Thatcham refers to Thatcham Research, the UK body that tests and certifies vehicle security products, including trackers. A “Thatcham-approved tracker” means the hardware has passed independent testing, been fitted by an accredited engineer, and runs on a monitored Secure Operating Centre. Insurers rely on this to recognise a device and issue a Certificate of Installation as proof.
TL;DR:
- Only certified Thatcham trackers listed on the current database meet the standards, as listings are reviewed and updated every two years.
- Insurers typically require S7 for basic coverage, S5 for higher-value vehicles with driver recognition, and S5+ if remote immobilisation is needed; always confirm your policy requirements.
- A Certificate of Installation from an accredited fitter is essential for insurer acceptance; self-installation does not qualify as proof of compliance.
- Legacy categories like Cat 5, 6, or 7 often correspond to modern S-categories, but direct insurer confirmation is necessary to avoid policy voidance.
- Buying a tracker without confirming your insurer’s exact category and approval criteria risks claim denial or higher premiums, so check before purchase.
Table of Contents
- What is Thatcham Research and how does certification work?
- S7, S5 and S5+ explained: which one does your insurer want?
- Why insurers rely on Thatcham certification for cover and premiums
- The installation certificate and where owners go wrong
- How to confirm what your policy actually requires
- What happens at fitting and how the monitoring works afterwards
- Thatcham Trackers’ perspective: don’t buy before you check
- Get the right Thatcham category fitted, without the guesswork
- Sources
- FAQ
What is Thatcham Research and how does certification work?
Thatcham Research is the UK motor industry’s security testing body, funded by insurers to set and police the standards that decide which products insurers will recognise. It does not sell trackers itself. It tests them against fixed performance criteria and publishes the results.
Certification is not a one-off tick. Thatcham Research reviews its security certification programme on a biennial basis, so a product listed today has to keep meeting the same bar at the next review. Every device that passes goes onto Thatcham’s public security database, which is the list your insurer, or their underwriting team, will check if they ever query your cover.
What the testing actually covers:
- Independent lab and field testing against defined performance and functional criteria
- GPS accuracy, roaming SIM connectivity, and battery backup performance
- Resistance to tampering, jamming, and power interruption
- Ongoing compliance checks at each biennial review
Around 2 years is the review cycle Thatcham applies to certified products, which matters if you’re buying a tracker that’s been on the market a while. Ask whether the exact model you’re looking at is still current on the database, not just whether it was once approved.
S7, S5 and S5+ explained: which one does your insurer want?
S7 is the entry standard most insurers ask for on ordinary cars and vans. It provides GPS-based asset location and round-the-clock monitoring through a Secure Operating Centre, and it’s usually enough to satisfy a standard “must have a tracker fitted” policy condition.
S5 sits above it. It includes everything S7 does, plus Automatic Driver Recognition, which flags unauthorised use the moment the vehicle moves without a registered driver tag present. That proactive alert is why insurers tend to specify S5 for higher-value cars, performance models, and vehicles that appear on theft-risk lists.
S5+ builds further, often adding remote immobilisation capability on top of the S5 feature set. It’s the category you’ll see requested for prestige vehicles, some commercial fleets, and increasingly for motorhomes, which combine high resale value with long, unattended parking spells.
A quick way to think about the three tiers:
- S7: Location tracking, SOC monitoring, no driver tag. Baseline for most private cars.
- S5: Adds Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) for proactive theft alerts. Common for higher-value or leisure vehicles.
- S5+: Adds remote immobilisation on top of S5. Typical for prestige cars and some fleets.
Motorhome and high-value vehicle owners should check their policy wording carefully here, because insurers rarely apply the same category across every vehicle type in the same way they do for standard cars.
Why insurers rely on Thatcham certification for cover and premiums
Insurers use Thatcham certification to put a number on theft risk they’d otherwise have to guess at. A certified S5 or S7 device gives them a known, tested standard to write into policy conditions, and to reward with lower premiums where the risk genuinely falls.
That doesn’t mean every Thatcham-listed product is automatically accepted by every insurer. Thatcham Research itself is clear that certification proves the product performs to standard, but brand and model acceptance is negotiated separately between manufacturers and insurers. Two insurers can both require “an S5 tracker” and still have different views on which fitted product satisfies that.
Practical points worth acting on before you buy:
- Certification confirms performance; it doesn’t guarantee your specific insurer’s acceptance.
- Always check your policy schedule or call your insurer to confirm the exact requirement.
- If a stated tracker condition isn’t met, theft cover can be voided entirely, not just reduced.
- A cheaper uncertified device may cost far more than it saves if a claim gets refused.
The installation certificate and where owners go wrong
A Certificate of Installation from a Thatcham-accredited fitter is what most insurers treat as proof of compliance, and it’s the document you’ll be asked to produce if you ever make a theft claim. Self-fitting, however capable you are, doesn’t generate this paperwork and typically doesn’t satisfy the policy condition at all.
