Thatcham CAN immobiliser: what approval means
Insurers, sellers and forums all mention Thatcham when you shop for a CAN immobiliser. This guide explains what Thatcham certification is, which category a CAN immobiliser falls under, how to check a product, and where LockCAR stands today.
What is Thatcham certification?
Thatcham Research was set up by the UK motor insurance industry in 1969. Its Thatcham Security Certification tests vehicle security products, both aftermarket and factory-fitted, for security, function, safety and reliability. Certified products are reviewed every two years.
Certification is not the same as insurer approval. Thatcham itself points out that certification doesn’t guarantee insurers will recognise a product: each manufacturer agrees that with insurers separately. So the useful question is not only “is it Thatcham?” but “what does my insurer ask for?”
Thatcham categories, and where a CAN immobiliser fits
A CAN immobiliser on its own is an electronic immobiliser, so Category 2 is the one that applies. The other categories cover alarms, wheel locks and trackers.
| Category | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | Electronic alarm and immobiliser |
| Category 2 | Electronic immobiliser: the category for a CAN immobiliser |
| Category 2-1 | Electronic alarm, added to an existing immobiliser |
| Category 4 | Wheel locking devices |
| Category S5 | Vehicle tracking systems with driver identification |
| Category S7 | Asset location (tracking) systems |
Does your insurer need a Thatcham CAN immobiliser?
- Ask before you buy
- Some insurers ask for a specific Thatcham category on certain models. Your policy wording, or a quick call, tells you what applies to you.
- “Thatcham device” often means a tracker
- When an insurer asks for a Thatcham-approved device, it usually means an S5 or S7 tracker, and an immobiliser alone may not meet that condition (Confused.com).
- Not every well-known CAN immobiliser is certified
- Several popular CAN immobilisers sold in the UK aren’t Thatcham certified, and insurers treat them case by case.
- Keep your paperwork
- Whatever you fit, give your insurer the product name and keep the fitting invoice with your policy documents.
How to check a product’s Thatcham status
Ask for the category
A certified product has a Thatcham category. Ask the seller which one, and for the certificate.
Search Thatcham’s directory
Look the product up in Thatcham’s list of certified aftermarket security products.
Match it to your policy
Check that the category is the one your insurer asks for, then keep the paperwork with your policy.
Where LockCAR stands on Thatcham
Our CAN immobilisers are going through Thatcham Security Certification now. Until a certificate is issued, they are not Thatcham certified, and we don’t describe them as approved.
- What you get todayA UK-made CAN immobiliser that keeps the engine blocked against relay attacks, cloned keys and keys programmed through the OBD port.
- What we will publishThe category and certificate details, on this page, as soon as certification is complete.
- If your insurer needs a certified trackerAn immobiliser won’t replace it, but it stops the car being driven away in the first place.
- What it costsKits from £139, direct from the manufacturer, with no subscription.
Questions about Thatcham CAN immobilisers
Is a Thatcham immobiliser a legal requirement?
No. Thatcham certification is an industry standard that insurers use, not a legal requirement. Whether you need it depends on your insurer and your car.
Which Thatcham category covers a CAN immobiliser?
Category 2, electronic immobiliser. Category 1 is an immobiliser combined with an alarm, and S5 and S7 are for tracking systems.
Are LockCAR immobilisers Thatcham approved?
Not yet. They are going through Thatcham Security Certification, and we will publish the category and certificate details on this page when it is complete.
Will a non-Thatcham immobiliser lower my insurance?
It can. Some insurers take aftermarket immobilisers into account case by case. Tell your insurer which product is fitted and keep your fitting invoice.
My insurer requires a Thatcham S5 or S7 tracker. Will an immobiliser do?
Usually not on its own, because those categories are for tracking systems, so you would need a certified tracker for that condition. An immobiliser adds a different layer: it stops the car being driven away in the first place. Read why an immobiliser matters alongside a tracker.
How can I check whether a product is Thatcham certified?
Ask the seller for the category and certificate, then look the product up in Thatcham’s directory of certified aftermarket security products.
Written by the LockCAR engineering team. We design and build our immobilisers in the UK and fit them through our approved installers. Meet the engineers. Last updated .