I am looking at getting a new car, now direct line said they will only insure me with a tracking device installed. The car i am looking at does have a tracker, but how does it all work? I havent a clue at all

thanks in advance

I think it's all automated, just a (concealed) device that emits a signal (code) unique to your car whilst it has battery power (I assume they have their own batteries as backup?) and the police can track the car if they are within a certain range, in a plod car fitted with a tracking system. The tracking is only basic iirc, just arrows showing them the direction of the car's location, but they can usually find it.

Think the newer ones may be GPS or perhaps GSM linked though?

ive been told by direct line is has to be a certain type and apparently you have to pay a yearly fee for it? becoming a pain in the a** now

I'd imagine so, as it is a service which costs the plod money (to install and perhaps maintain the system). There is a variety of tracking systems on the market, there used to be a unified system that the plod could use. I'd assume it would have to be Thatcham approved, and probably of the standard/type the plod can use within their traffic vehicles.

Are DL the only company who will insure you, or are they the cheapest quote?

Since they are insisting on the device to be fitted, you should ask them to get one of their specialists to telephone you to explain, after all you need to ensure you have the right type, so your insurance is valid.

what car have you got, an aston martin or something????

I'll make a bet for an Evo or Skyline lol

just use a different insurance company, direct line never used to like paying out on claims at the best of times

Article on the BBC News today about insurance-trackers ...

CLICKY

This is from memory, but I'm farly sure most of it is accurate:

The tracker devices you find in cars are normally of two different types, the Thatcham approved ones and the "other" sort that you fit yourself, usually with half a mobile phone embedded in it somewhere so it can be tracked.

Your insurance company will no doubt insist on the Thatcham type, and within this there are four separate groups. Thatcham themselves rate car security devices from Cat 1 to Cat 7, 1-4 covers alarms and immobilisers, 5 is for vehicle recovery (after theft) devices, 6 & 7 are trackers.

Cat 5 is the best, to reach Cat 7 the device only has to have its own internal battery as a backup, have the ability for bi-directional communication and have a licence agreement with Police. Cat 6 doesn't have police connectivity, but does have better mapping facility (it's easier to find it), plus it stores all locations and it activates if the vehicle is moved when the ignition is off (towed away).

Cat 5 has to do all of that plus It can call the driver from a secure approved base to ask security questions, and the car can be remotely disabled if need be, it also has an approved level one police response (immediate response).

I went through all this after the minibus was lifted last year. My insurance have never insisted, or even suggested, anything like that, but adaptions have been made to my vehicles now.

You might just want to shop around, maybe have a look at some of the specialist brokers, the run of the mill guys will just keep making silly demands on you, they don't want your business as it requires too much work and just want you to go away so that they can take the next three calls rather than deal with your one.

Same concept of micro chipping a pet, I used to install them in top end jetskis (7k plus) as skis are easy to pinch, we used to fit what trojan trackers and it was basically a big microchip that you would glue using a purplish resin to the inside of the hull.

Basically they just need to be recongnised by the insurance body imo bit of a waste of time as the common install points are known and signals can be jammed if need be

I have one for Sale, £80..

yeah i mean basically its got a tracker in it i just need to find out which one, regarding what one is in it, can i go to any company for the annual subscription for it or does each one have a specific company?

direct line are cack, they insisted on a tracker for my missus' STi but no other insurers since have asked for one since

id prefer to stay with direct line though tbh as i have a named driver with no claim bonus's an just seems like hassle changing