What is Thatcham?
The short answer
Thatcham Research is the UK motor insurance research centre that tests and certifies vehicle security products. When an insurer asks for a “Thatcham approved” alarm, immobiliser or tracker, it means a product that has passed Thatcham’s assessment in a named category, such as Category 1 for an alarm and immobiliser or S5 for a monitored tracker with driver identification.
Certification covers the product, not your car or your policy. Whether your insurer accepts a particular category, and what it does to your premium, is the insurer’s decision.
What Thatcham Research does
Thatcham Research was founded in 1969 and is funded by the motor insurance industry. Its security team assesses aftermarket products and vehicle manufacturer systems against published criteria for security, functionality, safety and reliability.
- Products that pass are listed in Thatcham’s certified products database.
- Each product is certified in a specific category, and the category tells an insurer what the product does.
- Thatcham states that certification does not guarantee insurer recognition. Recognition is agreed between the product manufacturer and its insurance partners.
How Thatcham security categories work
A category is a job description, not a quality score. Each one defines a type of product and the tests it must pass, and a higher number is not automatically better.
There are two broad families. Electronic security covers alarms and immobilisers, which try to stop the vehicle being entered or driven away. Tracking covers products that help find a vehicle after it has gone. A car can carry one of each, and some insurers ask for exactly that on higher-risk vehicles.
The tracking categories changed on 1 January 2019. S5 superseded the old Category 5 and 6, and S7 superseded the old Category 6 and 7. If a policy or an old forum thread mentions Cat 5, Cat 6 or Cat 7, ask the insurer which current category it means.
Thatcham categories explained
These are the current category names as published by Thatcham Research.
| Category | Official name | What it must do | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Electronic Alarm and Immobiliser | Passively set immobiliser that isolates at least two circuits or systems, plus an alarm with perimeter, ignition and interior movement detection and a battery-backed siren | Cars where the insurer wants a full alarm and immobiliser |
| Category 2 | Electronic Immobiliser | The same immobiliser requirement as Category 1, with no alarm | Vehicles that need an approved immobiliser only |
| Category 2-1 | Electronic Alarm | An alarm combined with an existing Category 2 immobiliser to reach Category 1 status | Upgrading a car that already has an approved immobiliser |
| Category 4 | Wheel Locking Devices | Resists attack for at least 2 minutes, with traceable keys and a secure key replacement procedure | Locking road and spare wheels |
| Category S5 | Vehicle Tracking Systems | 24/7 monitoring, GPS, roaming SIM, driver identification device, motion detection, two-way data and a battery back-up | Cars and vans where the insurer asks for tracking with driver identification |
| Category S7 | Asset Location Systems | 24/7 monitoring, locates the asset within a 1-mile radius in general terrain, and must be precisely locatable within 15 minutes of signal receipt on Thatcham’s pursuit test | Vehicles and assets where recovery is the aim |
Category 1: alarm and immobiliser
This is the full package. The immobiliser sets itself without the driver doing anything, the alarm watches the perimeter, ignition and cabin, and the siren keeps going on its own battery if the car’s supply is cut. Thatcham’s criteria include resistance to attack for at least 5 minutes on the immobiliser and 1 minute on the siren.
Category 2 and Category 2-1: immobiliser, then alarm
Category 2 is the immobiliser on its own. Category 2-1 is the alarm that completes it. Combine a 2-1 alarm with a Category 2 immobiliser and the vehicle reaches Category 1 status. That is why some alarms are sold as upgrades rather than stand-alone systems.
Category S5: tracking with driver identification
S5 is a monitored tracker that includes a driver identification device, usually a small tag. The system uses it to tell an authorised driver from an unauthorised one. The monitoring centre must meet the requirements of BS 8591, the code of practice for remote centres receiving signals from alarm systems, at Category 1 or an equivalent standard.
Category S7: asset location
S7 is about finding the vehicle. It sets performance targets for location and recovery rather than prescribing the technology. It also needs 24/7 monitoring and a battery back-up.
Other Thatcham certifications
Thatcham also certifies whole vehicle marking, which combines at least two marking techniques, and OBD port protection, which stops key programming communication through the diagnostic socket.
