Smartrack S7 Immobiliser vs S5+ iMOB

What is the actual difference in the smartrack s7 immobiliser vs s5 imob?

If you have been researching Smartrack trackers with immobilisation, you have probably noticed that two products appear to offer similar things. The Smartrack S7 with Immobilisation and the Smartrack S5+ iMOB both include a tracker and an immobiliser. Both are professionally installed. Both are monitored 24/7 by the Global Telemetrics Secure Control Centre. This guide will help you understand the differences between the Smartrack S7 and S5 immobilisers.

So what is the difference — and does it actually matter which one you choose?

It matters enormously. These are fundamentally different products that provide different levels of protection and meet different insurance requirements. Ordering the wrong one — particularly if your insurer has specified a category — can mean your policy is not correctly satisfied, which could affect a claim.

This guide explains exactly what each product does, where they differ, and how to choose the right one for your vehicle and insurance requirements.

Understanding the differences between the SmarTrack S7 and S5 immobilisers will provide valuable insights as you consider your options.

When comparing the SmarTrack S7 immobiliser vs the S5 immobiliser, it’s important to consider various factors that may influence your decision.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to understanding the smartrack s7 immobiliser vs s5 imob and how each option aligns with your needs.

Starting from the beginning: S7 vs S5

To understand the difference between these two products, you first need to understand the difference between Thatcham Category S7 and Category S5. This is the foundation everything else builds on.

Thatcham Category S7 is a Stolen Vehicle Recovery standard. An S7 tracker locates your vehicle after a theft is reported. It provides GPS tracking, 24/7 monitoring, and police coordination — but it responds to a theft that has already been noticed and reported. The system is reactive.

Thatcham Category S5 is a higher standard that includes Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR). An S5 tracker does not wait for you to report a theft. It monitors who is driving at all times. The moment your vehicle moves without a registered driver token present, the Global Telemetrics control centre is alerted immediately — before you have even noticed the car is gone. The system is proactive.

This distinction between reactive and proactive is the most important thing to understand before comparing any two Smartrack products. Everything else flows from it.

The Smartrack S7 with Immobilisation

The Smartrack S7 with Immobilisation is a Thatcham Category S7 tracker with an immobiliser added. The immobiliser in this product can be activated remotely — typically at the police’s request once a theft has been confirmed and the vehicle has been located.

This is a critically important point. The immobiliser in the S7 product is not automatic. It does not arm itself every time you park the car. It does not prevent a thief from starting the vehicle. It is a remote kill switch that can be used during a theft recovery operation to stop the vehicle once it has already been stolen and located.

The protection sequence with the S7 with Immobilisation looks like this. Your car is stolen. You notice it is gone and report it. The control centre begins tracking. Police are coordinated to the location. Once the vehicle is confirmed to be located and safe to do so — meaning it is stationary, and the immobilisation will not pose a road safety risk — the immobiliser can be activated remotely to prevent the engine from restarting.

This is useful. Having a remote immobiliser available during a recovery operation increases the likelihood that the vehicle will be secured once found. But it does nothing to prevent the theft itself, nor does it affect the device’s S7 category classification. It remains an S7 product.

The S7 with Immobilisation is the right choice if:

• Your insurer requires an S7 tracker
• You want the additional recovery capability of a remote immobiliser
• Your insurer does not specifically require S5 or driver recognition

The Smartrack S5+ iMOB

The Smartrack S5+ iMOB is a Thatcham Category S5 tracker with an automatic engine immobiliser built in. The immobilisation in this product works completely differently from the S7 version.

Every time you switch the ignition off and leave the vehicle, the S5+ iMOB automatically immobilises the engine. It will not start again until the registered driver’s card is detected within the cabin. There is no remote activation, no waiting for a theft to be reported, and no reliance on police coordination to deploy the immobiliser. The vehicle will not start without the card.

This is a proactive, preventative layer of security. Combined with the S5’s ADR system — which alerts the control centre the moment the vehicle moves without a registered driver present — the S5+ iMOB provides protection at two distinct points. It protects against being completed in the first place, and if the vehicle is somehow moved without the engine — towed onto a flatbed, for example — the tracking and recovery response begins immediately.

The protection sequence with the S5+ iMOB looks like this. A thief bypasses your keyless security system, gets into the car, and attempts to start the engine. The engine does not start — the immobiliser is armed, and no driver card is present. The thief cannot drive the vehicle away. If they then attempt to tow or push the vehicle, the motion-sensing alert is transmitted immediately to the control centre, and a Category 1 police response is initiated.

