TRACKER AND IMMOBILISER

A combined tracker and immobiliser system is a vehicle security package that normally includes a category S5 tracker and an engine immobiliser. The engine immobiliser is automatically armed and disarmed through proximity of an ID tag.

Having a combined tracker and immobiliser system installed in your vehicle is crucial to protect against modern keyless theft techniques such as relay attack, OBD attack and key cloning. The most important feature of this system is the automatically arming engine immobiliser, which ensures that your vehicle is always immobilised when not in use. This helps to prevent the exploitation of keyless entry and start technology and protects your vehicle from many of the modern theft methods.

Most of these systems do not require any input from the vehicle owner or driver, as they are passive systems. This means that the immobilisation of your vehicle is done automatically, often through the proximity of an ID tag, making it easy for vehicle owners to use.

Combined tracker and immobiliser systems combat theft by automatically immobilising your vehicle when it’s not in use. A tracker and immobiliser system is designed to prevent vehicle theft, rather than solely locating and recovering a stolen vehicle as a tracker does.

The immobiliser automatically arms itself when you turn off the ignition and move the ID tag out of range. This prevents theft attempts, such as relay attacks or key cloning. The engine remains immobilised until the ID tag comes back into range, after which the immobiliser disarms and you can drive the vehicle again. In case of theft, the tracking system can be used to locate the vehicle.

Operation of combined tracker and immobiliser systems differ by brand, some also offer the ability to remotely immobilise the vehicle from your smartphone or through a web portal.

A combined tracker and immobiliser system would be the minimum amount of security I would recommend to any potential customer.

The reason why i’d suggest this is mainly due to the ease of which modern vehicles equipped with keyless entry/start technologies can be stolen. Modern vehicles can be stolen in as little as 30 seconds with the use of modern theft methods such as relay attack, OBD attack and key cloning.

While other types of vehicle security such as trackers are vital in the recovery of a stolen vehicle they do not prevent theft. A vehicle fitted with any type of tracker can still be stolen with the use of modern theft methods and provides no increase in a vehicles security or theft prevention other than the capability of potentially alerting to the theft attempt and providing positioning data for its hopeful recovery. Therefore the fitment of an aftermarket immobiliser is recommended, but paired with a tracker. This combination is so effective at preventing keyless theft because the immobiliser works independently from your vehicle’s factory security systems so is not disarmed via the factory remote/vehicle key.

Are their more comprehensive systems available than just a tracker and engine immobiliser?

Yes, whilst a tracker and engine immobiliser system are a good (I’d say minimum) place to start with modern vehicle security there are further things that can be done.

Multi-point security systems are amongst the most advanced modern vehicle security systems available on the market. These systems on top of featuring a 24/7 professionally monitored tracker and automatic proximity arming engine immobiliser, also include OBD port immobilisation and a wireless back-up tracker. They provide the latest advances and features from the vehicle security aftermarket to combat all modern theft methods including software-enabled theft via OBD attack.

Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK PRO+ is an advanced multi-point tracker and immobiliser system.

Insurers have recently started mandating the installation of tracker and immobiliser systems in vehicles to curb the rising cases of vehicle theft. While it has been common for insurers to require mandatory fitment of category S7 & S5 trackers in some cases, they are now seeking products that not only aid in recovering stolen vehicles but also help prevent theft in the first place. We do stock and install insurance approved tracker and immobiliser systems but do check with your insurer if they have asked for something specific.

If your insurer has asked you to fit a category S5 tracker and an engine immobiliser / no go / no tag no start etc, there are systems available that combine both these pieces of hardware together into one system. It’s recommended and advantageous to use the same brand for your category S5 tracker and the engine immobiliser as in most cases this will provide better functionality of the system such as remote immobilisation.

It's important to note that each insurer has its own list of approved products. It's highly recommended to check with your insurer to confirm that the product you intend to purchase and have installed meets their requirements. If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us directly by clicking on the 'call now' button located at the top of your screen.

Modern vehicles are equipped with advanced alarms and immobilisers, but the reality is that as soon as your vehicle’s key signal is present, all that security is disarmed. Thieves use the relay attack method to pick up, transmit or "relay" your car key's signal, allowing them to gain entry, start and drive away your vehicle with relative ease.

To protect your vehicle against keyless theft methods like relay attack and key cloning, you should install an aftermarket engine immobiliser and tracker. The aftermarket engine immobiliser works independently from your vehicle’s factory-fitted security and so is not controlled (armed or disarmed) via your vehicle's factory key or its signal, this means the use of relay attack is ineffective on the state of the aftermarket engine immobiliser and attempts at starting the vehicle.

The aftermarket engine immobiliser automatically arms via proximity using a small battery-powered ID tag that you attach to your keys or carry with you. The ID tag uses a Bluetooth low-energy signal to wirelessly communicate with the immobiliser. When the vehicle's ignition is switched off and the ID tag is out of range (5-10m), the immobiliser automatically arms. When the ID tag comes back into range, the immobiliser automatically disarms. For the driver/owner of the vehicle, this happens passively in the background, ensuring minimal input and a smooth, secure experience.

The automatic arming and disarming of the system ensures that your car is always immobilised when it's not in use. When a thief uses relay attack to transmit your key signal to your vehicle, they can gain entry, but they will not be able to start the vehicle because it is in an immobilised state as our Bluetooth ID tag is out of range.

Having your aftermarket security system (mainly the immobiliser) work independently from your factory fitted systems is what makes the system so effective against modern theft methods.

I suppose a better question would be what immobiliser and tracker system best suits your needs and budget.

You can opt for your normal combined tracker and engine immobiliser system or take things a little further with the addition of an OBD port immobiliser too, or if your looking for a complete multi-point security system perhaps a system featuring a secondary wireless back-up tracker is what your after.

It’s important to take note of your own vehicles attractiveness to thieves and what techniques are commonly used for its theft to ensure a suitable system too. Some of the latest theft methods such as OBD attack use software plugged directly into a vehicles OBD port to start and steal the vehicle without the key or even its signal as with relay attack. Therefore perhaps an OBD port immobiliser on top of other layered security options like a tracker and immobiliser would be wise. Software enabled theft is likely to become a big problem for modern vehicles moving forward but fortunately there are aftermarket product coming to market to mitigate these threats.

Your own research into the various systems available and your understanding of their genuine functionality under their marketing is key to ensuring you have installed a quality product that does as intended.

For further information on the latest products on the market combating modern theft methods please get in touch - contact us

Its simple!

1. Select the system 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.

   (If your product doesn’t include a subscription plan at the point of sale you’ll receive your certificate after you’ve set-up and paid for a subscription plan).

4. Your all set, and now insurance compliant.