Determining Immobiliser Status for Insurance Purposes

[Smokaijo]

Eddie, This has been an interesting discussion as I struggle every year with clarifying to insurance companies what I've got, ie is my tracker Thatcham approved (apologies for any misinterpretation).

I have VANBITZ GROWLER and Meta Trak immobiliser and tracker. I no longer subscribe to our in-built tracker for reasons mentioned above.

I think I eventually achieve the appropriate cover but never fully certain I've met the specification of the policy for the tracker.

I hope the above makes sense, perhaps I worry about it too much

We have a Meta Trak immobiliser and an alarm fitted by previous owners - thinks it’s Auto Watch plus a tracker which I know constantly monitors where the van is I got calls whilst we were on a boat to France lol.

 

[Daffy64]

Just to give an idea about how secure factory fitted immobilisers are, I worked for a truck manufacturer and we launched a new model range in 2000 that had the chip in the key as described by eddie above, it was basically a copy of the system fitted to a BMW 7 series.

Anyway a customer had a truck driven out of their yard with a trailer full of white goods, the truck was found with an empty trailer and the wiring around the steering column damaged and apparently hot wired.

The owner still had 2 sets of keys so it was obviously driven away after being hot wired.

As we had been told that the immobiliser couldn’t be beaten I took some photos and sent them to R&D for comment - they came back immediately saying it had been driven with the key and to inform the police the keys were used as it was not possible to overcome.

This we did and they went away with both sets of keys and some cctv and had another look, it turned out someone had taken the spare keys home, lent them to a mate and returned them the next morning.

So on this basis I think your std immobiliser is pretty secure providing the scrotes don’t have the key.

 

[Pausim]

This Thatcham listing will show whether your vehicle has a compliant standard installation. L2 is a type of Cat 2 immobiliser that applies to light commercial vehicles such as the Ducato which can be found on page 37.

https://www.thatcham.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/June-2023-OE.pdf

 

[BRND]

When insurers ask if an immobiliser is fitted what are they actually after is it the manufacturer standard if fitted or are they after something superior?
I have a Burstner Lyseo time ,2018 ,do I have an immobiliser as standard ?

From my experience the standard factory immobiliser is insufficient, there is a need for a separate immobiliser and tracker device. I would replace VanBlitz

 

[POH]

From my experience the standard factory immobiliser is insufficient, there is a need for a separate immobiliser and tracker device. I would replace VanBlitz

hi do you mean you would replace a vanbitz? or replace with a vanbitz??

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[eddie]

hi do you mean you would replace a vanbitz? or replace with a vanbitz??

I thought that as well

 

[Brains]

Which immobiliser do you have ?

Like many many motorhome users on this forum, my combined Alarm/Tracker/Immobiliser system was fitted by VanBitz of Taunton.

We bought our Motorhome from a dealer up north.
We live in SE London (Kent borders)

We drove from the dealers forecourt to Taunton,
had the combined Alarm/Tracker/Immobiliser system fitted by VanBitz of Taunton
And then drove home for the first time, a journey of close to 400 miles but well worth it for peace of mind ever since.

(Also our insurers, Comfort, insisted of a Thatcham level of security Alarm/Tracker/Immobiliser system, they would only insure us for 10 days without it!)

VanBitz may cost more than the others, but are worth it as they are the only company uses systems designed for Motorhomes and not ones designed for vans or cars

 

[nicholsong]

If a vehicle is stolen and never recovered the insurance company will not know, nor can prove, whether the owner lied when he/she declared whatever safety device they claim to have fitted.

 

[Brains]

From my experience the standard factory immobiliser is insufficient, there is a need for a separate immobiliser and tracker device. I would replace with a VanBlitz Tracker/Immobiliser/Alarm system

Is this what you meant ?

 

[Brains]

If a vehicle is stolen and never recovered the insurance company will not know, nor can prove, whether the owner lied when he/she declared whatever safety device they claim to have fitted.

On the condition that:
There is no CCTV
No ANPR
No traffic cameras
(all of which in urban UK is almost impossible)

Also if you said the tracker was fitted and it was 'disabled' on your drive, then that takes a fair bit of time, knowledge, tools and noise.
If the tracker was disabled somewhere else then it would show up on the record.

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[eddie]

If a vehicle is stolen and never recovered the insurance company will not know, nor can prove, whether the owner lied when he/she declared whatever safety device they claim to have fitted.

Er they ask for Certificates and invoices.

 

[eddie]

On the condition that:
There is no CCTV
No ANPR
No traffic cameras
(all of which in urban UK is almost impossible)

Also if you said the tracker was fitted and it was 'disabled' on your drive, then that takes a fair bit of time, knowledge, tools and noise.
If the tracker was disabled somewhere else then it would show up on the record.

Sadly I have a device that will "cloak" a tracking system from outside the van, any tracking system, also it knocks out CCTV and mobile phones

Yes it is illegal to use, but people intent of nicking vehicles aren't too bothered about that.

That is another reason for the Van Bitz Non Starter, if the system is jammed it can't receive a signal from the vehicle owners mobile so will not start.

Conventional tracking systems are shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, the Van Bitz Non Starter uses the same technology in reverse, ensuring that the "horse" stays where you left it!

 

[jp11]

Now, that's been an interesting thread....

 

[AndyJL]

Well, it would appear you probably have got one fitted.
In which case, you need to find out to activate/deactivate it!

(Key fob maybe ?)

 

[gus-lopez]

Also if you said the tracker was fitted and it was 'disabled' on your drive, then that takes a fair bit of time, knowledge, tools and noise.

as Eddie has said & twenty quid jammer off ebay renders them useless.

Er they ask for Certificates and invoices.

Amazing!

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