Car owners guide to: Car Security > Alarms & Thatcham Ratings
 With
vehicle crime escallating out of control in the late 1980s, the
efforts of government and the British insurance industry led to
the setting up of procedures to assess and improve the level of
vehicle security provided by the vehicle manufacturers and from
'aftermarket' (that is, items fitted after the vehicle has left
the production line) suppliers and installers.
The Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, or "Thatcham"
as it is widely known (taken from its Berkshire location), was established
in 1969 by British Insurers. It was given the job in 1992 of developing
a set of guidelines aimed at improving the effectiveness and reliability
of various forms of security devices, from steering wheel locks
to audible car alarm systems.
Thatcham not only puts in place the "goal posts" in terms
of the test guidelines and effectiveness each device (or vehicle)
must be capable of achieving, it also carries out the actual testing
of those devices and vehicles. This includes attack tests on the
vehicle and laboratory tests on the vehicle security system's components.
The attack tests include breaking into the vehicle through the boot,
bonnet or doors, overcoming steering locks and trying to start the
engine without the original vehicle keys. This results in a points
score.
Thatcham's work is funded by charges made to the companies seeking
to have their products tested and certified, and by the motor insurers.
Its efforts were extended to include commercial vehicles in 1996/97
and motorcycles in 1999.
While best known for testing vehicle security systems, MIRRC also
provides a large amount of the data that insurers use to define
a car's insurance grouping.
Thatcham Car Security Categories and Installation Certification
The simplest form of car security is the steering wheel lock. At
best this provides a limited deterrent but the better ones have
been categorised by Thatcham as Cat-3 devices (Category 3 - Mechanical
Immobilisers). Wheel Locking Devices (locking wheel nuts/bolts)
come under Category 4 (Cat-4).
Vehicle engine immobilisers are Cat-2 (Electronic/Electromechanical
Immobilisers) and full alarm systems are Cat-1 (Electronic Alarm
and Immobiliser combined).
As car security systems improved, the career thief found vehicles
harder to steal and so moved towards theft using the vehicle's original
keys stolen from homes and offices, briefcases and handbags. Vehicle
tracking systems provide an effective way for vehicle recovery in
the event of a theft and are categorised by Thatcham as Cat-5 devices.
To conform to these categories, the manufacturers are required
to build their products to very stringent criteria. But with aftermarket
devices, the product itself is only one half of the equation, with
proven expert installation being a requirement.
Installation by a certified company must be proved. Unless these
products are fitted by a certified installer, they are not recognised
by the insurance companies. So even if you have a Cat-1, Cat-2 or
Cat-5 device on your vehicle, you may find that your claim will
fail if your car is broken into or stolen and you don't have the
proper installation certificate.
Many alarm manufacturers put a small VSIB (Vehicle Systems Installation
Board) certificate in the box. If these devices have been fitted
by an unauthorised installer, the certificate will not have the
proper embossed certified stamp and is thus worthless.
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