is lost or its battery runs flat.
What a fitted immobiliser changes
Every new car sold in the UK since October 1998 has a factory fitted immobiliser, which is Thatcham Category 2. It is wired into the vehicle's own network, and that is the weakness modern theft uses: relay attacks and key cloning persuade the network that a genuine key is present, while CAN injection feeds it false messages, whether thieves reach the CAN network through the OBD diagnostic port or from outside the vehicle. The factory fitted immobiliser then disarms because the instruction came from systems it trusts. We explain how CAN bus injection gets past a factory immobiliser in a separate article, using the Toyota RAV4 as the example.
An aftermarket immobiliser is not part of that conversation. Every DEADLOCK variant has an aftermarket immobiliser that does not take instructions from the factory CAN bus, so it blocks the start attempt whatever the vehicle's electronics have been told, however the attack was carried out. If the vehicle is stolen, any DEADLOCK variant can also be immobilised remotely by the Meta Trak monitoring centre.
Choosing how the immobiliser arms
Meta Trak DEADLOCK systems are set to No Tag, No Start by default: when your ID tag is out of range the engine immobiliser arms, and it disarms when the tag comes back. Three other modes are available. No Tag, One Start allows a single start without the tag, for owners concerned about being forced to start the vehicle for a thief, and stops any second start. Button Press arms the immobiliser after the ignition is switched off and disarms it when you press the button on the tag. Remote Only is armed and disarmed from the Meta Trak app or web portal. If you would prefer one of these, tell the engineer on the day, or Meta Trak can change the setting over the air later.
Your ID tags
The Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK, DEADLOCK E-TEC and DEADLOCK PRO each come with two ID tags, and the Meta AUTOBLOK also comes with two. The ScorpionTrack S5 and ScorpionTrack S5+ come with one driver tag, and the ScorpionTrack app can use your phone as a tag as well. Keep a tag with the keys you use day to day, and store any spare away from the vehicle. On every DEADLOCK variant, if an ID tag is lost, the owner can disarm the immobiliser through the Meta Trak app, either by remote disarming or with the emergency override, which connects to the vehicle by Bluetooth from the smartphone. For a replacement tag, call 0330 133 3990.
After fitting: your certificate and servicing
The certificate of installation
Insurers ask for the certificate because it shows that the system they requested has been fitted to your vehicle. For Thatcham systems it is issued on the day of installation and emailed by the product manufacturer after activation, and can sometimes also be found in the manufacturer's app.
- Meta Trak. The certificate comes from Meta Trak in your welcome email. Forward the whole email, or the certificate on its own, to your insurer.
- ScorpionTrack. The certificate can be downloaded from your ScorpionTrack account once the subscription has been paid and is active. Setting the subscription up on the day of fitting avoids a gap between the installation and your proof for the insurer.
- Meta AUTOBLOK. This is a standalone immobiliser rather than a Thatcham tracking system. If your insurer has asked for an immobiliser, check what proof of fitting they want and tell us when we call to book.
If you are not sure which category your insurer's wording points to, read what a Thatcham device is before you order, because the category decides which systems will satisfy the policy.
Servicing and valeting
Before the vehicle goes in for a service, switch on service mode in the Meta Trak app, or Garage Mode in the ScorpionTrack app, so the garage can move the vehicle and work on it without raising theft alerts. Switch it off again when you collect the vehicle.
The systems we fit and what they cost
A tracker on its own aids recovery after a theft. It does not stop the vehicle being taken, which is why we recommend a combined tracker and immobiliser whatever your insurer strictly requires. You can see every option on our car trackers and car immobilisers pages. Four common choices are set out below.
Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK
Our recommendation: tracker and immobiliser
Supply and installation
From £469
What it does
Thatcham S5 tracking with two ID tags and 24/7 monitoring, plus an aftermarket engine immobiliser that keeps the engine from starting unless your tag is present.
Subscription
1 year (+£189.95) or 3 years (+£499.95) added at checkout. Renewals go directly to Meta Trak.
Warranty
Lifetime Meta Trak parts and labour warranty (original owner, active subscription)
Meta AUTOBLOK
Immobiliser only
Supply and installation
£349
What it does
The Meta AUTOBLOK operates independently of the vehicle's factory electronics, so the engine will not start without its ID tag.
Subscription
None. The Meta AUTOBLOK has no subscription.
