Category 2: Electronic Immobiliser – Thatcham Approved

Customers must choose between the Ghost 2 or a Category 2 Electronic Immobiliser. These systems work in different ways and it is basically either one or the other.

If your Insurance company has used the words, ‘Category 2 aftermarket immobiliser’, or ‘Category 2 Immobiliser’, or simply ‘Cat2’ then the Ghost 2 will not tick their box.

For a suitable Category 2 system please read on.

Category 2 systems are Thatcham Approved and this means that the system has been submitted to the MIRRC based in Thatcham. This is a Government backed body that tests equipment and provides guidance lists for Insurance companies.

For more information please read:

Is the Ghost 2 Thatcham Approved?

For modern cars with a central CANBus wiring, we recommend the Pandora Storm. This a Category 2 Immobiliser that is Thatcham Approved and therefore Insurance Approved.

The system requires the driver to carry a tag unique to their system. If the tag is not present then the vehicle will not start. This combats, key cloning, relay attack, OBD port theft, and key theft (if the tag is kept separate).

For older cars we recommend the Vodafone Cobra 8510 Immobiliser. This is a Category 2 Immobiliser which is Thatcham Approved and Insurance Approved.

This system relies on a ‘Touch-key’. A receptor is mounted in the vehicle, and the driver touches a small fob to the receptor to disable the immobiliser and be able to drive. This again combats the modern forms of theft.

Both the Pandora Storm and Vodafone Cobra 8510 are aftermarket Cat 2 Immobilisers. They act separately from any Cat 2 fitted at the time of vehicle manufacture, sitting along side original security systems.

In almost all cases a Cat 2 fitted at manufacture is weak and easily overridden and this is why Insurers ask for an ‘aftermarket Category 2’, even when one is already fitted.

All factory fitted security systems are identical and fitted in the same place. This makes it very easy for thieves to anticipate and override all factory security.

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