THATCHAM S5 TRACKER

A Thatcham S5 tracker is a premium, insurance‑approved vehicle tracking system that falls under Thatcham’s Category  S5 classification (formerly known as Category  5). These trackers provide 24/7 monitoring, live GPS location, Automatic Driver Recognition and a direct link between the control centre and UK police forces. Prices for an entry‑level Thatcham S5 tracker start at around £379 including installation.

The convenience of keyless entry and start systems for drivers has led to new methods of vehicle theft. Unfortunately, thieves have found ways to exploit this technology, making it easy to steal vehicles in under 30 seconds.

This rise in keyless vehicle theft has prompted insurance companies to take action. Theft-prone vehicles of any value are often now required to have Thatcham approved vehicle tracking systems installed, protecting both insurers and customers from financial losses caused by vehicle theft. To ensure complete coverage, many insurers now stipulate that customers must fit as mandatory a Thatcham-approved S5 tracker to their vehicle.

Insurance-approved S5 trackers increase the security of your vehicle by utilising automatic driver recognition (ADR), 24/7 professional theft assistance, and multiple tracking technologies. ADR notifies the monitoring centre and you of any unauthorised vehicle movements and potential theft events. If a theft is confirmed by the vehicle owner, the monitoring centre initiates a recovery operation to track the stolen vehicle's location and relay this information to the police for assistance in recovering the vehicle. Without this type of technology fitted, there would be a vanishingly slim chance of ever seeing the vehicle again.

However, while insurance-approved S5 trackers have benefits, they do not prevent vehicle theft. If your insurance company mandates the installation of a Thatcham S5 tracker but you desire to deter vehicle theft instead of solely having the capability of recovering a stolen vehicle, it is necessary to also install an immobiliser.

Browse our selection of combined tracker and immobiliser systems by clicking the button below. These systems feature an engine immobiliser paired with either an S7 or S5 insurance-approved tracker.

Combined Tracker & Immobiliser

Its simple!

1. Select the product you wish to have installed and either add it to your bag or go straight ahead and purchase it.

2. Once purchased Specialised Trackers UK will contact you that same day to arrange a date and time for your installation.

3. Once your product has been installed you will automatically receive your ‘proof of installation certificate’ via email. This is the important bit your insurer will be wanting from you to prove the product has been fitted.

4. Your all set and now insurance compliant.

We stock all of the UK's top Thatcham S5 tracker brands, so you can easily find the best one for your needs. Whether you prefer a key ring, card, or phone-based driver recognition tag, there are options available that will suit your personal preferences.

Additionally, some customer apps offer more functionality than others, so it’s worth considering which features are important to you.

Many S5 tracker providers also offer engine immobilisers, which can be paired with the tracker to create a more powerful vehicle security system. This increased security is particularly effective against keyless theft methods. If you're not currently interested in an engine immobiliser, it's still worth checking whether your chosen S5 tracker can be paired with other products from the same manufacturer, as this may be useful when upgrading your system in the future.

Because a Thatcham-approved S5 tracker actively assists police in real-time recovery, most UK insurers offer an immediate discount once your installation certificate is supplied. Many customers recoup the cost of their Thatcham S5 tracker within the first year of cover.

Entry-level devices start at around £379 fitted, with annual monitoring fees from £129. When you buy a Thatcham S5 tracker online through Specialist Trackers UK, the quoted price always includes nationwide installation.

Yes. The 24/7 control-room response and police liaison are funded by a subscription. After the first year’s inclusive service, you can renew annually or save money with multi-year S5 tracker subscription if your product allows.

Absolutely. An engineer can remove and re-install the device in your next vehicle, maintaining your existing Thatcham S5 subscription and insurance validity. Just contact us to book a re-installation visit when you change vehicles.

To date, we have not encountered any situations where a customer's vehicle warranty was impacted by one of our installations. All work is carried out using Thatcham-approved methods and connection techniques. However, because warranty terms vary between manufacturers, we strongly advise checking with your provider to ensure that installing a specific device will not affect your individual agreement.