Most UK insurers now require a Thatcham S5, S5+ or S7 device fitted by an accredited installer, monitored 24/7 through a BS 8591 centre. Check your policy wording first. Then confirm the exact category with your insurer and book an accredited fitter who can issue the certificate insurers ask to see.
TL;DR:
- Most insurers require a Thatcham S5, S5+ or S7 device fitted by an accredited installer and monitored 24/7 through a BS 8591 center.
- Confirm the exact S-category accepted by your insurer before fitting and obtain written confirmation specifying the device and category.
- S7 is suitable for long-term storage motorhomes, S5 is ideal for regular drivers with unauthorised movement alerts, and S5+ is necessary for higher-value vehicles with remote immobilisation.
- Thatcham certification and proper documentation, including installation certificates and serial numbers, are crucial for insurance claims, not just the device itself.
- Fitting typically takes a short time and requires owners to keep key paperwork ready for insurer submission to ensure policy coverage.
Table of Contents
- What Thatcham S5, S5+ and S7 mean for motorhomes
- What insurers actually require and how to check your policy wording
- Installation, monitoring and certification: step by step
- Which S-series choice suits your motorhome
- Costs, insurance impact and sensible extras for motorhomes
- Thatcham certification and BS 8591 monitoring exist because insurers need a consistent standard to judge theft risk.
- How Thatcham Trackers can help: buy, fit and certify
- Sources
- FAQ
What Thatcham S5, S5+ and S7 mean for motorhomes
Thatcham Research sets the testing standard that insurers use to judge tracking devices. The S‑series categories replaced older naming from 2019, and each one covers a different job.
S7 is an asset location system. It reports position without the full monitoring features of a tracking system, and it suits motorhomes that spend long periods parked or in storage.
S5 is a vehicle tracking system. It includes ADR, a driver identification tag or fob that flags unauthorised movement, along with GPS, roaming SIM and tamper resistance.
S5+ adds remote immobilisation on top of S5 tracking, letting a monitoring centre stop the vehicle once theft is confirmed.
All three categories share baseline requirements set out in Thatcham’s product definitions guidance:
- Monitoring by a centre meeting the BS 8591 standard, operating around the clock.
- A roaming SIM so the device keeps reporting across networks.
- Battery backup in case the vehicle’s own power is cut.
- Resistance to tampering for at least two minutes.
Matching the right category to your motorhome’s use pattern comes next, but the monitoring standard behind all three never changes.
What insurers actually require and how to check your policy wording
Older policies sometimes still mention “Category 5” or “Category 6” trackers. Thatcham retired that naming from January 2019 in favour of the S‑series, but insurer documents and renewal letters do not always catch up. That gap causes genuine confusion and, occasionally, a rejected claim.
Three steps clear it up:
- Copy the exact security wording from your policy document, word for word.
- Call your insurer and ask which S‑category, or which specific device, they accept for your motorhome.
- Ask for written confirmation, by email, naming the device and category.
Keep that confirmation with your other paperwork. Insurers typically want four things on file: the installation certificate, the device’s serial number, the Thatcham certification reference, and proof of an active monitoring contract.
Pro Tip: Send your insurer the device’s Thatcham certificate reference before fitting, not after. It takes five minutes and avoids a wasted installation if they wanted a different category.
Installation, monitoring and certification: step by step
Buying the right box is only half the job. What happens between purchase and a live, insurer‑ready certificate matters just as much.
Before ordering, confirm the device carries current Thatcham certification and that its digital certificate format is one your insurer will accept without further paperwork.
An accredited fitter then handles the physical work: wiring the tracker into the vehicle’s systems, testing GPS and SIM signal from inside a motorhome’s metal body, and confirming tamper alerts trigger correctly. On completion, the fitter issues a certificate of installation, the document insurers rely on as proof the job was done to standard.
Monitoring activation follows fitting, usually the same day, linking the device to a BS 8591-compliant centre that watches for tamper events and battery backup failures around the clock.
A few things owners tend to ask before booking:
- Fitting usually takes a short amount of time, depending on the device and motorhome layout.
- The vehicle does not need to be off the road for more than a day.
- Keep the installation certificate, monitoring confirmation and serial number together for your insurer’s file.
Once monitoring is live, send the certificate to your insurer and ask them to confirm the policy has been updated.
Which S-series choice suits your motorhome
The right category depends on how the motorhome is used, not just what the policy says.
- S7 tends to suit motorhomes kept in storage for long stretches, where asset location on discovery matters more than instant movement alerts.