Checklist before you consider the job done:
- Confirm the hardware itself is currently listed on Thatcham’s certification database, not just badged as “Thatcham approved” by the seller.
- Confirm the installer is Thatcham-accredited and will issue a signed Certificate of Installation.
- Confirm the device is connected to a monitored Secure Operating Centre, not just a self-monitored app.
Older policies sometimes still use the legacy “Cat 5”, “Cat 6”, or “Cat 7” labels rather than the current S-category names. These aren’t interchangeable with today’s standards on a like-for-like basis, so if your renewal documents mention a Cat rating, ask your insurer directly which modern S-category it now maps to.
Pro Tip: Photograph or scan your Certificate of Installation the day you receive it and store a copy separately from your car. If your vehicle is stolen, that paperwork is the first thing the insurer’s claims team will ask for.
How to confirm what your policy actually requires
Before spending a penny, read your policy schedule’s security section, not just the summary page. Insurers often bury the exact tracker condition in small print that names a category or references “Thatcham approved” without saying which one.
Then call and ask three direct questions:
- “Does my policy require a specific Thatcham category, and if so, which one, S7, S5, or S5+?”
- “If my documents mention a Cat 5, 6, or 7 rating, which current S-category does that correspond to?”
- “Will you accept any Thatcham-certified device with a Certificate of Installation, or only specific brands?”
Vehicle value, make and model theft-risk ranking, and whether it’s a leisure vehicle like a motorhome all influence which category gets requested. As a rule of thumb: if your insurer specifies S7 only, there’s no need to pay more for S5 or S5+ unless they later ask for it. Buying above the requirement adds cost and, with S5’s driver tag, some day-to-day inconvenience for no policy benefit.
What happens at fitting and how the monitoring works afterwards
A booked installation is usually a same-day appointment, with an accredited engineer fitting the hardware, testing the GPS and SIM connection, and issuing your paperwork on the spot. You should leave with a Certificate of Installation, any physical driver tag if you’ve gone for S5, and your monitoring subscription documents.
Once live, the tracker reports into a Secure Operating Centre that operates around the clock. If it detects unauthorised movement or a tamper attempt, the SOC verifies the alert and liaises directly with the police to support recovery, which is the practical reason monitored tracking outperforms a self-checked app in a genuine theft scenario.
Thatcham Trackers’ perspective: don’t buy before you check
The single most common mistake we see is people buying a tracker before confirming what their insurer actually requires. Certification and accredited fitting aren’t optional extras. They’re the two things that make a tracker count as insurer-approved rather than just a useful gadget.
Call your insurer first, get the category in writing, then fit accordingly. We’re happy to talk through which S-category suits your vehicle and arrange fitting once you’re certain.
— Thatcham Trackers
Get the right Thatcham category fitted, without the guesswork
Certified S7, S5, and S5+ devices are available along with accredited fitting services that issue a Certificate of Installation at the appointment.
If your insurer has confirmed S7 is enough, the Thatcham S7 tracker covers GPS location and SOC monitoring at the lower end of the cost scale. Where your policy names S5 for the driver recognition feature, the Thatcham S5 unit adds that layer, and prestige or leisure vehicle owners needing remote immobilisation can look at the Thatcham Approved S5 Plus range. Fleet operators managing several vehicles at once, including vans and light commercials, may also want to see how monitored tracking supports cargo security in transit, a similar principle to what protects a parked car overnight.
Unsure which category applies to you? Browse the full Thatcham-approved trackers collection or get in touch to book nationwide installation and receive your Certificate of Installation the same day.
Sources
- Thatcham security certification
- Insurance approved vehicle tracker: what one is and how it affects insurance (insurd)
- Thatcham approved trackers UK: S5 vs S7 (KeepClose)
FAQ
What does Thatcham mean on a car insurance policy?
It means your insurer requires a tracker certified by Thatcham Research, usually specified as S7, S5, or S5+, fitted by an accredited installer with a Certificate of Installation.
What is the difference between Thatcham S7 and S5?
S7 gives GPS location tracking and 24/7 SOC monitoring as a baseline; S5 adds Automatic Driver Recognition for proactive alerts, which is why insurers often ask for it on higher-value vehicles.
Can I fit a Thatcham-approved tracker myself?
No. Insurers generally require the Certificate of Installation from an accredited engineer as proof, and self-fitting doesn’t produce that document.
How do I check if my tracker is still Thatcham-approved?
Confirm the exact model is currently listed on Thatcham’s security certifications database, since listings are reviewed every two years and older models can drop off.
My policy mentions Cat 5 or Cat 6, what do I need now?
Those legacy labels map to today’s S-category system; contact your insurer directly to confirm whether your policy now means S7, S5, or S5+.
Will fitting a Thatcham tracker guarantee a lower premium?
Not automatically. Certification helps insurers assess risk and enforce conditions, but acceptance and any discount depend on your specific insurer and policy, so it’s worth confirming before you buy.