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The Thatcham S5 adds fob-based Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) to monitored security, the Thatcham S7 provides monitored security without a fob, and the Thatcham S5 Plus adds immobilisation. The ADR fob is what separates the S5 from the S7. It tells the tracker whether an authorised driver is in the vehicle.
- The Thatcham S5 tracker adds fob-based Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) to the monitored security of the S7.
- If the fob is not detected at ignition, the S5 raises an unauthorised-driver or usage alert.
- The S5 alerts but does not immobilise. Immobilisation when the fob is absent is S5 Plus only.
- Monitoring is required and priced separately. Installation is nationwide, professional and at no additional cost.
Why this matters in 2026
A tracker that only reports location tells you where a vehicle is. It does not tell you who is driving it. For fleets with shared vans, pool cars or high-value vehicles, that gap is where unauthorised use and theft go unnoticed.
The Thatcham S5 tracker closes that gap with a driver fob. Each authorised driver carries one. The tracker checks for it when the vehicle starts. If your insurer has asked for an S5 category device, the guide to what to fit when an insurer asks for a Thatcham S5 tracker covers the paperwork side.
This page explains how the fob works in practice, what the S5 does and does not do, and how it compares with the other two Crystal Ball Thatcham trackers in 2026.
What makes the right Thatcham tracker
Use these five criteria to judge which tracker fits your vehicles.
- Driver recognition: does the tracker know whether an authorised driver is present?
- Alerting: does it warn you when the vehicle is used without the fob?
- Immobilisation: can it stop the vehicle starting when the fob is absent?
- Monitoring: is the device professionally monitored, and is that cost clear?
- Fit and cost clarity: is installation professional, and is the headline price honest about what it covers?
Thatcham trackers at a glance
| Tracker | Best for | Standout feature | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thatcham S5 | Fob-based driver recognition and unauthorised-use alerts | Fob-based ADR with alerts at ignition when the fob is not detected | Alerts only. It does not immobilise the vehicle |
| Thatcham S7 | Monitored security without driver recognition | Professionally monitored location and tow and tamper alerts | No ADR, no driver fob, no immobilisation |
| Thatcham S5 Plus | Driver recognition plus immobilisation | Immobilisation when the authorised fob is absent | Needs the fob for every authorised driver. Monitoring still priced separately |
The three trackers form a ladder. Each step adds one capability to the one below it. All three are Thatcham certified devices, and Thatcham Security Certification is a verification programme that tests a security product’s functionality, design and performance against predefined criteria.
Thatcham S5: fob-based Automatic Driver Recognition
The Thatcham S5 tracker includes everything the S7 does, plus fob-based ADR. It is the right default for most fleets that need to know whether the person driving is authorised.
Thatcham S5 tracker: what it does. It provides monitored vehicle security and stolen-vehicle location support. On top of that, it recognises the authorised driver through the fob. If the fob is not detected at ignition, the tracker raises an unauthorised-driver or usage alert.
Thatcham S5 pros:
- Includes the verified S7 functions, so you do not give up monitored security.
- Fob-based ADR identifies authorised use at the point the vehicle starts.
- Alerts at ignition give you an early signal of unauthorised use.
- Professional installation across the UK at no additional cost.
Thatcham S5 cons:
- It does not immobilise the vehicle. An alert tells you; it does not stop the engine.
- Every authorised driver needs a fob, so fob management becomes part of your process.
- Monitoring is required and priced separately from the headline tracker price.
Thatcham S5 pricing: £74 headline price (checked 15 October 2026), covering the tracker, VAT and free nationwide professional installation. One driver fob is included; additional fobs are £30 each. Required monitoring is added separately, from £275 for one year. See the S5 page.
Suited to: vans, pool vehicles and company cars where you want to know who is behind the wheel and an alert when the fob is absent is enough.
Thatcham S7: monitored security without a fob
The Thatcham S7 is the simplest monitored option. It suits vehicles where one person or a small, stable group drives, and driver recognition is not the requirement.
Thatcham S7 tracker: what it does. It provides a current Thatcham S7 classification and professional monitoring. You get real-time vehicle location, journey history, and tow and tamper alerts, with incident mode, service mode and emergency contacts in the mobile app.
Thatcham S7 pros:
- Monitored vehicle security and stolen-vehicle location support.
- No fob to issue, lose or replace.
- Journey history and route data for checking where a vehicle has been.
- The simplest correct product when an insurer asks for the S7 category.
