YOUR CAR
CAN BE STOLEN
in under 60 seconds with no alarm triggered
Alarm, tracker, or immobiliser: which one do you actually need?
It is one of the most common questions installers get asked, and the honest answer is that each one does a different job. Here is what each actually does, and why the strongest answer is usually more than one.
What an alarm actually does
An alarm watches for a trigger, a forced door, a broken window, movement inside the cabin, and responds with noise and flashing lights. Its entire job is deterrence through attention. It does not stop the engine from starting and does not track the vehicle if it is driven away.
Against a relay attack or CAN bus injection, where no door is forced and no glass breaks, a standard alarm often never triggers at all, because nothing it is watching for actually happened.
What a tracker actually does
Recovery, Not Prevention
A GPS tracker helps locate a vehicle after it has already been taken. It does nothing to stop the theft from happening in the first place.
Depends on Connectivity
Trackers rely on mobile network coverage and, for the more advanced tiers, an ongoing monitoring subscription to be genuinely effective.
Recovery Odds Are Not 100%
Even with active tracking, vehicles can be hidden, disabled, or stripped for parts before recovery is completed.
What an immobiliser actually does
An immobiliser prevents the engine from starting unless a specific condition is met, typically a code, a paired device, or both. Unlike an alarm, it does not need to detect a break-in to work. Unlike a tracker, it does not rely on recovering the vehicle after the fact, because the goal is that it never leaves in the first place.
LockCar CAN-IMMO works on exactly this principle: no PIN, no start. Authorisation comes from the paired app or an optional Bluetooth proximity TAG, independent of the factory keyless system, with anti-hijack protection built in for if the authorised TAG is no longer detected while driving.
An alarm deters the opportunist. A tracker helps if prevention fails. An immobiliser is the layer that actually stops the engine from turning over. For most owners, an immobiliser is the highest-value single addition, because it addresses the theft method, relay attacks and unauthorised starts, that a factory alarm was never built to catch.
LockCar recommended for this page
- Stops the engine, does not just make noise or track
- Bluetooth app control, optional proximity TAG
- Anti-hijack protection built in
- No subscription required
- Every model built on the same CAN-IMMO core
- Speak to an installer for the right fit
Frequently asked questions
If I can only afford one, which should it be?
There is no single universal answer, it depends on your priorities. Many owners choose an immobiliser first because it addresses the theft method itself, rather than reacting to it or recovering afterwards.
Does LockCar CAN-IMMO include GPS tracking?
No. LockCar CAN-IMMO is an immobiliser, focused on stopping unauthorised starts. It does not include GPS tracking or a monitoring subscription. If tracking matters to you, it can be run alongside a separate tracker.
Does my insurer accept an immobiliser instead of a tracker?
This depends entirely on your specific policy and vehicle. Some insurers specify a device category for higher risk vehicles. Check your policy wording or ask your insurer directly.
Add the layer that stops the engine, not just the noise
LockCar CAN-IMMO is fitted UK-wide, vehicle-specific programming included.
