How do I know if my car has an alarm and 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 a standard fit alarm and immobiliser?
A factory-fitted immobiliser is one that is fitted at the point of manufacture. When you climb into your car and insert your key, the key or its fob sends a code to the electronic control unit (ECU), informing the car that it has permission to start the engine.
Is a Thatcham alarm and immobiliser?
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.
What is a Thatcham Category 2 immobiliser?
Thatcham Category 2 is an immobiliser-only category – alarms are not awarded this status. Just like Thatcham Category 1 systems, a Thatcham Category 2 device has to isolate at least two circuits or systems, or one vehicle control unit that’s required for the car to run properly.
How are immobilisers and alarms affect car insurance?
Class 1 alarms often run on their own battery supply, and immobilisers have the ability to activate on their own. Both immobiliser and alarm have to be present for class 1. This is a class 1 engine immobiliser but without the alarm. For class 2, it needs to be able to disable two of the three systems used to drive the car.
Can a Class 2 immobiliser be used with a Class 1 alarm?
This is a class 1 engine immobiliser but without the alarm. For class 2, it needs to be able to disable two of the three systems used to drive the car. If you have an immobiliser, you can add a class 1 alarm afterwards. Though this doesn’t push you into fully-fledged class 1 territory, it’s as close to it as you’ll get without getting a new car.
What do you need to know about an immobiliser?
Immobilisers in this class are required to pass rigorous Thatcham Category 1 tests, while they also need to be passively set (no input needed from the driver), making them the most comprehensive Thatcham-approved security system. Category 2 is Thatcham’s immobiliser-only category – alarms are not awarded this certification.
How can I tell if my car has an immobiliser?
For cars older than this, you’ll need to check. Some might have been fitted with an immobiliser at the factory, and others might have had them installed later. The easiest thing to do is check your owner’s handbook. It’ll say if your car has a factory-fitted immobiliser.