What is the difference between Thatcham Cat 5 and Category S5 VTS?

The previous Thatcham Cat 5 is now the new Category S5 VTS Plus. Thatcham Research UK updated their classifications for vehicle tracking systems in 2018 changing Category 5 to Category S5 VTS Plus with Immoiblisation.

What does Category S5 VTS mean?

VTS stands for Thatcham Category S5 Vehicle Tracking Systems. Thatcham Research regulates car safety and security in the UK. A product having Category S5 status means it has been tested to Thatcham Standards and can be fitted for car insurance compliance.

What does Category S7 ALS mean?

ALS stands for Thatcham Category S7 Asset Location System. Protects against lifting and towing but not relay theft or key cloning. These modern types of theft may rely on the car owner informing the monitoring station that a theft has occurred. S7 is the minimum vehicle tracking system that can be fitted for UK car insurance, securely monitored 24/7/365 by subscription.

What is the difference between Thatcham Category S7 and Category S5?

Category S7 is a basic vehicle tracking system without driver recognition tag or immobilisation. A Category S5 uses a tag or a card that is carried each time the vehicle is driven. The tag informs the monitoring station that the vehicle is being used legitimately.

The basic Category S7 may require the car owner informing the monitoring station that a theft has taken place.

What does Thatcham VTS stand for?

VTS stands for Vehicle Tracking Systems associated with Thatcham Research Category S5 device compliance. Relies on an tag being in the car when driven. Without the tag present the secure monitoring station automatically begins tracking the vehicle.

What does Thatcham ALS mean?

ALS stands for Asset Location System associated with Thatcham Research approved Category S7 car tracking devices. Basic system that may rely on the customer informing the secure monitoring centre that the car has been stolen and to commence tracking.

What is the difference between Thatcham Category S5 and Category S5 Plus?

S5 Plus adds an additional level of security enabling the vehicle to be immobilised each time the vehicle is stopped or from the monitoring station.

What does a vehicle tracking ADR stand for?

ADR stands for Automatic Driver Recognition tags. This is a unique tag or card that must be present when the vehicle is driven, otherwise an alert is sent to the monitoring station.

A change to the Category S5 2019 specification is that tags are now produced with a hole for a split ring and are allowed to be carried attached to customers' main car key. This indicates a change of security focus away from lifting and towing towards the more advance technologies of relay theft, key cloning and OBD theft.

All S5 trackers have some form of ADR tag.

Is a Cat 6 Still Insurance Approved?

All previously fitted Cat 6 systems can continue to be recognised by UK Insurance companies as if they are a Category S7 device. This is usually dependent on the monitoring not having lapsed and the monitoring company being able to receive ongoing health checks that the device is in full working order.

Howeverm, Thatcham Category 6 tracking systems were deleted from the Thatcham database for UK classifications in 2018. The Cat 6 has been replaced by the Category S7 ALS specification and is the entry level tracking device. Category S5 VTS and Category S5 VTS give extra protection.

What does Smartrack DRS stand for?

DRS stands for Driver Recognition System and is Smartrack’s version of Thatcham’s ADR Automatic Driver Recognition. If you read the words you can see that they mean the same thing. DRS means a unique card needs to be with the driver to avoid an alert being sent to the monitoring station.

To book a tracker fitting appointment follow this link.

Last updated - July 2022