Most Thatcham-approved S5 and S7 trackers are built to be weather-resistant rather than fully submersible. Thatcham Research certification tests tamper resistance, monitoring reliability and recovery performance, not a specific waterproof rating, so waterproofing is often desirable but never a certification prerequisite.
Fully sealed, submersible units rated IP67 or IP68 exist and suit motorhomes, plant machinery and vehicles stored outdoors. They are not universally required to earn a Thatcham category.
- Check which category your insurer actually names in the policy wording: S7, S5 or S5+.
- Insist on a professional installation certificate as proof of compliant fitment.
- Ask your fitter whether the chosen mounting location needs extra sealing given how the vehicle is used.
The core fact to hold onto: Thatcham certification rates tamper resistance and monitoring, not ingress protection, so “Thatcham-approved” and “waterproof” are two separate questions with two separate answers.
Table of Contents
- Are trackers waterproof? Understanding IP ratings on vehicle devices
- Does Thatcham certification require waterproofing?
- Where trackers get fitted and why it changes water risk
- What to confirm with your insurer and fitter before installation
- Protecting trackers in wet or marine-facing conditions
- When you actually need full waterproofing versus standard resistance
- Get a certified tracker fitted the right way
- Sources
- FAQ
Are trackers waterproof? Understanding IP ratings on vehicle devices
IP ratings answer the question precisely, once you know how to read them. An IP code has two digits: the first covers protection against solid objects like dust, the second covers liquid ingress. IP67 means dust-tight and able to survive temporary submersion up to one metre. IP68 pushes that further, tolerating deeper or longer submersion depending on the manufacturer’s own test parameters.
The vocabulary matters more than marketing copy suggests. “Water-resistant” usually means a device shrugs off rain and splashes. “Weatherproof” implies it copes with exposure to the elements over time. “Waterproof” and “submersible” are stronger claims, and only an IP67 or IP68 figure backs them up with a testable standard.
- IP67 under a motorhome step: copes with rain, road spray, and brief submersion if a wheel arch floods after heavy weather.
- IP67/68 inside an external locker: matters where condensation and washdown water can pool.
- Standard weather-resistant unit in an engine bay: usually adequate, since the bay is sheltered from direct water pooling but exposed to heat and vibration instead.
A device advertised as IP67 is only as good as the seal around its cable entry, which is why fitment technique matters as much as the spec sheet.
Does Thatcham certification require waterproofing?
No. Thatcham product definitions for S7 and S5 set out requirements around 24/7 monitoring, GPS accuracy, driver identification for S5, battery back-up, and resistance to attack for a minimum time. None of that list specifies an ingress protection figure.
Thatcham’s testing regime exists to answer one question for insurers: will this device survive an attempt to defeat it, and will it get the vehicle back? Waterproofing sits outside that scope entirely, even though many certified devices happen to be built weather-resistant as standard.
That distinction explains why two Thatcham S5 devices from different manufacturers can carry different IP ratings while both holding identical certification.
- S7: entry-level Thatcham category, no driver ID requirement, still demands monitored alert response and tamper resistance for a defined period.
- S5: adds driver recognition and typically appeals to higher-value vehicles.
- S5+: builds in automatic immobilisation, the strongest category for insurers underwriting higher-risk profiles.
Insurers lean on the category name and the installation certificate rather than an IP number, because Thatcham certification already covers the security outcomes they actually care about.
Where trackers get fitted and why it changes water risk
Fitment location decides most of the real-world water risk, far more than the tracker’s own spec sheet. Under-dash wiring looms sit fairly sheltered. Chassis cavities and battery areas carry moderate exposure to splash and condensation. External motorhome lockers and underside boxes face the highest risk, since they see direct rain, road spray, and sometimes pressure washing.
- Choose a concealed, hardwired position away from drainage points and low-lying panel seams.
- Use sealed housings and rubber grommets at every cable entry point, rather than relying on the tracker’s own casing alone.
- Route cabling to avoid pooling areas, particularly in motorhome undersides and wheel arches.
- Apply adhesive sealant around any drilled entry point, checked again after the first wash or heavy rain.
Concealment and water protection often align. A tracker tucked into a sealed cavity away from obvious access points is both harder for a thief to find and less exposed to standing water.
Pro Tip: Ask your installer to photograph the exact fitment location before they close up the panel. It settles any dispute later about whether the device was fitted correctly, and it gives you a record for insurance purposes.
What to confirm with your insurer and fitter before installation
Policy wording rarely spells out an IP rating, so the burden falls on you to ask the right questions before the device goes in.
- Which exact Thatcham category does the policy name: S7, S5, or S5+?
- Does the insurer accept any Thatcham-certified equivalent, or one specific brand?
