Engineer's Comparison Guide
Ghost Immobiliser vs Tracker — Stop the Theft, or Recover the Car?
The simplest way to understand the difference: a tracker doesn't stop the theft — it helps you get the car back afterwards. An Autowatch Ghost II stops the engine starting at all, so the theft attempt fails on your driveway. They do different jobs, and for most high-value or keyless vehicles the right answer is to fit both.
Thatcham-certified
CAT S5 & S7 installer
TASSA member
Verified installer ID
Non-invasive fit
Non-invasive fit
Same-day certificate
Emailed to your insurer
The short answer
What's your priority?
Only stopping the theft
Ghost II on its own
Only satisfying your insurer
Thatcham tracker (S5 or S7)
Premium, keyless, genuinely worried
Ghost II + S5 tracker
Mid-value, insurer wants tracker
Ghost II + S7 tracker
The two products aren't alternatives — they address different stages of the attack.
Ghost II Immobiliser
Ghost II is a CAN-bus immobiliser hidden invisibly into your vehicle's wiring. The engine won't start until you enter a PIN sequence using your existing buttons. No LED, no RF signal, no OBD footprint. To a thief, the car simply refuses to run.
Strengths
Limits
Thatcham Tracker (S5/S7)
A hidden GPS + GSM device that reports your vehicle's position. If the car moves when it shouldn't, you (S7) or a 24/7 control room (S5) detects it, alerts the relevant parties, and the vehicle is recovered. The tracker does not stop the engine starting.
Strengths
Limits
Side-by-side
Prevention vs recovery
| Attribute | 🔒 Ghost II | 📍 Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Primary role | Prevention — stops engine start | Recovery — finds the vehicle after theft |
| Works against relay attack | ||
| Works against OBD cloning | ||
| Works against signal jamming | N/A — no signal dependency | Resilient on S5 |
| Works against tow-away / flatbed | ||
| Satisfies insurer "Thatcham required" | ||
| Monthly/annual subscription | None | Required |
| Requires GPS/GSM signal | No | Yes |
| Visible footprint | None — no LED, no fob | Hidden unit, app on phone |
| Typical install time | 2–3 hours | 1.5–3 hours |
Theft method breakdown
Which theft methods does each defeat?
Relay attack on keyless cars
🔒 Ghost II — ✓ Defeats it
Ghost II holds the engine at the immobiliser stage until the PIN sequence is entered.
📍 Tracker — ✗ Recovery only
Detects the theft after the vehicle moves; doesn't stop it happening.
OBD port cloning
🔒 Ghost II — ✓ Defeats it
The cloning tool sees no aftermarket alarm and can't bypass Ghost II's CAN integration.
📍 Tracker — ✗ Recovery only
Recovery only — the cloned key starts the car normally.
Signal jamming
🔒 Ghost II — N/A
Ghost II doesn't rely on GSM or GPS signal — completely unaffected.
📍 Tracker — ✓ Defeats it
S5: multi-network + store-and-forward delivers data when jamming stops. S7: partial resilience.
Tow-away / flatbed lift
🔒 Ghost II — ✗ Doesn't help
Doesn't help — the vehicle isn't being started, it's being lifted.
📍 Tracker — ✓ Defeats it
Inertia detection and tow-away alerts fire within seconds. This is the gap the tracker closes.
Chop-shop / port-of-export
🔒 Ghost II — ~ Partial
Helps once recovered — the vehicle can't be driven off a transporter without the PIN.
📍 Tracker — ✓ Defeats it
S5: live tracking through road network with control-room and port-authority liaison.
Conclusion: no single product covers every attack. Ghost II locks out four of the five; the tracker covers the one Ghost II can't. That's why the Ghost II + tracker stack is the engineer-recommended answer for high-value vehicles.
The full stack
Why most informed owners fit both
The tracker is for the insurer; Ghost II is for the car
One keeps the policy valid; the other keeps the vehicle off the transporter.
Today's attacks don't care about alarms
Relay and OBD theft defeat factory security in under two minutes. Ghost II is built specifically for that problem; a tracker isn't.
The gap between them is small
Ghost II is a one-off install. Adding it on top of a tracker is a marginal decision on a high-value vehicle.
Best candidates
Vehicles that benefit most from the stack
| Vehicle class | Why the stack matters |
|---|---|
| Range Rover, Defender, Velar | Stolen to order, often exported within hours. Ghost II stops the start; S5 covers the flatbed gap. |
| BMW M, Mercedes AMG, Audi RS | Targeted by organised relay attacks; premium subscription worth it at this value. |
| Ford Transit Custom / Sprinter (tool-heavy) | Tools are the target as much as the van; Ghost II + S7 is cost-effective for trades. |
| Porsche 911/Cayenne, Bentley, Aston | Collector-grade; specialist policies explicitly recognise Ghost II. |
| Premium motorhomes (Hymer, Bürstner) | Long standing periods, storage compounds; stack covers prevention plus tow-away. |
| High-value motorbikes | Compact S5 + Ghost-equivalent immobiliser stops both lift-and-van and ride-away. |
Insurer acceptance
Do insurers accept Ghost II?
Ghost II alone doesn't replace a Thatcham-approved tracker on a policy that specifies one. But many insurers — particularly Adrian Flux, Hagerty, A-Plan and NFU Mutual — now recognise Ghost II as a positive risk factor. Combined with a Thatcham S5 or S7, it can unlock additional premium discounts at renewal.
Questions we're asked most
Ghost vs tracker FAQs
Isn't a Thatcham tracker enough on its own?
For insurance compliance, yes. For actually stopping the theft happening, no. A tracker is a recovery tool; Ghost II is a prevention tool. On a high-value keyless vehicle, most owners want both.
Can I fit Ghost II instead of a tracker my insurer has required?
No — Ghost II doesn't satisfy a policy condition that names a Thatcham tracker. Fit the tracker the policy asks for, and add Ghost II alongside.
Do insurers discount premium for Ghost II?
Some specialist insurers explicitly do (Adrian Flux, Hagerty, A-Plan, NFU Mutual on relevant policies); mainstream insurers often recognise it informally at renewal. A fitment letter from us supports the conversation.
Will Ghost II affect my factory immobiliser or ADAS?
No — it's non-invasive and CAN-integrated without disrupting factory features. Main dealer servicing, MOT and software updates work normally.
Can one installer do both at the same visit?
Yes — both installs are in our remit; we don't split the work across different fitters. Bundle pricing available.
My vehicle already has a factory tracker — do I still need an aftermarket one?
Often yes. Factory telematics (BMW ConnectedDrive, JLR InControl) help with recovery but aren't Thatcham-rated and rarely satisfy insurer wording specifying a Thatcham tracker.
Can Ghost II be removed and moved to a new car?
Yes. We discount the re-fit labour.
Which one first — if I can only fit one now?
If your insurer requires a tracker, fit the tracker first — not fitting it risks your cover. If no insurer requirement, fit Ghost II first — it addresses the attacks that actually steal UK cars today. Budget-tight? Fit the tracker now, book Ghost II for the following month.
Get the right stack
Prevention + Recovery.
Send us vehicle, postcode and insurer's wording. We'll recommend the right combination — Ghost II, tracker, or both — with a fixed price and the next mobile slot.