- S5 suits motorhomes used regularly on the road, where ADR tagging flags unauthorised use the moment it happens and speeds recovery.
- S5+ suits higher‑value motorhomes or cases where an insurer specifically asks for remote immobilisation, since it lets a monitoring centre stop the vehicle once theft is confirmed.
A few questions help narrow the choice:
- Is the motorhome driven weekly, or does it sit in storage between trips?
- Does the policy wording name a category, or leave the choice open?
- How important is stopping the vehicle remotely versus simply knowing where it is?
Thatcham’s own guidance on choosing between S5, S7 and S5 Plus walks through the same decision points in more detail.
Costs, insurance impact and sensible extras for motorhomes
Three cost elements sit behind any tracker purchase: the device itself, the accredited fitting fee, and an ongoing monitoring subscription. The device and fitting are one‑off costs; monitoring is recurring for as long as the tracker stays active.
Thatcham‑approved devices are the certification benchmark insurers use to assess theft risk, according to Thatcham Research, which is why presenting a valid certificate to your insurer matters more than the device sitting fitted and unreported.
Beyond the core tracker, a few extras are worth weighing for motorhomes specifically:
- ADR tags add a driver identification layer, useful where a motorhome is shared between drivers.
- Battery backup keeps the device reporting if mains power or the leisure battery is disconnected.
- Tamper alerts give an early warning before a theft attempt is complete.
- Dashcam pairing adds visual evidence alongside location data, useful for both insurers and police.
Thatcham certification and BS 8591 monitoring exist because insurers need a consistent standard to judge theft risk.
The most common mistake is assuming an old “Category 5” reference on a renewal document still means the same thing as today’s S5. It does not, and insurers rarely flag the difference themselves. A close second is informal fitting with no certificate, which leaves owners with a tracker that works but paperwork an insurer will not accept. Written insurer confirmation, not a verbal assurance, is what closes that gap.
The sequence stays simple: check the policy wording, pick the right S‑category, book an accredited fitting, and keep the certificate on file.
— Thatcham Trackers
How Thatcham Trackers can help: buy, fit and certify
Choosing between S7, S5 and S5+ is only useful once the device is fitted, monitored and certified in a form your insurer accepts. Thatcham Trackers supplies Thatcham S7, Thatcham S5, Thatcham S5 Plus and the Casper Ghost-Like Immobiliser range, including the Casper Pro no‑tag, no‑start option, with nationwide accredited fitting and a digital installation certificate produced on completion.
- Choose the S‑category or immobiliser that matches your insurer’s requirement and your motorhome’s use.
- Book accredited fitting through Thatcham Trackers, available nationwide.
- Receive a digital certificate straight after fitting, ready to send to your insurer.
Have your policy wording, vehicle registration and VIN or chassis number ready when you book. Browse the current range on the Thatcham Trackers site and get a device fitted before your next renewal.
Sources
Thatcham Research’s security certification page and product definitions guidance set out the S5, S7 and S5+ standards in full. For device selection, see types of motorhome trackers and, for owners protecting the vehicle more broadly, motorhome ceramic protection covers exterior care alongside security.
- Vehicle security product definitions guidelines - Thatcham Research
FAQ
What’s the difference between Thatcham S5 and S7?
S5 is a vehicle tracking system with ADR tagging that flags unauthorised movement, while S7 is an asset location system without that tagging layer. Both require 24/7 BS 8591 monitoring, but S5 suits motorhomes driven regularly and S7 suits those kept mostly in storage.
Does Thatcham approval guarantee my insurer will accept it?
No. Thatcham certification is a design and testing benchmark, but insurer acceptance is negotiated separately for each device, so always get written confirmation from your insurer before fitting.
What is automatic immobilisation and when do I need it?
Automatic immobilisation, found in S5+ devices, lets a monitoring centre stop the vehicle remotely once theft is confirmed. Insurers tend to ask for it on higher‑value motorhomes or where the policy specifically names remote immobilisation as a condition.
Do I still need a tracker if my policy mentions “Category 5”?
Likely yes, but check first. Thatcham retired the old Category 5/6 naming from 2019 in favour of S5, so confirm with your insurer which modern S‑category their wording now refers to.
What documents do insurers ask for after fitting?
Insurers typically want the installation certificate, the device’s serial number, the Thatcham certification reference and proof of an active monitoring contract. Keep all four together and send them to your insurer as soon as fitting is complete.