As the economy starts to take a bigger bite from your wages, your savings and any disposable income you have, many of us are looking at ways to tighten our belts.
When you’re looking to save money, it’s easy to spend less in the short term, but that can often cost you even more in the long run.
If you’re looking to buy a car tracker to keep your vehicle secure, then the costs can mount up, but there is another option if you’re on a budget.
Within our fantastic range of vehicle trackers, we also offer a selection that aren’t insurance-approved.
Now that might sound like a strange proposition at first, but these devices offer fantastic value for money, whilst also giving you the power to monitor your vehicle yourself, right from the palm of your hand.
The question is are they any good? What are they? Do non-insurance approved trackers still provide you with enough peace of mind that your vehicle will be secure without the expense? Let’s take a look.
WHAT DOES ‘NON-INSURANCE APPROVED TRACKER’ REALLY MEAN?
Most vehicle trackers gain their ‘insurance-approved’ status by meeting the strict criteria set down by Thatcham Research, the insurance-funded automative research centre, but it’s not a mandatory requirement.
Thatcham’s aim is to reduce the cost of motor insurance claims by increasing vehicular safety standards. As such, security product manufacturers work hard to ensure their products pass Thatcham’s rigorous testing procedures to prove their credentials. This is vital when it comes to marketing their systems and gain that all-important ‘insurance approved’ status.
The features within those products provide the public with reassurance that the design, functionality and performance of the device meets set standards. The thing is, trackers don’t HAVE to meet these to be effective.
You might think that buying a ‘non-insurance approved’ tracker means it’s going to come from a backstreet manufacturer, or that it’s not going to give you the protection you need, but that’s just not the case.
Many of the leading manufacturers of car trackers, like Meta Trek, ScorpionTrack and 
SmarTrack make these trackers too. They obviously know their stuff and wouldn’t risk their professional reputation on a second-class product.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES?
The main differences between an insurance-approved and non-insurance approved tracker often boils down to the level of support you receive from the manufacturer.
Most, if not all, approved systems come with access to a 24/7 control centre who, in the event of a theft, will be available to you to track your vehicle and liaise with the police to recover the vehicle. With non-approved trackers, that will be done by you via a smartphone app.
The other main difference is that some trackers that fit this non-insurance-approved criteria can be installed without any specialist knowledge, and some have no wiring to connect at all. The ultimate DIY system for those looking to secure their vehicle for less. Don’t worry though, we can still come and install them anywhere in the UK if needed.
You will still get many of the notifications and alerts that more expensive trackers come with, like journey history, geo-fencing, low battery warning and driver behaviour analysis.
They are also transferable when, or if, you change your vehicle and want to move the tracker from one car, bike, motorhome or van to another.
LOW SUBSCRIPTION
Another key benefit of having a non-insurance-approved tracker is that they have no, or very low, subscription fees.
Most of the normal subscription costs goes towards maintaining the 24/7 control centre but, as we mentioned earlier, not having that as part of the package means that more of your money stays in your pocket.
Whilst you might not get all the ‘bells and whistles’ many other systems offer, that doesn’t mean that you’re getting second-best. These systems still will give you and your vehicle the security you need and you get it all for less.
⚬ If you’re interested, you can check out our range of non-insurance approved trackers
⚬ Leading brands with fantastic trackers at low prices, including those for fleet management.
⚬ For those looking for a self-tracking, self-management solution, these can offer incredible devices for less.
If we’ve opened your eyes to what’s available then we’d love to hear from you. Our team is available from 9 am – 6 pm, Monday to Friday on 0330 043 3993 to find you the best tracker, whether it’s insurance approved or not, and get your vehicle secured as soon as possible.
