Installation Times: Monday - Thursday: 7:30am to 6pm | Friday: 7:30am to 3pm | Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Call us: 0800 368 8656
sales@sasmobile.co.uk
19th March 2025
We are often asked about our S5 Trackers. Things like how do they work? What are they? Are they insurance approved or Thatcham approved? Do I need one? Are they compatible with my car? and Do they have subscriptions? All your questions and answers here. Our blog post explains in great detail about S5 Tracker, what they are, how they work, suitable vehicles, why you might need one and their history.
Before we look at the S5 Tracker FAQs, let's take a look at an introduction to the S5 Tracker Device. The S5 Tracker was introduced in January 2019 when Thatcham restructured their vehicle security categories. This is when Thatcham Category 5 Trackers were made obsolete and S5 Trackers were devised to replace them. Category 5 often carried a price tag of £699.00 for the supply and fit of a device and annual subscriptions were £199.00
S5 has seen the affordability reduced with the ScorpionTrack S5 Tracker available from £399.00 (as of March 2025) and subscriptions from just £12.49 per month or £129.00 per year.
S5 Tracker is a tracker which has achieved Thatcham Category S5 criteria. It is then recommended for insurance companies to safeguard against vehicle theft.
To achieve this S5 Tracker must have all of the following:
24 hour monitoring.
Internal Power Supply (battery back up).
Multiple means of transmitting signal.
Ability to log journey data.
Automatic Driver Recognition (also known as ADR and Driver ID)
Incorporate GPS (Global Positioning System).
Operate own health checks
Passively arm. The device will arm automatically after the ignition is turned off.
Include a movement sensor.
Use a roaming SIM card.
Resist a physical attack for a minimum of two minutes. A thief would need to find the S5 Tracker first.
Movement sensor to alert if the vehicle is towed.
They are suitable for all vehicles including Cars, Vans, Mini Bus, Motorhome, Supercars, HGV, Horse boxes and everything in between.
Insurance companies often request the installation of an S5 Tracker due as a condition of the policy on high value vehicles, sports, performance and prestige models. It does not always have to be for insurance purposes, many customers choose to install S5 for peace of mind due to their high levels of protection and affordability.
The earlier Category 5 trackers had the same criteria applied to them with the exception of remote engine immobilisation, a feature which was hardly ever used as it required Police request, the owner had no control over it. This engine immobilisation feature made the device quite expensive as it required additional parts and far more time to install.
While the new S5 tracker does not have a remote engine immobilisation feature as standard many devices still have the ability to do it. These models are known as S5 Plus.
These have all the features of the standard S5 Tracker but with the addition of the remote engine immobilisation that the Category 5 had. This feature can operate in two different ways on the S5 Tracker depending on the product manufacturer.
There are 2 immobilisation options* - Police request immobilisation or No Tag No Start Immobilisation.
*Note: The Tracker UK S5 Plus does not have the immobilisation feature.
Police Request Immobilisation is a feature of the S5 Tracker that allows law enforcement to remotely disable the engine of a vehicle in the event of theft. If your vehicle is stolen and the tracker is activated, the police can contact the monitoring centre, which can then send a signal to the tracker to safely immobilise the vehicle, making it impossible for the thief to drive it away. This feature helps increase the chances of recovering the vehicle quickly and preventing further damage or theft.
No Tag, No Start Immobilisation is a feature in the S5 Tracker that prevents a vehicle from starting unless the correct tag is present. In simple terms, it's a security measure that requires the driver to have a specific tag to start the car.
If the tag is not in the vehicle or if it's not recognised, the tracker will immobilise the engine, effectively preventing the car from being driven. This adds an extra layer of protection against theft, as even if someone steals the vehicle, they won’t be able to start or drive it without the correct tag.
No Tag No Start offers protection against cyber vehicle theft. If the signal from your vehicle's key is boosted or replicated the S5 Tracker will not allow the engine to start and stop the would-be theft. The tag can be kept on the vehicle keys for ease of use or in your pocket, bag or house keys to further maximise security.
Scorpion is the only company who offers the No Tag No Start feature that we sell.
Additional Reading: Learn more about the ScorpionTrack S5 Tracker.
Power - S5 Tracking devices use the vehicle's battery as their primary source of power. Minimal current draw is required and the average vehicle battery could supply power to the unit in excess of 400 days. Should the vehicle's battery be disconnected the device's internal battery allows it to maintain operation and an alert is sent to the control room.
Moving a vehicle installed with a S5 Tracker - This requires the tag to be present and in the vehicle. If not, the unit alerts the control room who then makes contact with the owner to clarify the vehicle's location.
Confirmation of theft - In the event of a theft you need to confirm the theft with the tracking company control room and your local Police force. You will obtain a Crime Reference Number from the Police, this needs to be given to the S5 tracker control room allowing them to liaise with the appropriate Police force and guide officers into the vehicle location.
Communication - all S5 trackers use multiple sources of communication to transmit their data and the location. These include, RF, GSM, GPS, GPRS, GLONASS, and VHF.
Optional Immobiliser - as detailed above, if you have the S5 Plus model it will allow the vehicle to be remotely immobilised should the Police request it. Once requested and the ignition is turned off the engine will not then restart.
All insurance approved and Thatcham approved S5 Trackers require a subscription. This is to pay for the transmission of the data and the monitoring of the vehicle 24 hours a day. Subscription costs are now more affordable than ever with companies such as Smartrack and Scorpion offering them at just £12.49 per month.
The installation process for the S5 Tracker involves a professional technician wiring the tracker directly into your vehicle’s electrical system. The tracker is installed in a discreet location to prevent tampering, ensuring it is hidden and secure. The process typically takes 1-2 hours, and you’ll be guided on how to use the system after installation.
Additional Reading: Learn more about our installation of S5 trackers.
The S5 Tracker is designed to be tamper-resistant. If the device is tampered with or disconnected, the system will alert the monitoring centre, which can take appropriate action to recover the vehicle. Additionally, the tracker’s covert installation makes it harder for thieves to locate and disable.
Yes, once the S5 Tracker is installed, you can track your vehicle’s location through an online portal or smartphone app provided by the tracking service. This allows you to monitor the vehicle’s movements, get updates on its status, and ensure its safety at all times.
