If your car was made from 1998 onwards, it almost certainly has a security device known as an electronic immobiliser installed. Not only can an immobiliser reduce the risk of theft, it can also help keep your car insurance premiums down. Read on to find out how immobilisers work and why owners of older cars might want to think about getting one.
An immobiliser is a device that forms part of your car’s security. It is designed to prevent anyone from driving your car away without the correct key or fob. As such, it helps prevent criminals from stealing your car.
There are a few types of car immobiliser:
The exact details of how immobilisers work isn’t widely publicised, for obvious security reasons. But at a top level, a car immobiliser typically disables 2 or 3 components of your car: the fuel system, the starter motor, and/or the ignition.
When you use the correct key or fob, it sends a digital code to your car’s ECU. This will then enable the disabled elements and allow your vehicle to start. If a thief tries to use an incorrect key, or tries to hotwire your car, your ECU won’t receive the correct code and the car shouldn’t start.
It became compulsory for car manufacturers to factory-fit immobilisers into cars on 1 October 1998. So, if your car was made since then, you can feel pretty confident that it has an immobiliser.
Immobilisers have been around a bit longer than this though – since 1992 to be specific. So some pre-1998 cars may have immobilisers that the manufacturer fitted voluntarily. If so, it should be specified in your car’s handbook. You can also try contacting your car’s manufacturer. Other older cars may have had then retrospectively installed. If you have a second-hand car and you’re not sure if it has an immobiliser or not, you can ask a mechanic to check.
Thatcham is an independent vehicle security firm. The services it offers include rating the security of devices intended to keep cars secure, such as immobilisers and alarms.
It has a number of different categories of car security, with Class 1 offering the most robust security. Immobilisers and other security devices that are “Thatcham approved” have been assessed by Thatcham and deemed to have met the criteria for that category of product.
Insurers tend to favour security devices that are Thatcham approved. When you fill in a car insurance application form, you will usually be asked if any devices you have fitted are Thatcham approved.
Ghost immobilisers are a more recent innovation than electronic immobilisers, so you’re unlikely to find them built in by the manufacturer. You can add one into a car with an existing electronic immobiliser.
As with electronic immobilisers, a small, discreet device is installed in your car. But it’s not linked to your car key or fob. Instead you set a passcode sequence using the buttons in your car, such as those on the steering wheel, door panels or centre console.
Without putting in the correct passcode, it won’t be possible to start the vehicle.
Yes. If your car was made before 1998 and doesn’t have a factory-fitted immobiliser, then you can get one fitted retrospectively. You’ll need a mechanic to fit it for you. We’d recommend getting a Thatcham approved one. That’s not only because you’ll have the reassurance that it’s passed independent assessments, but also because insurers are more likely to recognise Thatcham approved devices and offer you a discount on your premiums.
If you have an older car without a factory-fitted immobiliser, and want to fit one – or to upgrade to a ghost immobiliser – expect to pay between around £250 and £600. The cost will depend on the specific features and levels of security. Ghost immobilisers tend to sit at the higher end of the price spectrum.
Car insurers are a fan of anything that will reduce the risk of you having to make a claim and therefore costing them money. Immobilisers are one of a number of security measures that can reduce the risk of your car being stolen. As such, a car with an immobiliser installed is likely to cost less to insure than an otherwise identical car without an immobiliser.
If you have a modern car, insurers will usually assume when they give a quote that your car has a factory-installed immobiliser. You’ll need to actively correct this assumption if, for whatever reason, the immobiliser has been removed. And you’ll need to actively tell them if you’ve added extra security to a car.
Insurers strongly favour Thatcham approved immobilisers, so if you’re adding an electronic immobiliser to an older car, always opt for a Thatcham approved Category 1 or 2 device.
Ghost immobilisers are a bit of a grey area. They’re a fairly new innovation, and many don’t align with Thatcham’s rating categories. This means most cannot yet be “Thatcham approved”. As a result, having a ghost immobiliser fitted might or might not make a difference to your car insurance premiums. This may change over time. But for now, if you’re considering having a ghost alarm fitted, it’s worth checking if there are any models that insurers are more likely to recognise.
Unlike immobilisers, it is not mandatory for car manufacturers to fit alarms into new cars. Many will now install an alarm voluntarily as a selling point, but there’s no guarantee your car will have an alarm, especially if it’s an older model.
Thatcham (and therefore most insurers, too) regards a combination of an alarm and immobiliser as the top level (Category 1) of car security. So if you want to maximise your car’s security, and the potential savings you can make on your insurance, it’s a good idea to have both an alarm and an immobiliser. You can buy bundled devices or, if your car has an immobiliser but not an alarm, it’s fairly straightforward to get one added. Make sure the alarm you choose is Thatcham approved, as it’s likely to make a difference to your car insurance provider.
The security measures installed in your car are only one of many factors that affects your car insurance premiums. Here are some other tactics to keep costs down.
Immobilisers are an important car security feature. They reduce the risk of your car being stolen and, therefore, also reduce your car insurance premiums. Most people don’t need to weigh up whether or not to get an immobiliser installed in their car, as it’s been compulsory for manufacturers to include them since 1998. If you have an older car, it’s pretty straightforward to get one added. Make sure you get a Thatcham approved one, as they’re more widely recognised by insurers.
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