S5 vs S7 trackers explained — which do you need?

"Thatcham category" is simply the rating system insurers use to recognise a security device. For trackers, the two that matter are S7 and S5. Both are insurance-approved recovery systems; the difference is in how much they do.

An S7 tracker locates your vehicle once you have reported it stolen. It's a straightforward, effective recovery system and is often all that's needed for many vehicles.

An S5 tracker goes further. It adds Automatic Driver Recognition: a small tag you carry tells the system whether an authorised driver is present, so it can alert if the car is moved without you — sometimes before you've even realised it's gone. For prestige and high-risk vehicles, most insurers now treat S5 as the expected standard.

The simplest way to be sure is to check your policy wording or ask your insurer which category they require — or send it to me and I'll tell you straight, then fit the right Meta Trak system for your vehicle.