Question on alarm/immobilisers

Hi knowledgeable peeps, My insurance company tell me they will only insure my Defender if it has a Thatcham cat 1 or 2 alarm/immobiliser fitted. I know there's an alarm/immobiliser of some sort fitted to my 'ender, 'cos it went off when I disconnected the battery the other day. But how can I tell for sure if it's a Thatcham 1 or 2? Any ideas, guys? Thanks!

You'd need a certificate from the installer. If it's factory installed that's usually adequate.

If you don't have a certificate, another installer might 'inspect' it and produce one, but thats a big might.

CAT 1 is an alarm AND Immobiliser (auto Immobilising)
CAT 2 is ONLY an Immobiliser
CAT 2-1 is a factory fitted Immobiliser with an approved alarm added.

Well if it was factory fitted, I can tell you it's not CAT 1.
As of 30 April 1998 any factory fitted cat 1 alarm on a Defender was taken off the approved list.
If it was made after April 07 or after it will have a CAT 2 immobilizer factory fitted.

If it's an after market alarm you will need to find the make & model number, you can then look it up here Security | Alarms/ Immobilisers/ Tracking Devices | Thatcham MIRRC

Ask the insurance company what they want? Do they need a Cert from a Thatcham Recognised Installer or are they just happy to accept you word for it.
Ask what proof you would need to provide in the event of a claim.

Thanks, guys.
Well it's a late 2003 model if that helps. I'm just wondering where these things are typically fitted so I can eyeball it and maybe get some clue on whether it's original factory or after-market. Where might I expect to find it?

Ta.

Landlover99 said:

Thanks, guys.
Well it's a late 2003 model if that helps. I'm just wondering where these things are typically fitted so I can eyeball it and maybe get some clue on whether it's original factory or after-market. Where might I expect to find it?

Ta.

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The sounder is normally in the engine bay. something like a 3" square'ish box.

If you own the vehicle surely ya can just open the bonnet or fone ya local dealer and ask him.

I suppose ya could be a stoopid thief trying to find the location of the alarm..

Panic over chaps. Lancaster were the only insurers with such a restrictive attitude towards alarms, so I've signed up with Flux who offered a better deal anyway.

redhand said:

If you own the vehicle surely ya can just open the bonnet or fone ya local dealer and ask him.

I suppose ya could be a stoopid thief trying to find the location of the alarm..

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You must be joking. At my age when I open the bonnet it's hard enough to spot the engine.:lol:

Landlover99 said:

Panic over chaps. Lancaster were the only insurers with such a restrictive attitude towards alarms, so I've signed up with Flux who offered a better deal anyway.

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Good job you got away from Lancaster. First thing is their policy's don't accrue no claims - wasn't told this when i took mine out, they insisted they did but had "lost" the recording so couldn't prove me wrong.....I took out a policy a few weeks before I moved, told them where I was moving to but didn't have the address, they said that area would be fine as was better rating, when I got the address I rang them and they said they'd ring back to confirm all was ok, they didnt, i rang them the next day (after i'd moved) to be told it was their policy to not ring customers back (what!?!) and that it'd be an extra £150 to change address (still under 14 days cooling off) so I asked to cancel, they told me it couldn't be done over phone and to write a letter. Policy would be cancelled when they read the letter. Asked how I was supposed to arrange new insurance without knowing when my old policy was cancelled, they weren't really very interested in helping.

Eventually got a 100% refund, after a long delay. Now with flux and couldn't be happier!