[morellomax]

My insurer (Aon, used to be brilliant, now slow and awkward) has just sprung on me the unpleasant surprise that it insists a Cat 5 tracker be fitted to my new 535d within 30 days. Apparently they didn't require it on my last one because it was declared to be worth less than £40k (it was a 12 month old dealer demo car).

Can anyone recommend a suitable device and, even better, a reliable fitter in the south west, ideally Exeter/Newton Abbot area ?

Many thanks....

[Dexteryout]

I had the same issue, so went to another insurer, and they didn't require a tracker

[Piers]

Tell them it won't be worth over £40k for long....trackers are expensive...

[morellomax]

Originally Posted by Piers

Tell them it won't be worth over £40k for long....trackers are expensive...

They certainly are: £700+ for a Cat 5, plus an annual fee of £200. Will probably be moving insurer, but it's a pain because it's a multi-car policy.

[Piers]

Originally Posted by morellomax

They certainly are: £700+ for a Cat 5, plus an annual fee of £200. Will probably be moving insurer, but it's a pain because it's a multi-car policy.

Let me guess...Admiral?

I had my Lotus with them for a year, then come renewal, they said I had to have a tracker. I said no and changed to another, who never needed one, in fact I had a choice of twenty!

Our office has a DB9, SL63, S Class, XFR x2, none have trackers that I am aware of.

[morellomax]

Originally Posted by Piers

Let me guess...Admiral?

Hi - no, it's Aon: multi-car policy supposedly aimed at their lawyer and other professional clients. But they've bugged me in a couple of ways recently: this, and they also changed their criteria so they would no longer insure any driver under 21... just as the oldest of my 4 kids started to learn to drive.

It was sold to me as being low hassle, but that's no longer true.

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by morellomax

My insurer (Aon, used to be brilliant, now slow and awkward) has just sprung on me the unpleasant surprise that it insists a Cat 5 tracker be fitted to my new 535d within 30 days. Apparently they didn't require it on my last one because it was declared to be worth less than £40k (it was a 12 month old dealer demo car).

Can anyone recommend a suitable device and, even better, a reliable fitter in the south west, ideally Exeter/Newton Abbot area ?

Many thanks....

I have used TrackerFit twice and they have been quite good. It cost around £230 (inclusive fitting), subscription is extra. The unit is the standard TM470 unit and should be acceptable to all insurers as it is RAC certified.

Link here.

I got this unit in 2 of my cars. 2nd time, I got them to swap the unit to my new car and they did that too. They were happy to go to the dealer directly to fit the unit as well; so my car was all done before I picked it from the dealership. I believe these guys do country wide installations.

These were the cheapest guys when I searched and I think they still are.

Just to let you know, the TM470 unit is the exactly the same unit that BMW dealers fit. And BMW do charge something like £500 for it + subscription. The only difference between BMW unit and TM470 is that the BMW unit comes with a BMW sticker on the unit.

[morellomax]

Originally Posted by gspannu

I have used TrackerFit twice and they have been quite good. It cost around £230 (inclusive fitting), subscription is extra. The unit is the standard TM470 unit and should be acceptable to all insurers as it is RAC certified.

Link here.

Thanks - looks good. It's Cat 6 and my insurer is asking for Cat 5, but if they won't accept this unit then it's time to give someone else the business.

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by morellomax

Thanks - looks good. It's Cat 6 and my insurer is asking for Cat 5, but if they won't accept this unit then it's time to give someone else the business.

Cat 5 is higher spec than Cat 6.

I do not see any reason as to why your insurer will not accept a higher spec fitment than what is needed.

[morellomax]

Originally Posted by gspannu

Cat 5 is higher spec than Cat 6.

I do not see any reason as to why your insurer will not accept a higher spec fitment than what is needed.

They want Cat 5, the one you linked to is Cat 6 i.e. lower spec.

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by morellomax

They want Cat 5, the one you linked to is Cat 6 i.e. lower spec.

My apologies... I did not realise that its Cat 6.

The unit is recommended by BMW and is an approved unit for BMW, Land Rover and Jaguar - so no real reason for the insurance companies not to agree.

Please do post as to whether the insurance company agrees or not. It would be helpful information.

I am aware that Direct Line, Swift Cover and Aviva were all happy with this Cat6 unit on my 535 when I was looking for insurance.

I eventually settled for Swift Cover; although my previous 535 was with Direct Line and the previous 5 series was also with Direct Line - all with the TM470/TM450 tracker.

[morellomax]

Thanks gspannu, will definitely report back.

[morellomax]

On a whim I phoned Direct Line, who quoted me £270 a year to insure this car, no extra security requirements.

(44 years old, no claims in last 3 years, 6 points for a single SP30, 9+years NCD (protected), low-crime Devon postcode)

Got quotes for our Golf and Caravelle as well, and they were both cheaper, so have switched all 3 cars.

Quick comparison:

535d: Aon £640 plus tracker, Direct Line £270 no tracker

Caravelle BiTdi: Aon £420, Direct Line £170.

Golf 1.4GT: Aon £215, Direct Line £180 (still cheaper even though we can't put any NCD against this car !).

Going to see how keen they are on insuring our 17 and 18 year old children now.....

[Johnny Grabble]

You will find Direct Line fairly competitive with young people once they have passed their test and if you are prepared to get a Driveplus telematics policy.
The other advantage is that they send you the telematics device and you for it yourself to the OBD port, unlike other insurers who will send someone out to foot it and charge you more for the privilege.

[morellomax]

Hi Johnny,

Yes, they do seem to be competitive in this area as well: for an 18 year old with 1 year no claims, policy in her name and as main driver with parents as additional drivers, assuming telematics box fitted, it's £600 for a Peugeot 107 which is slightly better than Tesco Black Box who she's with at the moment: sensible excesses as well.

More surprisingly, only £900 for a 150bhp Golf GT, which Tesco wouldn't insure.