Warranty
3 year warranty
Meta Trak S5 Tracker
Tracker only
Supply and installation
From £295
What it does
Thatcham S5 tracking with two ID tags and 24/7 monitoring. Aids recovery; no immobiliser.
Subscription
1 year (+£189.95) or 3 years (+£499.95) added at checkout. Renewals go directly to Meta Trak.
Warranty
Lifetime Meta Trak parts and labour warranty (original owner, active subscription)
ScorpionTrack S5
Tracker only
Supply and installation
£375
What it does
Thatcham S5 tracking with a driver tag, with the option of using your phone as a tag. Aids recovery; no immobiliser.
Subscription
Not included. Arranged and paid directly with ScorpionTrack after installation.
Warranty
2 year manufacturer warranty
For theft prevention and recovery together, the Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK is the system we recommend. The system includes a Thatcham CAT2E accredited immobiliser, which our guide to Thatcham Category 2E explains.
For an immobiliser without a tracker, the Meta AUTOBLOK is our recommendation, at £349 supply and installation with no subscription to pay.
For a tracker on its own, the Meta Trak S5 Tracker and the ScorpionTrack S5 both meet an insurer's request for a Thatcham S5 tracker. Read our ScorpionTrack S5 buyer's guide. Our car tracker cost guide sets out first year and three year totals for each system, subscriptions included.
The standard Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK can be fitted to any powertrain on any make and model. For vehicles with an electrified powertrain (mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully electric), the Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK E-TEC may be the better fit, and Meta Trak's E-TEC compatibility list decides whether your vehicle is covered. If in doubt, call 0330 133 3990.
If you would rather fit something yourself, the Meta Trak Pulsar is a wireless, battery powered tracker designed to be self fitted. It costs from £225 supplied, with a 3 year subscription (SIM data and app access) included, and professional installation is available for £80, making it £305 fitted. It is self monitored rather than Thatcham approved, so it does not meet an insurer's request for a Thatcham tracker. The Meta Trak Pulsar comes with a 3 year parts and labour warranty.
Fitting across the UK
We fit across the UK, and the visit described above is the same wherever you are. For local details, see our pages for Birmingham, Manchester, London, Leeds, Glasgow and Bristol.
How buying works
Select your system and complete checkout. We then contact you to arrange installation at your home, workplace, or even at the dealership before collection of the vehicle, UK wide in an estimated 2 - 5 days. After fitting, the system is tested to confirm it is fully functioning, and for Thatcham systems the certificate of installation is issued on the day of installation and emailed by the product manufacturer after activation.
Not sure which system to have fitted?
Answer a few quick questions and get a tailored recommendation for your vehicle, from a compliant S5 Tracker to a full tracker and immobiliser setup with OBD protection. It takes about two minutes.
Thatcham approved | Supply and installation UK wide | Insurance accepted
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to fit a car tracker and immobiliser?
A Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK or DEADLOCK E-TEC generally takes around 1.5 to 2.5 hours to fit, depending on the vehicle. Supply and installation is UK wide in an estimated 2 - 5 days, and we contact you after checkout to arrange the visit.
Where is a car tracker fitted?
In a concealed position the engineer chooses for your vehicle. A dealer follows the manufacturer's installation specification, so a factory or dealer fitted system sits in the same place on every vehicle of that model, while an aftermarket system has no single known location. We do not publish where units are placed.
Can the fitting be done at the dealership before I collect my car?
Yes. We fit at your home, workplace, or even at the dealership before collection of the vehicle. Give us the dealership's details when we contact you to book.
When will I get the installation certificate for my insurer?
For Thatcham systems the certificate of installation is issued on the day of installation and emailed by the product manufacturer after activation. Meta Trak sends it in your welcome email. For ScorpionTrack, it can be downloaded from your ScorpionTrack account once your subscription has been paid and is active.
What do I need to have ready for the fitting?
Park the vehicle where the engineer can reach it and work around it safely, and have the keys and your phone to hand for the app set up. For a ScorpionTrack system, be ready to set up and pay for the ScorpionTrack subscription so monitoring can start.
Does an S5 Tracker installation include an immobiliser?
No. Fitting a Thatcham S5 tracker alone gives you recovery support, but nothing in it prevents the engine being started. If you want both, the Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK combines Thatcham S5 tracking with an aftermarket immobiliser that blocks the start attempt unless your ID tag is present.
Ready to book your fitting?
Use the advisor to find the right system for your vehicle, see the full range, or call us with any question about the fitting visit.
Pricing accurate at time of publishing.