- Is professional installation mandatory, and will a Thatcham installation certificate be issued on completion?
- Does the policy specify a fitment location or enclosure type for motorhomes and exposed vehicles?
- Get the category confirmed in writing, not just verbally from a call centre agent.
- Request the installation certificate immediately after fitment, not weeks later.
- If your vehicle is stored outdoors or near the coast, ask directly whether a sealed enclosure or IP-rated device changes anything about your premium or excess.
A Thatcham-approved vehicle tracker only satisfies your insurer if the category and the paperwork match what the policy demands, regardless of how well-built the hardware is.
Protecting trackers in wet or marine-facing conditions
Long-term water exposure wears down seals gradually, which is why maintenance matters as much as the initial fit.
- Review monitoring centre health reports periodically and confirm battery back-up status hasn’t degraded.
- Inspect connectors, grommets, and external enclosures after storms or coastal exposure, replacing any sealant that has cracked or lifted.
- For exposed motorhomes or fleet vehicles parked outdoors, request an IP-rated enclosure at the point of installation rather than retrofitting one later.
- Use desiccant sachets inside external lockers to manage condensation, particularly over winter storage.
- Check your warranty terms for water damage exclusions before you need to claim on them.
Professional fitters preserve a device’s rated protection by choosing sheltered cable entry points, sealing them properly, and testing connections after washdown or heavy rain, a detail explored further in Thatcham Trackers’ guidance on long-term storage.
Pro Tip: Keep a simple log of inspection dates and what you checked. If a warranty dispute ever arises over water ingress, that log is far more persuasive than memory alone.
When you actually need full waterproofing versus standard resistance
Not every vehicle needs an IP68 tracker, and paying for one when you don’t is money spent on a spec you’ll never test.
- High-need: motorhomes with external lockers, vehicles kept outdoors near sea spray, plant machinery exposed to pressure washing or flood risk.
- Low-need: garaged cars with trackers fitted deep in a sheltered wiring loom, rarely touched by moisture at all.
- Decision factors: how often the vehicle sits outdoors, whether it ever faces immersion risk, what your insurer’s paperwork actually stipulates, and whether the cost of a higher-rated device is justified by that exposure.
Fleet managers running vehicles that alternate between depot storage and outdoor sites should default to the higher-rated option, since the cost difference is usually smaller than the cost of one failed unit mid-contract.
Publisher perspective: certification and fitment beat marketing claims
Thatcham certification, an accredited fitter, and monitored 24/7 response protect you more reliably than a waterproof badge on a box. Thatcham Trackers recommends IP67/68 devices or sealed enclosures only where exposure genuinely warrants it, and always insists readers request a written installation certificate with the fitment location documented.
— Thatcham Trackers
Get a certified tracker fitted the right way
Thatcham Trackers supplies certified S7, S5 and S5+ devices with nationwide accredited installation, so the paperwork your insurer wants and the physical fitment match from day one.
Where your vehicle sits outdoors, near the coast, or spends time in an exposed motorhome locker, installers can specify a sealed enclosure or an IP-rated unit at the point of fitting rather than leaving you to retrofit protection later. That single decision at installation avoids the gap most owners fall into: buying a well-rated tracker, then having it fitted in a way that undoes the rating entirely. Every install comes with a Thatcham installation certificate as standard, giving you the documentation insurers actually ask for, not just a device that claims compliance on the box.
Browse the full Thatcham-approved tracker range and book accredited installation to get your certificate issued on the day of fitment.
Sources
- Thatcham Research - security certification
- Vehicle security product definitions and guidelines (Thatcham Research)
- Insurance approved vehicle tracker: what one is and how it affects insurance | insurd®
FAQ
Are Thatcham-approved trackers waterproof?
Most are weather-resistant rather than fully waterproof; Thatcham certification tests tamper resistance and monitoring, not a mandatory IP rating, though sealed or IP67/68 devices are available for exposed vehicles.
What does an IP67 rating mean for a vehicle tracker?
IP67 means the device is dust-tight and can survive temporary submersion up to one metre, which matters for units fitted in motorhome lockers or underside boxes.
Does my insurer need a specific waterproof rating?
Insurers usually name a Thatcham category, such as S7, S5 or S5+, and require a professional installation certificate rather than a specific IP figure.
Can water damage void my tracker’s warranty?
Yes, if the installation wasn’t sealed correctly or the enclosure wasn’t rated for the exposure the vehicle actually faces, so check warranty terms before fitment.
Where can I get a certified tracker fitted with proper waterproofing?
Thatcham Trackers supplies S7, S5 and S5+ certified devices with nationwide accredited installation, including sealed enclosures for exposed vehicles.