The S5+ iMOB is the right choice if:

• Your insurer specifically requires Thatcham Category S5
• Your insurer requires driver recognition or ADR
• You want the highest level of proactive protection available
• You own a high-value, high-theft-risk vehicle such as a Range Rover, Defender, BMW X5 or Audi Q7
• Your insurer specifies immobilisation alongside S5 tracking

Side by side: the key differences

The most common mistake — and how to avoid it

The mistake Safe & Sound Mobile hears about most often is this: a driver is told by their insurer that they need a tracker with immobilisation, they search for exactly that, find the S7 with Immobilisation, and order it — only to discover later that their insurer actually required S5 with driver recognition, not simply an S7 with a remote kill switch.

The word “immobilisation” appears in both product names. But the immobilisation they refer to is entirely different in nature, and only one of them — the S5+ iMOB — satisfies a policy requirement for S5 or driver recognition.

Before ordering either product, read your insurance schedule carefully. Look for any of the following phrases:

• “Thatcham Category S5” — you need the S5+ iMOB
• “Driver recognition” or “ADR” — you need the S5+ iMOB
• “Automatic Driver Recognition” — you need the S5+ iMOB
• “Thatcham Category S7” — either product satisfies this, but the S7 with Immobilisation is the simpler and more cost-effective choice
• “Thatcham approved” without a category — an S7 will usually satisfy this, but confirm with your insurer for high-value vehicles.

If you are still unsure after reading your policy, call Safe & Sound Mobile on 01245 921133 before ordering. We will check the wording with you and confirm the correct product. Getting this right before installation saves the cost and inconvenience of a re-installation later.

Can I upgrade from S7 to S5 later?

Yes, but it requires a new installation. The S7 and S5 are different hardware devices — you cannot upgrade an S7 with Immobilisation to S5+ iMOB standard by changing a setting or adding software. If you install an S7 and later decide you want S5 protection, or if your insurer changes its requirements at renewal, a Thatcham-approved engineer will need to install a new device.

The existing S7 device can be removed at the same appointment, and the new S5+ iMOB installed in its place. Speak to Safe & Sound Mobile to arrange an upgrade if you need to.

What about combining a tracker with a Ghost 2 immobiliser?

Some drivers ask whether it is better to install an S7 tracker and add a separate Autowatch Ghost 2 immobiliser rather than opting for the S5+ iMOB.

This is a legitimate approach, and Safe & Sound Mobile offers it as a security package. The Ghost 2 is a CAN bus immobiliser that requires a unique PIN code entered using controls already inside your car — with no key fob, no radio signal, and nothing external for a thief to detect or clone. Combined with an S5 tracker, this provides layered protection that addresses every current theft method.

The key difference from the S5+ iMOB is that the Ghost 2 and S5 combination provides two separate layers of protection from two separate systems. In contrast, the S5+ iMOB integrates both functions into a single device. For most drivers, the S5+ iMOB is the simpler, more cost-effective route to immobilisation plus S5 tracking. For drivers who want maximum protection against every possible method — including CAN bus injection attacks that can bypass standard immobilisers — the Ghost 2 plus S5 combination goes further.

Frequently asked questions

If I have the S5+ iMOB, what happens if I forget my driver’s card?

If you leave your card at home, the vehicle will not start. You can contact the Global Telemetrics control centre to authorise a temporary bypass, or use the app to grant a one-time override. You will not be stranded permanently, but it does require a brief call or app interaction to resolve.

Does the S7 with Immobilisation satisfy an S5 insurance requirement?

No. The S7 with Immobilisation is a Thatcham Category S7 product. It does not include ADR and does not meet S5 certification. If your insurer requires S5, you need the S5+ iMOB or another Smartrack S5 variant.

Is the S5+ iMOB compatible with electric and hybrid vehicles?

Yes. The S5+ iMOB is compatible with all vehicle types, including electric, hybrid, classic and modern vehicles. It is one of the few immobiliser-and-tracker combinations that work reliably across EV platforms.

Does the automatic immobilisation cause any problems for mechanics or MOT testing?

If your vehicle needs to be moved by a mechanic or tested at an MOT station, you can authorise a temporary bypass through the Global Telemetrics app or by calling the control centre. This ensures the vehicle can be serviced normally without triggering alerts or immobilisation issues.

Which product is more expensive?

The S5+ iMOB is priced higher than the S7 with Immobilisation, reflecting the additional Thatcham S5 certification, ADR hardware, and a more sophisticated immobilisation system. For the exact current prices of both products, visit the Safe & Sound Mobile product pages or call 01245 921133.

Book your installation today.

Call Safe & Sound Mobile on 01245 921133 or book online. Our Thatcham-approved engineers come to you across the UK. Most installations are booked within 48 hours.

• Smartrack S7 with Immobilisation — S7 approved, remote immobiliser, 24/7 monitoring
• Smartrack S5+ iMOB — S5 approved, automatic immobilisation, ADR, maximum protection
• Ghost 2 + Smartrack S5 bundle — layered security, maximum protection against all theft methods