What’s the actual difference between an S7 and S5 Insurance approved Vehicle Tracker?
With the rise in car theft, it is becoming more and more common for car insurance companies to require that you install Insurance Approved Vehicle Trackers.
If you own an expensive vehicle, you are probaly aware of a Thatcham Insurance Approved vehicle tracker. Thatcham have been testing and approving aftermarket vehicle tracking systems since 1992. Thatcham approved vehicle trackers are GPS devices that are independently tested to determine them as being highly effective and safe.
If your insurance company has advised or insisted you have a Thatcham insurance approved tracker installed to comply with your insurance policy, it is highly recommended that you choose an S7 or S5 insurance approved Thatcham Tracker.
Just give us a call if you are not sure which one you need on: 01622 234510
A Thatcham Insurance Approved Car Tracker is a GPS tracking device that has been rigorously tested and certified by Thatcham Research, the UK's leading automotive security organisation.
With car theft rates rising, insurance companies often require these devices to be installed on HIGH RISK cars as it gives them confidence in the car being recovered if stolen.
There are three main categories for Thatcham Insurance Approved Car Trackers. The S7, S5 and S5 Plus, all offering 24/7 theft monitoring:
S7 Car Tracker: The standard level Thatcham Approved Car Tracker. includes live GPS tracking, tow away and tamper alerts.
S5 Car Tracker: This includes all the features of an S7 with additional Automatic Driver Recognition. This device comes with 2 small tags, one of these must be present when the vehicle is started. Without this tag present, the customer and our monitoring centre are alerted of a potential theft of the vehicle.
S5 Plus Car Tracker: This is the highest level Thatcham Approved Car Tracker. It has all the features of the S5 with an additional immobilisation feature. Without the Automatic Driver Recognition tag, the vehicle will not start. NO TAG - NO START!
Instant Real Time Location Tracking: If your car is stolen, you can provide the police with its exact real-time location, increasing the chances of a swift recovery.
Geofencing Alerts: Set up geofences and receive real-time notifications when your GPS tracker crosses these boundaries—easily create multiple zones in just moments.
Driver Behaviour Monitoring: The tracker can identify patterns of poor driving, such as speeding, harsh braking, sharp cornering, and rapid acceleration.
User Friendly Mobile App and Web Access: Our user friendly APP and Website gives you access to your GPS Car Tracker on your smartphone, laptop or tablet via IOS or Android.
24/7 Support Team: Once you have purchased your car tracker, the support does not stop there. At I Track Direct we have a designated team that are on hand to answer any questions from Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and an out of hours team that offer 24/7 support for stolen or immobilised vehicles.
Track Manager vs Track Manager Lite: We offer two platforms for different customers needs. Track Manager Lite subscriptions start from £4.99/month and Track Manager subscriptions start from £8.50/ month. These are all
No Contract Plans.
Car theft in the UK is a real and growing concern and protecting your vehicle has never been more crucial. We offer car trackers that will put those worries to rest no matter what your budget
We offer a wide selection of car trackers to fit your specific requirements:
For Everyday Security: The Car Tracker 4G TM900 (£39.99) is a fantastic, budget-friendly option for reliable tracking.
For Rugged Conditions: The Waterproof Car Tracker 4G TM880 (£44.99) is built to withstand the elements and can be installed directly onto the battery.
For Easy Installation: The Car Tracker OBD2 (£49.99) plugs directly into your car's diagnostic port – no wiring needed.
For Insurance Approval: Our Thatcham-Approved S7 Tracker (£169.99), S5 Tracker (from £359.00) and S5 Plus Tracker (£399.99) meet the stringent security standards required by many insurance companies.
At I Track Direct we offer Fast Nationwide Mobile Installation, normally between 3-5 days but can be quicker depending on engineer availability. Once you purchase your car tracker, our team will contact you to schedule an appointment, and a certified engineer will come to you to install your car tracker.
Our support team are always on hand to help with any enquiries during working hours or 24/7 support for stolen or immobilised vehicles.
If you would like to talk to a member of our customer service team before purchasing, call us on: 01622 234510
Purchase Your Device
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Customer Service
A member of our customer support team will contact you to book your installation slot.
Nationwide Mobile Installation
Our certified insurance approved engineer will arrive and install your device.
Have Piece Of Mind
Your vehicle is safe, secure and can be monitored on our APP. We offer 24/7 support for stolen or immobilised vehicles.
All our car trackers come with access to our web portal and our Track Manager or Track Manager Lite APP. These are available on both IOS and Android devices as part of your tracking subscription, meaning you can access your vehicles location at all times.
Download the Track Manager Lite APP below.
Download the Track Manager APP below.
What’s the actual difference between an S7 and S5 Insurance approved Vehicle Tracker?
In simple terms, it’s the ability to have a call centre alerted when the vehicle moves without permission (S7 – Tow Away) or Drives without Driver Tag Present (S5) – Starting Attempted without Driver Tag Present (S5 Plus)
An S7 Insurance Approved Tracker is a GPS Tracking device tested and inspected by Thatcham. If Installed by an approved Engineer, then the insurance company are happy that there is a better chance of vehicle recovery there reducing insurance claims. The GPS Tracker is monitored by the supplier and they will assist the police 24 hours a day to get it back. If your vehicle is towed away without the vehicle being started the support team are notified and in due course the police.
An S5 Insurance Approved Tracker allows you all the functions of the S7 Insurance Approved Tracker, but with the addition of a driver ID Tag. If the vehicle is started and the driver tag is not present, then the monitoring centre is alerted to begin the recovery process.
