At Car Specialist Customs, we understand how important your vehicle is to you, so we know how devastating it can be if your car is stolen. Our automobiles can be the lifeline for us to earn money, to travel to work on time. With this in mind, the security of our vehicles is paramount.
So, what are your options? And how do you know if they are good? This blog will have the answers you need, today we’ll be exploring the question ‘Are Ghost immobilisers Thatcham approved and certified?’
The statistics are worrying as there was a reported 108,542 theft of motor vehicles between 2021 and 2022. What makes this more alarming is that with the advance in technology, the keyless entry has become a common feature that criminals capitalise on by finding ways to ‘hack’ the mechanism and break into your car in as little as 20-30 seconds.
At Car Specialist Customs, we have an array of security systems available, including our Ghost Immobiliser, we make sure any security devices we sell are tested and approved by the relevant legal bodies, in this case, Thatcham Research.
But what exactly is a Ghost Immobiliser? And are Ghost Immobilisers Thatcham approved? Read on to find out.
What Is a Ghost Immobiliser?
The Ghost Immobiliser is a security device that can be installed in your vehicle discreetly, (without causing any damage to the vehicle) which works by preventing your engine to start unless certain buttons within your car are pressed in a specific sequence. Similar to a password on your phone, but instead using the buttons in your car.
The Ghost Immobiliser serves as a discreet method of security as the ‘password’ of buttons you press is only known to you, and if your car is ever broken into thieves will not be aware of the sequence needed to unlock your vehicle. As a result, thieves will not be able to start the car at all, deterring them further so they leave.
Additional features of the Ghost Immobiliser
Undetectable by thieves using diagnostics
The Ghost Immobiliser has no circuit cuts, meaning it cannot be detected by modern methods employed by a thief.
No radio frequencies
Thieves cannot use sophisticated RF scanning or code-grabbing technology to detect what security device your vehicle has when it does not transmit any signals like conventional security systems.
No more key cloning
Due to the personalised PIN, you can create with the Ghost Immobiliser, if thieves have cloned keys to your vehicle, it will be impossible for them to start it because they won’t know your PIN code.
Tested for each vehicle
Due to the nature of the data bus communication the Ghost Immobiliser has been adapted and tested for every vehicle we list as compatible, click this link to see our list of compatible vehicles.
PIN Reset
On the occasion your pin is forgotten, your car is sold, or a button in your PIN sequence is broken, there is a secure, reset code for each individual immobiliser. There is also an option to change your pin, whenever you feel like it.
The App
To make security even easier, there is an app for the immobiliser available for your iOS & Android mobile device, allowing you to just get in and drive away. Minimising the need to enter your PIN if you are running late etc.
All you need to do is enable this phone-tag and as soon as your smartphone is near. your car you will be able to drive, even if your smartphone your pocket.
The team here at Car Specialist Customs are qualified and experienced at installing a Ghost immobiliser for your vehicle. Head to our website for your quote to make your car secure with the Ghost immobiliser.
For an in-depth look at the Ghost Immobilser’s features and facts, head over to our blog post where we give you all the information you need on this integral security feature. To browse our Ghost Immobiliser installation service and pricing, click here.
What is Thatcham approval and certification?
Before we discuss Ghost Immobilisers Thatcham Approved status, let’s first discuss what exactly Thatcham certification is. The team at Car Specialist Customs always advise that before getting any security features added to your vehicle, the most important thing to know is if the security modification is approved by the relevant authorities when it comes to car security.
The Thatcham category alarm refers to the institute known as Thatcham Research which independently rates different car alarms & immobilisers by various categories to give consumers a better idea of the role they play.
Alarms fall within seven Thatcham categories which give an indication of the level of security offered by a vehicle along with external anti-theft components. To see what constitutes a Thatcham category alarm, and all of the individual Thatcham categories and their meaning, click here.
All modern vehicles will have been categorized within the Thatcham certification, you can check your vehicle’s certification by entering your vehicle details here.
If you’d like to know what security features come with your car as standard, the best course of action is to read your car’s handbook. Even if your vehicle has a high-security rating, the stock security features on your car may not be enough to prevent theft due to the advanced technologies thieves use such as relay amplifiers and transmitters.
We at Car Specialist Customs believe it is beneficial to assess what options you have in improving the security of your car (before making any purchase, we recommend you speak to your car insurance provider to see if the addition of security devices affects your policy.)
Are Ghost Immobilisers Thatcham approved?
In short, Ghost Immobilisers are not Thatcham approved, this is because the method that the Ghost Immobiliser works on does not have a banding category within the Thatcham mode of certification anymore, this is alongside vehicle trackers, as they are aftermarket security measures.
Despite this, since March 2020, The Autowatch Ghost Immobiliser is TASSA approved and recognised by some insurers.
TASSA stands for ‘Tracking and aftermarket security systems association’ a legally recognised body that deals with the certification of security & tracking devices installed after the purchase of a vehicle.
The TASSA website states: ‘The Tracking and Aftermarket Security System Association (TASSA) was formed by aftermarket industry manufacturers and traders who are at the forefront of solutions for vehicle crime prevention. In 2016 Thatcham announced that from 31st December 2018 it will no longer accredit Aftermarket Alarms, Immobilisers and Opportunist Theft Deterrents.’ To read further about their creation, click here.
Alternative Thatcham-approved security
If you are looking specifically for a Thatcham-approved security device, we at Car Specialist Customs also offer the Pandora Alarm.
As of 2020 they are Thatcham certified, meaning all instalments of Pandora security systems have the approval of Thatcham Research. All Pandora alarms are listed as a full category 1 on the Thatcham certification list, the best certification available; this means that the Pandora Alarm meets all of the strict criteria from Thatcham, this includes:
- Having a backup battery siren. Even if the car’s alarm is deactivated, the backup siren will continue to alert anyone within hearing distance, deterring thieves.
- A minimum of two physical immobilization cuts. Making your car even harder to physically steal. As the engine is immobilised completely.
- Monitors on all of the opening zones on the vehicle including the boot, bonnet & doors, along with a sensor inside the cabin zone which detects movement, guaranteeing that any suspicious movement is accounted for and brought to your attention.
To gain a full understanding of the Pandora Alarm, we have an in-depth article covering its features and its Thatcham certification.
Securing your vehicle
If you’d like more information about our services and products, or clarity on how we can help you, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. Our specialist team provide around-the-clock quality care and services to help you find the product or service that fits your needs.
To reach us and get more information today, you can contact Car Specialist Customs at 07523 971347 or use our email at info@carspecialistcustoms.co.uk for the quickest responses and swift support from members of our team.
Alternatively, if you prefer to browse independently, you can find a portfolio of our work here with plenty of photos to show off our quality. Whatever you choose to do, we have no doubt that you’ll find what you’re looking for with us.
Are Ghost immobilisers Thatcham approved? The answer is no. But they are approved by TASSA, a leading body in aftermarket vehicle security.
We at Car Specialist Customs hope this has been an insightful and helpful resource for you, answering questions you may have had whilst providing an in-depth and thorough breakdown of our services along with the top-quality products that we offer. We also have a blog page with multiple articles addressing the questions you may be looking for. Have a read by clicking here.