Do you need a Thatcham category?
That depends entirely on your insurer and your vehicle. Some policies make a specific category a condition of cover. Others do not mention one, though a certified device may still be worth raising when you ask for a quote.
Start with the exact wording in your schedule or quote. “Thatcham approved alarm” and “Category 1 alarm and immobiliser” are not the same request.
- Copy the phrase from your policy and ask the insurer which category it means.
- Name the model you plan to fit and ask whether they accept it.
- Ask in writing whether fitting it changes your premium or your policy conditions.
How to check a product is genuinely approved
A sticker or a line in an advert is not proof. Check the product against Thatcham’s own records.
- Search Thatcham Research’s certified aftermarket security products database at thatcham.org for the manufacturer and model.
- Confirm the category matches the one your insurer named. A Category 2 immobiliser does not satisfy a request for Category 1.
- Ask the supplier for the certificate that comes with the product.
- Confirm with the insurer that they recognise the product before you buy.
Treat phrases such as “Thatcham tested” or “to Thatcham standard” with caution. They describe nothing you can verify. A listed, certified product in a stated category is what counts.
Installation and certificates
The paperwork matters as much as the hardware. Your insurer may ask for proof of what was fitted, when, and by whom.
- Keep the fitting invoice and the installer’s details.
- Keep the certificate supplied with the product.
- Send copies to your insurer, and keep your own set for any claim.
- For trackers, keep the account and monitoring details, plus any driver tags.
Check your insurer’s requirements before you fit anything yourself, because some will only accept work done by a professional installer.
Where Scorpion products fit
Scorpion Automotive is a UK manufacturer founded in 1973 and based in Chorley. Here is how the range lines up with the categories above.
- S-Series alarms. The S30 is a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser. The S32, S34 and S37 are Category 2-1 upgrade alarms. The S4 and S12 are not Thatcham categorised. See the S-Series range.
- X-Series. A CAN bus immobiliser built to stop key relay and key clone theft with a PIN or driver tag. It has no Thatcham category, so it will not satisfy an insurer asking for Category 1 or 2. See the X-Series.
- ScorpionTrack tracking. Thatcham approved stolen vehicle trackers with 24/7 monitoring. See stolen vehicle tracking.
- FleetLock. Multipoint locking and keypad immobilisation for light commercial vehicles. FleetLock Pro is Thatcham S7 or S5, depending on the tracking hardware it is paired with. See FleetLock.
- Quantum S5. Request the product information pack at Quantum S5.
Not sure which category your insurer needs? Get in touch and tell us the wording on your policy.
Thatcham FAQs
What does Thatcham approved mean?
It means the product has been assessed and certified by Thatcham Research in a named security category. The category matters as much as the approval, because an insurer asking for Category 1 will not be satisfied by a Category 2 product.
What is the difference between Thatcham Category 1 and Category 2?
Category 1 is an electronic alarm and immobiliser. Category 2 is an electronic immobiliser with no alarm. Combining a Category 2-1 alarm with a Category 2 immobiliser brings the vehicle to Category 1 status.
What is the difference between S5 and S7?
S5 is a Vehicle Tracking System with a driver identification device. S7 is an Asset Location System, judged on locating a stolen asset within a defined radius and time. Both need 24/7 monitoring.
What happened to Thatcham Cat 5, 6 and 7?
From 1 January 2019 Thatcham replaced them. S5 superseded the old Category 5 and 6, and S7 superseded Category 6 and 7. Older paperwork may still use the previous numbers.
Does a Thatcham alarm or tracker lower my insurance?
It can, but it is not guaranteed. Thatcham states that certification does not guarantee insurer recognition. Ask your insurer for a quote with and without the device, and get the answer in writing.
Is a Thatcham approved tracker the same as a Thatcham approved alarm?
No. Alarms and immobilisers sit in Categories 1, 2 and 2-1. Trackers sit in S5 and S7. Read the policy wording to see which one your insurer means, or whether it wants both.
Does the Scorpion X-Series have a Thatcham category?
No. The X-Series has no Thatcham category. If your insurer names a category, look at the S-Series for Category 1 or 2-1, or at a ScorpionTrack tracker for tracking.