Car Trackers under Review - Which one is right for you?
Thatcham Stolen Vehicle Tracking accreditations have undergone significant changes recently. From 1st January 2019, CAT6 and CAT5 no longer exist and new accreditations, S5 and S7 were announced. To comply to these changes Vodafone Automotive have launched new S5 P&C range of devices – S5 P&C / S5 P&C Plus / S5 P&C Advanced. If your car insurer insists on CAT5 protection then they really mean S5 under the new Thatcham Accreditation. CAT6 is replaced with S7. You will find all the information on vehicle trackers below to be able to make an informed choice.
At Car Communications, we have been installing car trackers since they were first introduced over ten years ago. We have carried out many hundreds of car tracker installations in this time and therefore we know a little about which trackers are feature rich and work the best. To make life easy for you we have handpicked top 5 car trackers and explained each feature. We have also made a comparison so you can make an informed decision on the best car tracker for you. We believe Vodafone tracking systems offer the ultimate protection for your vehicle. For more information about the Vodafone Protect & Connect range continue reading below:
Vodafone Protect & Connect vehicle tracking systems use the latest GPS and GSM technology, providing pinpoint accuracy and unparalleled service levels. Police liaison is conducted in local language through a network of Secure Operating Centres across 49 countries worldwide. Improvements in vehicle security and advancements in telematics technology, including vehicle tracking, have been at the forefront of reducing stolen vehicle numbers in the UK from over 300,000 to under 70,000 in recent years.
Vodafone Automotive is the European market leader for Stolen Vehicle Tracking. The only approved tracking supplier to: Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Ferrari, Infiniti, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Seat, Skoda, Tesla, Volkswagen passenger cars and Volkswagen commercial vehicles.
Product Range
Protect & Connect S5 (Cat5)
S5 formally CAT5 is the highest level of stolen vehicle tracking systems. Vodafone Protect & Connect 5 conforms to the highest level of insurance accreditation for stolen vehicle tracking systems, Thatcham Category 5. As such, it offers the ultimate security protection for your vehicle to prevent vehicle theft. The S5 vehicle tracking system incorporates all of the benefits listed below. The system also can be supplied with the additional features that come with the Plus or Advanced versions. Below are the standard features found in S5, S5 Plus and S5 Advance.
Protect & Connect S5 Plus (Cat5)
Vodafone Protect & Connect S5 Plus incorporates all the benefits listed above. The system also benefits from the additional Manual Engine Start Inhibit feature.
Protect & Connect S5 Advance (Cat5)
Vodafone Protect & Connect S5 Advance is the top of the range Thatcham accredited system. It incorporates all the benefits of S5 Plus. The system also benefits from the additional Automatic Engine Start Inhibit feature.
Protect & Connect S7 (Cat6)
The S7 is the second highest possible insurance accrediation for stolen tracking. S7 offers stolen asset location with pan-European Coverage as standard, pin-point GPS tracking to within 10 metres, tow-away alert, tamper alert and all the features of the My Connected Car App. It is a basic car tracker and unlike S5 will not inhibit the engine if the vehicle is stolen or tampered with. But by using the My Connected Car App you can locate your vehicles whereabouts or Geofence it and receive notifications. If you are installing a Protect & Connect device for insurance compliance, always confirm with your Insurer the correct device required. Protect & Connect devices are also connectable to the Cobra 4615P ADR Car Alarm – offering even greater levels of security and peace of mind. The S7 and 4615P ADR are a perfect combination where key cloning is a major problem because manufactures have introduced keyless entry systems eg. like BMW, Land Rover and Rang Rover.
My Connected Car App and Web
With My Connected Car included with S5 and S7 trackers, you can access and manage a number of your vehicle security and safety functions remotely. My Connected Car provides easy access to vehicle information such as real-time vehicle location, directions to the vehicle and geofence ability.
Our verdict for each tracker.
Protect & Connect S5
Protect & Connect S5 is our top of the range stolen tracking system. Vodafone Protect & Connect S5 incorporates all the standard Vodafone features listed above.
- Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR)
- Pinpoint GPS Tracking
- European Coverage as Standard
- Thatcham Category 5
Protect & Connect S5 Plus
The S5 Plus incorporates all the S5 standard features. The system also benefits from the additional Manual Engine Start Inhibit feature.
- All S5 Features
- Manual Start Engine Inhibit
Protect & Connect S5 Advance
The S5 Advance incorporates all the S5 features. The system also benefits from the additional Automatic Engine Start Inhibit feature.
- All S5 Features
- Automatic Start Engine Inhibit
Protect & Connect S7
Protect & Connect 7 offer live tracking, Tow-away alert, Tamper alert. Suitable for cars, van’s, HGV’s, motorhomes, caravans, plant machinery and boats.
- Live Tracking via App
- Tow away alert
- Tamper alert
Protect & Connect S7 with 4615-P2DC Alarm
S7 tracker combined with Cat-2 alarm. Without the ADR card being present the vehicle won’t start and the alarm will sound
- Thatcham Cat-2 Alarm
- Driver Recognition ID Cards (ADR)
- S7 Asset Tracking
Vodafone 4615-P2DC Alarm
Cat-2 alarm. Without the ADR card being present the vehicle won’t start and the alarm will sound.
- Thatcham Cat-2 Alarm
- Driver Recognition ID Cards (ADR)
- Works with cars original remote
Installing your Car Tracker
Car Communications offer a wide range of GPS vehicle tracking systems from popular brands such as Vodafone Automotive, SmarTrack and TRACKER. All our car trackers are recognised by major insurance brokers and underwriters. With over 25 years in the automotive accessory business Car Communications have been part of the car security evolution and therefore we have the experience and knowledge to provide the right vehicle tracking solution for you. Our tracker fitting service includes an onsite installation at your home or workplace in mainland UK by an approved fitter (subscription fees apply). If you are still unsure give our experts a call on 01254 694537 for friendly, professional advice or get in touch via our contact form.
Thatcham Key Changes CAT5 to S5
The following changes took place when S5 became the new Category 5 Thatcham standard.
- The remote inhibit “Engine Cut” that was a component of CAT5, is no longer mandatory. However, should an insurer insist on an engine inhibit, the ‘S5 P&C Plus’ includes a plug-in relay to enable this feature and provide customers with a greater level of protection.
- Thatcham Recognised Installer certifications are not a requirement under Category S5.
- Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) tags can now be attached to the vehicles keys – although that’s at the discretion of the driver and for extra security, we’d recommend keeping the tag away from the keys.
How does the tracking work?
Your vehicle is tracked by the latest GPS / GPRS / GSM technology, with pinpoint accuracy (subscription fees apply). If your vehicle is tampered with – motion detected with engine off, battery disconnected or attempt is made to jam the GSM signal an alert is immediately generated.
With Vodafone Protect & Connect S5, the top of the range Thatcham category system you are also supplied with 2 unique driver ID cards (ADR system). An authorised driver must have a driver card in their possession when using the vehicle.
- The system will automatically arm itself 70 seconds after the vehicle ignition has been switched off and the driver card is out of range (approximately 3 metres).
- The system will automatically disarm itself when the driver card is brought back in range of the vehicle.
- If your vehicle is driven and the driver card has not been detected, a silent alert will be transmitted to the Vodafone Automotive 24-hour Secure Operating Centre, who will contact you to check that a vehicle theft has not taken place.
For added security, if the driver card is not present, the system will also generate an alert:
- When your vehicle is lifted or towed away without the keys.
- When your vehicle battery is disconnected or discharged.
Remote Engine Immobilisation
Remote Engine Immobilisation technology enables Police to authorise Vodafone Automotive to send an alert to the vehicle to prevent the engine being restarted once it comes to a standstill. This significantly increases the chance of your vehicle being recovered undamaged, and can also help Police to avoid high speed pursuit of suspect vehicles. This is offered on the S5 Plus and S5 Advance products.
Last updated May 27 2019