Should I get an immoblilser

[mobilecat]

My Freda will be ready tomorrow and I will get it at the weekend. I can have an immobilise fitted at the same time for £90. Is it worth it? Have other people done it?

[Muzorewa]

Definitely, and if you advise your insurance what it is (Thatcham 1 or 2) you may get a discount which pays it anyway.

[mobilecat]

Me thinks I have no choiace. LIfesure wont touch me without a cAT 1:(

[mobilecat]

Can a catagory one alarm and immobiliser be fitted to a freda and how much money am I talking? I am really dissappointed because I am a low personal risk and so is the vehicle so this is a bit of a blow. I never needed one before on my other vehicle. Flipping masked swordsmen.

[Muzorewa]

Yes, and from my latest research you are looking at about £300-350.00 fitted

[mobilecat]

Yes, and from my latest research you are looking at about £300-350.00 fitted

Oh dear - I may be teling them to keep my bongo at this rate. Any suggestions anyone.

[mobilecat]

so far Lifesure wont touch me without a category one - I am in BIG trouble here. Trying Tett hamilton as we speak - I will update the Insurance Blog thread.

[MountainGoat]

I had a Thatcham cat 1 alarm fitted to my Bongo when it was converted by Elite Camper Conversions in January. The charge was £295.00.

[Muzorewa]

So do other people use Lifesure and not require a Thatcham 1 alarm/immobiliser, if so why has mobilecat been singled out, or is it to do with the old postcode lottery?

I'd agree that a steering wheel lock is a good visible deterrent. But a lot of the insurance clerks just read from a script and don't know what you are on about, probably never even heard of a Ford Freda, I bet they think they've misheard you and have it as a Fiesta

[Duncan]

i got a cobra cat 1 fitted (275) normally 250 but needed motor fitting to driver door. Yes the van has central locking but only works from drivers door, thats why drivers door needed motor fitting at extra cost of 25.

Good thing now is no need to use key anymore button press on remote and all the van opens, really pleased.

As for lifesure insurance made no difference to cost, Must admit do not understand insurance companies, value of van when i bought it 5k. then had rear conversion, now worth 8k, told insurance made no difference to cost ? . Also then had alarm fitted, made no difference to cost again ?

Maybe its what mood they are in or your postcode ? Duncan

[karena]

i think i,m missing something here- we got insured by prudential and they said we didn,t need an imobiliser. If the vehicle is left in park even if some-one can start the engine how can they get it into drive without the key in the ignition. ?

[bongolow]

I had an immobiliser fitted but that was after it was insured with Lifesure - they didn't ask for it to be fitted even though it's parked on the street. Maybe things have changed now or maybe, as others have said, your location. I also use a heavy steering wheel lock as a visible deterrent.

think i,m missing something here- we got insured by prudential and they said we didn,t need an imobiliser. If the vehicle is left in park even if some-one can start the engine how can they get it into drive without the key in the ignition. ?

The trouble is your average brain-dead yobbo isn't going to realise that until he's smashed the door lock and ripped the ignition key assembly apart trying to start it. He may not get your Bongo but you'll have hundreds of pounds worth of damage to sort out.

[platty345]

i am with lifesure, no immobiliser, live not far from cat, mind you whitefield is a bit rough

[smartmonkey]

I hate all after market alarms because I have yet to find one that hasn't butchered perfectly good wiring and added enormously to the potential for a breakdown. After running out of fuel you always have faulty alarms/immobs as one of the biggest reasons for breakdowns. They also don't stop someone pinching or attempting to pinch your vehicle at all. I have removed immobs from all of my cars and it only takes a quiet minute to bypass them. It then takes a further three hours to try and get the wiring back to a safe and reliable condition. I only like big visible mechanical locks because they are obvious and take more time/noise to overcome.

However if you need an immob for you insurance that can't be helped. A basic thatcham approved immob should be about £90 fitted and certificated. The £300 people are talking about is for a full alarm system and I would be surprised if you needed that for the insurance. Try local car audio specialist - they are often approved fitters.

[mobilecat]

i got a cobra cat 1 fitted (275) normally 250 but needed motor fitting to driver door. Yes the van has central locking but only works from drivers door, thats why drivers door needed motor fitting at extra cost of 25.

Good thing now is no need to use key anymore button press on remote and all the van opens, really pleased.

As for lifesure insurance made no difference to cost, Must admit do not understand insurance companies, value of van when i bought it 5k. then had rear conversion, now worth 8k, told insurance made no difference to cost ? . Also then had alarm fitted, made no difference to cost again ?

Maybe its what mood they are in or your postcode ? Duncan

Lifesure have actually come back to me and offerred me a lower quote with no security fitted. I probably would have soething done anyway but it was starting to frighten me that I needed it in the first place and basically couldnt be insured.

It is to do with postcode lottery. I dont live in a crime hotspot. My postcode is a very mixed area with some really really nice bits but the problem is that it covers a really really rich area too (not where I am) and there has been a spate of recent carjackings and armed break-ins to steal very very expensive cars. THese people are not looking for a 12 year old freda but it affects the postcode and thats why the insurers were asing for the security.