An S5 PLUS Insurance Approved Tracker allow you all the functions of the S5 Insurance Approved Tracker but with the added vehicle immobilisation. The vehicle will not start without the ADR (Automatic Driver Recognition) Tag being present at the point of starting the vehicle.
With ALL 3 levels of GPS Tracking security systems you still have the GPS Tracking App top allow live viewing on the GPS Tracking.
Why do I need Insurance Approved Vehicle Tracker?
Insurance companies make an assessment of your vehicle compares to theft statistics and the replacement value of your vehicle. If it falls into what they consider to be HIGH risk then they will insist on a particular level of Insurance Approved Vehicle Tracker such as an s5 Tracker plus. This will not allow the vehicle to be started without the DRIVER ID TAG being inside the vehicle.
There are a few makes on insurance approved Trackers to choose from and ours are accepted by every insurance company in the UK.
What are the benefits of having an insurance approved vehicle tracker?
Car tracking devices that are approved by your insurance company are certified and tested by Thatcham.
A major benefit of having fitted an insurance approved tracker, is it normally results in Up to 20% cost reduction on your insurance premium. Because your vehicle has a lower risk, you will usually end up with better deals on your insurance premiums.
Insurance Approved Trackers are extremely effective in the event of an emergency such as theft. They have features that can be used to quickly recover the vehicle. Our recommended Thatcham insurance approved vehicle trackers are monitored by a control centre 24/7. You can also access your vehicle via a mobile app to see the location of your vehicle.
Some insurance companies no longer just offer car and vehicle trackers as an optional extra. In fact, some companies will now insist you to have a tracker when you apply for your policy.
It’s no surprise that the best insurance approved trackers are those tested and approved by the independent organisation Thatcham. They’re the industry standard when it comes to ‘aftermarket’ vehicle systems.
Founded in 1969 by British Insurers, Thatcham has been independently testing vehicle security products since the 1990s.
What is the difference between a standard Car Tracker and an Insurance-Approved Tracker?
The key distinction between standard Car Trackers and Insurance Approved Trackers lies in their monitoring and security features.
Standard car trackers are self-monitored and typically include live GPS real-time tracking, geofencing, and driver behaviour monitoring.
Insurance Approved Trackers offer enhanced security:
S7 Trackers add tow-away and tamper alerts.
S5 Trackers include two Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) tags, triggering an alert if the vehicle is moved without them.
S5+ Trackers offer the highest security, including immobilisation if the ADR tags are not present.
Why has your insurance company requested you have a tracking device installed?
It’s becoming increasingly popular that your insurance company require you have a GPS insurance approved tracker installed in order to receive a reduced insurance quotation or even be approved for vehicle insurance!
If your insurance company has requested for you to have a vehicle GPS tracking device installed, this is normally beacuse your vehicle is within a high risk category for theft.
The higher the car’s value, the more appealing it is to criminals. Below are the top ten most targeted makes and models.
Does the Insurance Approved Tracker affect my car's battery life?
No, car trackers are designed to use minimal power, ensuring they do not significantly impact your vehicles battery life.
Will my insurance be reduced by having an insurance-approved GPS vehicle tracker?
There’s a strong chance if you have installed an insurance-approved GPS vehicle tracker, it will lead to a reduction of the overall cost of your insurance policy.
If you’re looking for a way to reduce your insurance premiums, look no further than the Scorpion Range of Insurance Approved Trackers. These tracking devices are designed and tested to meet the latest insurance requirements, so you can rest assured that your data is safe and secure.
Insurance providers will most likely reward motorists who are aware about the importance of the security of their vehicle.
However, due to a high rise in vehicle theft and how effective insurance approved vehicle tracking devices are at securing your vehicle, most insurance companies wont insure a vehicle for theft unless a GPS vehicle tracking device has been installed or they will give you 7 days from the insurance start to have one installed.
Which is the best vehicle tracking device for vehicle insurance?
Monitored Thatcham-approved vehicle trackers are among the best vehicle tracking devices which are recommended by most insurance companies.
Most insurance companies will recommend a Thatcham category GPS tracker.
It is highly recommended that you choose an S7 or S5 insurance approved Thatcham Tracker. This is generally specified by your insurance company insisting on its fitting.
The main difference is that with an S5 Insurance approved tracker, a driver ID tag must be with the vehicle when it is started. If the theft is confirmed, an alert is sent to the monitoring team so that the recovery process can begin.
If you’re not sure which insurance approved tracker you need, give us a call on 01622 234510.
We take pride in only working with trackers suppliers that offer the highest levels of performance, technology, and reliability.
Can the tracker be used to monitor driving behaviour?
Definitely! GPS car trackers are great for monitoring driver behaviour. Many transport managers use car trackers to keep an eye on their company vehicles. For advanced reporting and monitoring driver behaviour, we recommend our full Track Manager platform over Track Manager Lite as it has full access to the reports and allows comparative analysis of vehicles.
What happens if my vehicle is stolen?
With an insurance approved device, you should be alerted if the vehicle is stolen whether this be through your tow away alert or through unauthorised driving without the Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) tag. With a standard car tracker you may notice your car is stole through geofence or movement alerts.
If your car is stolen, contact the police immediately, report the incident and get a Crime Reference Number (CRN). Once you have this, please contact us on 01622 234510. We will discuss this with you, monitor the vehicle location and liaise with the police to get the vehicle recovered.
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