My insurer, Momentum, today informed me that we must install a tracker, in the high risk Hilux, from an approved supplier such as Tracker, Netstar or Cartracker.

Any recommendations?

RichardJ wrote:

My insurer, Momentum, today informed me that we must install a tracker, in the high risk Hilux, from an approved supplier such as Tracker, Netstar or Cartracker.

Any recommendations?

I had a tracker in my vehicle and sold the vehicle within the 36 month contract period. Must now pay penalty. Just something to consider.

Ask Momentum if they have service providers on their list that give discount....that helps alot

My Sons new Fortuner fitted with a tracker was stolen. Tracker said no the vehicle is still standing at the school where it was parked. The vehicle was gone without tracker even know about it.

I recently bought a new Corolla Cross and Halfway Toyota fitted a tracker to it free of charge. When i contacted my insurance company they offered no discount if i activate it. According to them the success rate is to low and therefor they decided not to insist nor give any discount on trackers anymore. 

The fitment of a tracker in some high risk vehicles can be compulsory with certain insurers.

Then the possibility of discount is very low.

I have a Netstar tracker in my Tipper.  I also got a feature/App that I could download on my phone.  This way I can see exactly where my vehicle is.  Even if the enjin is switched on or off.

Warning with some tracking companies.  They require a 30 day notice if you select to stop the tracking service on a vehicle.  I wanted to sell my Ranger but could not stop the tracking service until the vehicle was actually sold.  If I did and it got stollen then the insurance would not pay the claim. 

Then when the vehicle was sold I cancelled the tracking service then they informed me I must still pay for the 30 day notice period, WHICH IS OF NO VALUE TO ME, because I do not have the vehicle any more.

I have been with Netstar for many years and am quite satisfied with the technical aspects and administration.  When an upgrade comes available, they do the installation free of charge and the cost seem to become less while you would expect it to rise with more advanced technology.  I can track our vehicles on my computer and cellphone so I know for instance where exactly my wife is or how fast my daughter have been driving, even on the last few trips. Luckily I have not had a theft so I cannot confirm how efficient they can retrieve your vehicle but I know they locally have I think two choppers and several cars on standby.  It even shows the voltage on a car's battery.

Our original insurance co gave us discount so we had one fitted even though there was one already in the vehicle, it could not be transferred to our name. However the insurance company  we with now don't require any tracker in the vehicle and thus no discount. So I had both of them removed as I was having to fit a new battery every 12- 18 months, now no further battery problems and no tracker subscription. 

Ja the success rate of recovery is so low I don't think its worth it if the insurance co require one and don't come to the party with a discount.

I can understand that certain vehicles are high risk for theft. But to insist that the owner must have two tracking devices fitted just to improve the chance of recovering the vehicle does not make sense. I also doubt if your premium will drop significantly. And as Brian said  these devises drain you battery. 

The other new one from the insurance guys is you must have an approved surge protector fitted to your DB board. No claims for surges as a result of load shedding will be accepted. And don't expect a drop in your premium if you decide to take the risk by not fitting the device.

I think saying tracking is low, is just one of those statements "I have heard...."  Can you substantiate that? On Google I found success figures from 85 to 90%.  Reading services like Hello Peter is not really reliable as people mostly report when they are unhappy but the majority of users of any product or article just keep quiet if they are satisfied.  Give me proof then I will believe, but "I have heard" does not convince me.  If you are aware of such instances, that might be true but then, what about instances where there were successes which probably is the majority of cases.

I think this negative attitude is similiar to people stating "they have heard" about people burning to death in a motor accident because they were trapped by the safety belts and that is why some individuals use that as motivation not to use theirs.  Luckily it seems that this falacy has quieted down.

My insurer by the way. Insist on me having a tracker installed.

My insurer also insisted I have a tracker installed as the value was more than "x" amount. Cannot remember what the amount was, lets say R500 000.

Later when the replacement value was below R500 000 that clause was not applicable any more.

I had the tracker removed as every year the requirement was that the tracker be tested. Every time they could not locate the vehicle and a technician had to be sent. At Scottburgh I told the guy to remove it, phoned them, and they accepted my immediate cancellation of my subscription.

Then phoned the insurer and they removed the clause from my policy schedule.

A fe times when my unts became faulty, the repairs was done via internet without a technician being near my car. I suppose it differs from type to type. I can check on my computr or cellphone whether a car is traceable without involving the company.

Your tracker sounds like a top of the range model with all the bells and whistles.

The fact that it also becomes faulty (regularly??) tells me it is not reliable. The day you may need it during a hijacking it might not work when you activate it. 

No not tegularly at all. As I said only a few times. I can't temember the last time as it was years ago. Between three units over perhaps twenty years or more, maybe much longer, I think is incredible. They probably consist of programmable computer chips. As the last time has been long ago probably such faults are eliminated in newer models. But I don't sell these things so I don't need to write them up. I am just telling you my experience. They are indeed and has always been the top of the range but they are not expensive. The three units comes at R500 total per month. As I am forced to have them, I don't have a choice but then again I started using them at a time when they were not required yet.

Just remember "Murphy"  is alive and well, just when you need it "boom" it may not work. 

My MBW 325 was stolen within a few minutes and it was coded on the cars computer i.e. you had to have the code to enable the start.  Never helped they must have had a workaround. 

I had a friend install his own system on one of my previous vehicles. Basically cut the power supply to the distributor we hid a reed switch behind the steering column cover which you had to close close by sliding a magnet across it after switching the ignition on. 

So even if you had a key it would just crank the motor but never start. 

Well as you rightly say Murphy is always present an no system can stop him so that is somthing you need not worry about. Even your  Rolls Royce can have a flat when you need to go to the office in a hurry

 That is if you have  RR?

What I like is that I can see any time where my loved ones are ar any particular moment there might be a crisis like a flat tyre.

I followed up with Momentum and received this response.

Following the communication, business has decided that certain vehicles require the installation of a tracking device due to the increased risk of theft and hijacking. This is no longer an optional cover on these vehicles, and there is no discount available for the installation of a tracking device.

I previously used Tracker. Never had it tested or had any confirmation that it was actually there and or was working. But the insurance gave discount to cover the premium.

The Hilux is now 4 years old. No tracking device and the claim 'could be' rejected.

Thanks Fred, so far Netstar has the most votes (1)

What is the going monthly rate for Tracker these days ?

I had a friend install his own system on one of my previous vehicles. Basically cut the power supply to the distributor we hid a reed switch behind the steering column cover which you had to close close by sliding a magnet across it after switching the ignition on. 

So even if you had a key it would just crank the motor but never start. 

Mowonga, mine cost R157 pm but there are also less expensive options. I am sure the different companies would have prices on their web pages. I am not alledging mine is the best and probably similiar.  I am satisfied with mine and I have no knowkegde of other companies' offerings.