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• There’s no UK law requiring a car tracker. The requirement comes from individual insurers as a condition of cover.
• Insurers most often ask for a tracker on high-value cars, commonly those worth over about £50,000, and on models frequently targeted by thieves.
• Range Rover, Land Rover Defender and Discovery, high-performance BMW and Mercedes models, Porsche, Lexus and many keyless entry SUVs are the cars most likely to need one.
• Your postcode, parking arrangements and claims history can also trigger a tracker condition, even on a cheaper car.
• Insurers usually specify a Thatcham S5, S5+ or S7 category tracker, and the subscription must stay active for your cover to remain valid.
No UK law says your car must have a tracker, but many insurers will only cover certain cars if a Thatcham Approved Tracker is fitted. This is most common for vehicles worth more than around £50,000, models with high theft rates such as the Range Rover and Land Rover Defender, and cars kept in high-risk postcodes. If your insurer lists a tracker as a policy condition, you’ll need one of the Thatcham Approved Trackers in the category they specify, usually S5, S5+ or S7, before cover starts or within a set number of days.
Insurers price policies on risk. When a car is expensive to replace and popular with thieves, the potential payout is large. A monitored tracker reduces that risk because a stolen car can be located and recovered, often within hours.
Rather than refusing cover altogether, many insurers make a tracker a condition of the policy. If the car is stolen and no tracker was fitted, or the subscription had lapsed, the insurer may reduce or refuse your claim.
Every insurer sets its own rules, so there’s no single official list. However, these are the vehicles that most commonly come with a tracker condition.
The Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar, Defender and Discovery are among the most stolen vehicles in the UK. Many insurers now require a tracker on these models regardless of value, and some specialist insurers specify an S5+ tracker for higher-value examples.
High-value models from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, Bentley, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Ferrari frequently carry a tracker condition, particularly BMW X5 and M models, Mercedes G-Class and AMG variants, and the Porsche Cayenne and 911.
Keyless entry makes relay attacks possible, where thieves capture the key signal from inside your home. Popular targets include the Lexus RX and NX, Toyota Land Cruiser and RAV4, Ford Ranger and Kia Sportage. Some insurers add a tracker requirement for these regardless of the car’s value.
Classics and modified cars can be hard to value and impossible to replace. Specialist insurers often ask for a tracker on agreed-value policies.
High-value vans and pickups, particularly those carrying tools, are frequently targeted. Some commercial insurers require a tracker for vehicles above a set value or for fleets.
Even if your car isn’t on the high-risk list, an insurer may still ask for a tracker because of:
• Vehicle value: many insurers set a threshold, commonly somewhere between £50,000 and £75,000.
• Postcode: cars kept in areas with high theft rates are more likely to need one.
• Overnight parking: on-street parking carries more risk than a locked garage.
• Previous theft claims: a past theft on your record can lead to a tracker condition at renewal.
• Insurer changes at renewal: insurers update their rules regularly, so a car that didn’t need a tracker last year may need one now.
If you’re unsure, compare our range of Thatcham Approved Trackers against the category your insurer names in your policy documents.
Insurers usually specify a Thatcham category rather than a brand. Here’s how the main categories compare.
| Feature | S7 | S5 | S5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/7 monitoring centre | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tow away and movement alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tamper and battery alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Driver recognition tags | No | Yes | Yes |
| Engine immobilisation without tag | No | No | Yes |
S7 is often the minimum requirement for mid-value cars. S5 adds driver recognition tags, protecting against key theft and cloning, and is commonly required for prestige and high-theft models. S5+ adds immobilisation if the car is started without the tag, and is increasingly requested for the highest-risk vehicles.
Always fit the category your insurer specifies or higher. Fitting a lower category may not meet the policy condition.
Sometimes. If your insurer doesn’t require a tracker, fitting one may still reduce your premium or widen the number of insurers willing to quote. The saving varies widely, so it’s worth getting quotes with and without a tracker declared. For many owners of high-risk cars, the main benefit is simply being able to get cover at all.
No. Trackers are not a legal requirement. They’re a condition set by some insurers for certain cars, values or locations.
It varies by insurer, but many set a threshold of around £50,000, with some specialist insurers using £75,000 for certain models.
Usually not. Insurers typically require a Thatcham Approved Tracker in a specific category, such as S5, S5+ or S7, with an active monitoring subscription.
If your car is stolen and the tracker condition wasn’t met, your insurer may reduce or refuse your claim.
Some manufacturer trackers are Thatcham approved, but not all. Check the category and make sure the subscription is active and registered in your name.
Insurers often give a set period after cover starts, commonly between 7 and 30 days. Check your policy documents for the exact deadline.
If your insurer has asked for a tracker, fitting the correct Thatcham category keeps your cover valid and gives you the best chance of recovering your car if it’s stolen. Browse our full range of Thatcham Approved Trackers with professional installation and insurer-ready certification.
