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What S5 and S7 actually mean for your car’s security
LockCAR is a UK vehicle security manufacturer, and we build and fit CAN bus immobilisers, GPS trackers and 4G dashcams for drivers who want their car protected. This page explains what S5 and S7 actually mean: what each tracker category does, where it helps, and the gap neither of them covers, which is stopping the car being driven away in the first place.
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S5 and S7 in plain words
S5 and S7 are categories used in the UK to describe how much a tracker can do. The higher the category, the more the system does to detect a theft quickly.
- S5: tracking and a monitoring centre
- An S5 system tracks the vehicle and links to a monitoring centre that can follow it and work with the police to recover it. It does not require the driver to identify themselves before driving.
- S7: tracking with driver recognition
- An S7 system adds driver recognition. The vehicle needs a personal tag before it will drive. If it moves without one, the monitoring centre is alerted straight away.
- The difference is detection speed
- S5 waits for the tracking to show the car has moved. S7 detects the theft the moment the car moves without the tag. That means a faster alert, not a stronger lock.
- Neither category stops the engine
- Both are recovery systems. They respond after the theft has started. A relay attack can still start the car and move it, and the tracker then does its job.
- The categories are not a security layer
- Categories describe tracking capability. They do not describe physical prevention. That is a separate product: a hardwired immobiliser.
- Ask your insurer, not a website
- Some insurers take a tracker or immobiliser into account, but what they accept and how they treat it varies. Check with your own insurer or broker before you buy.
The gap in the tracker categories. What S5 and S7 actually mean
- Tracking is recovery, not preventionA tracker helps find a car after it is taken. It does not stop a relay attack starting the engine.
- Relay theft is fastTwo thieves with a relay device can be away in moments, and the alert only matters after the car has gone.
- Prevention comes from an immobiliserA hardwired immobiliser blocks the engine until the driver proves it is them, so there is nothing for the tracker to recover.
- Layer the twoKeep the tracker for recovery if your insurer asks for one, and add an immobiliser so the car cannot be driven away in the first place.
LockCAR is not Thatcham approved. Our immobilisers are going through Thatcham Security Certification, and we will publish the details when a certificate is issued. We do not claim Thatcham, insurer or police approval.
Adding the prevention layer, in three steps
If you already have a tracker, this is how the immobiliser fits alongside it.
Check your car
LockCAR immobilisers work on 12 V and 24 V vehicles. Enter your registration in the Vehicle CHECK to confirm yours before you book.
Choose how you disarm it
Carry a TAG, wear a smart ring or smartwatch, or enter a PIN code on the steering wheel buttons. Whichever suits how you use the car.
Book fitting with an approved installer
Fitting is done at your home, at work or at an installation centre. Send your car and postcode on WhatsApp and we will arrange it.
LockCAR immobilisers and prices
Every LockCAR immobiliser works the same way: the engine stays blocked until the driver proves it is them. Prices are from the LockCAR shop.
| Immobiliser | How you disarm it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fob (TAG) IC3262 | Carry the TAG | £139 |
| Smart ring | Wear the paired ring | £149 |
| Smartwatch | Wear your smartwatch, no extra fob | £160 |
| PIN code | Enter your sequence on the steering wheel buttons | £189 |
| TAG fitted | Fob immobiliser fitted by an approved installer | £249 |
| PIN fitted | PIN immobiliser fitted by an approved installer | £299 |
If you want a camera and GPS as well, the LockCar One Plus 4G combines a dashcam, immobiliser and GPS tracker with fitting included for £499. Read more in our guide to keyless car theft in the UK and our comparison of alarms, trackers and immobilisers.
Questions drivers ask about S5 and S7
What is the main difference between an S5 and an S7 tracker?
An S5 tracker tracks the vehicle and is linked to a monitoring centre. An S7 tracker adds driver recognition, so the vehicle needs a personal tag before it will drive. The higher category is about detecting theft faster, not about stopping the engine starting.
Do S5 and S7 trackers stop a relay attack?
No. Both are recovery systems. They detect that a vehicle has been stolen and start the recovery process. A relay attack can still start and move the car. To stop the car being driven away, you need a physical immobiliser.
Are Thatcham categories the same as insurance approval?
No. Thatcham categories describe what a security product does. Whether an insurer recognises a product, and what it does to your premium, is a separate question. Ask your own insurer or broker what they accept before you buy.
Are LockCAR immobilisers Thatcham approved?
Not yet. Our CAN immobilisers are going through Thatcham Security Certification, and we will publish the details when a certificate is issued. We do not claim Thatcham, insurer or police approval.
Will a tracker or immobiliser lower my insurance premium?
Some insurers take an immobiliser or tracker into account, but we cannot promise a discount or a lower premium. Ask your own insurer or broker what they accept before you buy.
Can I fit a LockCAR immobiliser alongside an existing tracker?
Yes. A LockCAR immobiliser is fitted independently of any tracker and works alongside it. The tracker handles recovery, and the immobiliser handles prevention.
How do I know if my car can take a LockCAR immobiliser?
LockCAR immobilisers work on 12 V and 24 V vehicles. Enter your registration in the Vehicle CHECK to confirm your car before you book.
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 .
