Smartrack for Vans & HGVs

Which tracker does your commercial vehicle need?

Van theft in the UK is a serious and growing problem. Unlike car theft, which often targets the vehicle itself, van theft frequently combines both — thieves want the van and everything inside it. Tools, stock, equipment, and specialist hardware that can take years to accumulate can be gone in under two minutes.

For tradespeople, sole traders, and fleet managers, the consequences go beyond the financial loss. A stolen van means missed jobs, broken contracts, higher insurance premiums, and the genuine stress of rebuilding from scratch.

A Smartrack van tracker will not prevent every theft. But it dramatically increases the chances of quickly recovering your vehicle — and, in many cases, your contents. This guide explains which Smartrack product is right for your commercial vehicle, what your insurer is likely to require, and how the installation works around your schedule.

Why van theft is different from car theft

When a car is stolen, the target is almost always the vehicle. When a van is stolen, there are often two separate crimes happening simultaneously: the theft of the vehicle and the theft of the contents.

This changes the risk profile significantly. Professional van thieves typically operate quickly and with specific targets in mind. They know which vans are likely to contain high-value tools — a plumber’s Transit, an electrician’s Sprinter, a carpenter’s Vivaro. They know the makes and models that are easiest to access. And they know that most tradespeople park outside their home overnight, making a residential street the easiest place to strike.

The Metropolitan Police and insurance data both consistently show that vans are stolen most frequently overnight, most often from the owner’s home address, and most often by thieves who have identified the vehicle during the working day.

A GPS tracker with 24/7 monitoring closes the response window. The moment your van moves without authorisation, the Global Telemetrics Secure Control Centre is alerted. Most recovered vehicles are found within the first hour of the alert being raised.

What your insurer requires for a van

Insurance requirements for vans vary more than for cars, and it is important to check your policy wording before ordering a tracker.

Most standard van insurance policies do not mandate a tracker as a condition of cover — but many will offer a meaningful premium reduction if you install one. For high-value specialist vans, prestige camper conversions, or vehicles with declared high-value contents, insurers are increasingly adding tracker requirements as a policy condition.

The key distinction, as with cars, is between Thatcham Category S7 and Category S5.

S7 is the standard for most van insurance purposes. It provides GPS tracking, 24/7 monitoring, and rapid recovery coordination with police. For the majority of tradespeople and fleet operators, an S7 tracker will satisfy insurance requirements and deliver the protection they need.

S5 adds Automatic Driver Recognition — the system that detects an unauthorised driver the moment the vehicle moves, before you have even noticed it is gone. For high-value vans, camper vans, or vehicles where the contents justify the additional cost, S5 provides a meaningfully higher level of protection.

If your policy specifies a category, follow it exactly. If it simply says “Thatcham approved” without specifying a level, the S7 will meet that requirement — but upgrading to S5 may support a further premium reduction.

Which Smartrack tracker is right for your commercial vehicle?

Smartrack Reco S7 — the best starting point for most van owners

The Smartrack Reco S7 is the most popular choice for van owners across the UK. It is fully Thatcham S7 approved, monitored 24/7 by the Global Telemetrics Secure Control Centre, and includes GPS and GLONASS dual-satellite tracking for reliable positioning even in areas with limited signal.

Key features for van owners include motion-sensing alerts — so you are notified if the van moves while parked — battery-disconnection alerts, and an internal backup battery that keeps the tracker transmitting even if a thief cuts the vehicle’s main power. The free Global Telemetrics app lets you check your van’s location at any time from your phone.

At £149 fully fitted, the Reco S7 is the most cost-effective route to insurance-approved van security available.

Best for: sole traders, tradespeople, and van owners whose insurer requires an S7 or simply states “Thatcham approved.”

Smartrack Protector Pro S7 — for larger commercial vehicles

The Smartrack Protector Pro is available in dedicated van and truck variants. It offers the same S7 Thatcham approval and 24/7 monitoring as the Reco, with the addition of GPS and GLONASS dual-constellation tracking and battery voltage monitoring — which alerts you if your vehicle battery is running low, a useful feature for vans that sit unused over weekends.

The Protector Pro is available in variants specifically configured for vans, trucks, and motorhomes, making it the right choice when you need a device calibrated for the power and wiring configuration of a larger vehicle.

Best for: larger vans, light commercial vehicles, motorhomes, and tradespeople who want battery monitoring alongside theft recovery.

Smartrack Trident S7 — for fleet managers and multiple vehicles

The Smartrack Trident is the commercial choice for anyone managing multiple vehicles. It includes everything in the standard S7 range — 24/7 monitoring, GPS/GLONASS tracking, motion alerts — plus a full fleet web portal that lets you monitor all registered vehicles from a single dashboard.

From the Trident portal, you can view live locations of your entire fleet, review journey history for any vehicle, log private versus business mileage, set geofence zones around depots or job sites, and generate mileage and activity reports. For businesses that need to manage driver behaviour, demonstrate vehicle usage for tax purposes, or keep oversight of multiple vans across multiple sites, the Trident delivers fleet management capability alongside theft protection.

Best for: fleet managers, small businesses with two or more vehicles, and anyone who needs journey reporting or mileage logging alongside security tracking.

Smartrack S5 Truck Tracker — when S5 is required

For commercial vehicles where the insurer specifically requires an S5 — or where the value of the vehicle and its contents justifies the upgrade — Smartrack’s S5 Truck Tracker provides full Thatcham S5 protection with Automatic Driver Recognition.

This means the moment the vehicle moves without an authorised driver token present, the control centre is alerted immediately. For high-value specialist vehicles — refrigerated vans, mobile workshops, equipment carriers — the S5 level of proactive detection provides significantly faster recovery response times.

Best for: high-value commercial vehicles, specialist vans, or any policy that specifically mandates Thatcham S5.

A quick guide to choosing

How installation works for tradespeople

One of the most common reasons van owners put off getting a tracker fitted is the inconvenience of taking their vehicle off the road. A day in a garage means a day without income for most sole traders.

Safe & Sound Mobile eliminates that problem. Our Thatcham-approved engineers come to you — your home, your yard, your depot, or any other location that suits your working day. The installation takes between 60 and 90 minutes. You do not need to leave the vehicle or lose a working day.

We cover the whole of the UK mainland and can typically book an installation within 48 hours of your order being placed.

Once the installation is complete, the engineer commissions the device live with the Global Telemetrics control centre, who will set up your subscription and send your Thatcham certificate by email. Forward that certificate to your insurance broker the same day to confirm your cover is active.

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim the cost of a van tracker as a business expense?

In most cases, yes. A van tracker installed to protect a business vehicle is generally an allowable business expense. Speak to your accountant to confirm your specific situation.

Will a tracker help me recover my tools if the van is stolen?

If your tools are still in the van when it is recovered — which is most likely in a fast recovery — yes. The quicker the alert and the faster the police response, the higher the probability that the van and its contents are found before the thieves have had time to unload.

Does the tracker work in Europe?

Yes. All Smartrack S7 and S5 trackers include European coverage. The Trident S7 extends recovery support to over 100 countries via Interpol ICPO assistance.

Protect your van — book your installation today.

Call Safe & Sound Mobile on 01245 921133 or book online. Our engineers come to you, nationwide, usually within 48 hours.

• Smartrack Reco S7 Van — from £149 fully fitted
• Smartrack Protector Pro Van — from £180 fully fitted
• Smartrack Trident S7 — from £180 fully fitted, includes fleet portal
• Smartrack S5 Truck Tracker — £300 fully Fitted