Advice on Trackers

ladymarmalade222

I am currently looking for a tracker for a VW Camper which will be home from the converters in the next few days.

Could anybody give me some advice. When I called for advice the guy recommended a Smartrack Protector Plus but I think it could have been on special offer so wanted impartial advice.

I have also looked at the Tracker Locate.

What is the benefit of Vhf, Gsm etc. Also is there a particular brand which gives a bigger discount when it comes to insurance?

Many thanks for reading.

xxxx

Buellguy

Couldn't help with the brand etc. anything Thatcham rated should (will?) help with insurance costs though (well it did when I worked in insurance)

ladymarmalade222

Can anybody tell me whether there will be much difference in discount for insurance between a thatcham 6 and 7 rating?

Unfortunately due to my postcode and the price of the camper most places are refusing to quote so hoping the security add-ons will help a little.:o

Thanks for replying xx

Buellguy

IIRC not a lot if any, end of the day you are already looking at very effective for both, best thing to do is give a broker a call and ask, just say that you don't have the vehicle yet and want to find out the difference in quotes for the tracker. Try specialist camper van insurers. Whats the first 2 of the postcode, ones we had problems insuring were OL, M, B, L anything London (basically anything in a city)

ladymarmalade222

Yes, you guessed it, it is one the mentioned postcodes.

I have tried various brokers and specialist companies over the past couple of months.

I will make some enquiries tomorrow regarding the effect of trackers.

Thank you

xx

forgotmyname

My old insurer wouldnt touch Oldham and Manchester postcodes.

How often will the vehicle be parked up unused? A tracker will slowly flatten the battery. It may only use a tiny amount of power but running 24/7 it adds up.

They can be blocked with a cheap box bought offline also.

GSM will usually use a SIM cardlike a mobile phone, No idea on the VHF ones. usually only suitable for short range.

ladymarmalade222

The van has Solar panel and 2 leisure batteries as well as the normal battery. I don't know whether that will help by stopping the battery going flat. The most it will be unused is prob 4/5 days.

It looks like the Tracker Locate is the one that uses a unique Vhf, Gsm, gps and also states it has technology to stop signal jamming.
I know if they really want the van they can get around anything but I just want to make it more difficult for the bu@@ars.

It is a sad world when we cannot have something without having to secure it up like fort knox:(

I am swaying towards the Tracker as it is mentioned on most of the insurance questions.

I will try some more brokers tomorrow. We are both in our 40's, clean licences, NCD of 10 years and due to postcode I am so much trouble:(

Thank you for replying.

xxx

arcon5

Why not phone the brokers again for advice? See if they'll put through a few dummy quotes. Will they even consider TPO or would you not be happy with that?

ladymarmalade222

I don't want TPO as value of the van is so high I would not be able to replace it if needed so has to be Fully Comp.

I am just getting ready to speak to some brokers, I will let you know how I get on.

Thanks for all your help.

xxx

forgotmyname

Campervans fetch good money and it could be booked onto a ferry for warmer climates before its even left your property.

Strider590

There are plenty of much cheaper options, you can buy trackers that you fit a sim card into, which respond to SMS commands and send back the vehicles location.

The problem with the more expensive options, is that the Police rarely bother to actually go after the stolen vehicle.

Theives will park a stolen car somewhere inconspicuous and wait to make sure there is no tracker fitted, the Police know this and know it means they probably won't catch the bad guys, so they just don't waste their resources.

Unfortunately it's all about targets, the officers themselves might want to go get your vehicle back, but their hands are tied.
At the end of the day, if your insurance pays out, then the Police consider it case closed.