Thatcham S7 cons:
- No ADR, so it cannot tell you who was driving.
- No driver fob and no immobilisation.
- Monitoring is required and priced separately.
Thatcham S7 pricing: £125 headline price (checked 15 October 2026), including the tracker, VAT and free nationwide professional installation. Monitoring is added separately, from £149 for one year. See the S7 page.
Suited to: vehicles that need monitored security and nothing more, where there is no need to separate authorised from unauthorised drivers. See the Thatcham S7 tracker for vans guide for van-specific detail.
Thatcham S5 Plus: immobilisation when the fob is absent
The S5 Plus is Crystal Ball’s highest verified level of monitored tracker security. It does everything the S5 does and adds immobilisation when the authorised fob is absent.
Thatcham S5 Plus tracker: what it does. It combines monitored security, fob-based ADR and immobilisation. Where the S5 raises an alert, the S5 Plus acts on the missing fob: the vehicle cannot be started without it.
Thatcham S5 Plus pros:
- Adds immobilisation to the S5 feature set.
- Suits theft protection where an alert alone is not enough.
- Useful where an insurer or buyer specifically requires immobilisation.
Thatcham S5 Plus cons:
- A driver without a fob cannot use the vehicle, so fob discipline matters even more.
- It is the most capable option, so it is not the simplest answer for every fleet.
- Monitoring is required and priced separately.
Thatcham S5 Plus pricing: £249 headline price (checked 15 October 2026), including the tracker, VAT and free nationwide professional installation. One driver fob is included; additional fobs are £30 each. Monitoring is added separately, from £299 for one year. See the S5 Plus page.
Suited to: high-risk or high-value vehicles where immobilisation is a stated requirement, rather than vehicles where an alert is enough. The S5 Plus immobilisation and driver tags guide explains how it differs in use.
How the ADR fob works on the S5, step by step
The process is short. The detail that matters is the moment it happens: at ignition.
- An authorised driver carries a fob assigned to them.
- The driver starts the vehicle.
- The S5 checks whether the authorised fob is detected.
- If the fob is detected, the vehicle is recognised as being used by an authorised driver.
- If the fob is not detected, the tracker raises an unauthorised-driver or usage alert.
That last step is the control. The alert reaches you at the moment of ignition, not after the journey, so you can act while the vehicle is still close.
Two boundaries are worth stating plainly. The S5 alerts; it does not stop the vehicle. And ADR is a feature of the S5 and S5 Plus, not the S7. Only the S5 Plus acts on a missing fob by immobilising.
Automatic Driver Recognition also shares its name with the wider idea of knowing who used a vehicle. For fleets using FleetTracker rather than a Thatcham device, the guide to driver recognition on shared fleet vehicles covers that separate FleetTracker bolt-on.
Fob management checklist for fleet managers
The hardware does its part. Your process decides whether the control works. Use this checklist in 2026.
- Assign each fob to a named driver. Keep a simple register of who holds which fob.
- Agree what happens when a fob is lost. Decide who reports it and how fast, then confirm the replacement route with Crystal Ball before you need it.
- Decide who responds to an alert. Name a person, not a team, for ignition alerts.
- Brief drivers. Tell them the vehicle recognises the fob and why. Open communication makes tracking easier to introduce.
- Check fob numbers against drivers. One driver fob is included with the S5; additional fobs are £30 each, so count your drivers before you order.
- Review the register at each change of driver. Starters, leavers and agency staff all change who should hold a fob.
Monitoring on all three trackers
Monitoring is part of the cost of all three. The guide to 24/7 monitoring on a Thatcham tracker explains what the monitoring centre does when an alert comes in.
Which Thatcham tracker should you choose?
Start with the simplest tracker that meets your requirement.
- Choose the Thatcham S5 if you need to know whether an authorised driver is present and want an alert when one is not. It is the right default for shared or high-risk vehicles.
- Choose the Thatcham S7 if you need monitored security and an insurer category, but not driver recognition.
- Choose the Thatcham S5 Plus only if the vehicle must be immobilised when the authorised fob is absent.
If you are undecided, pick the S5. It gives you monitored security and ADR, and you can see from the alerts whether you need more.
FAQ
What does the fob do on a Thatcham S5 tracker?
The fob provides Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR). If the fob is not detected at ignition, the S5 raises an unauthorised-driver or usage alert.
Does the Thatcham S5 immobilise the vehicle?
No. The S5 alerts but does not immobilise. Immobilisation when the authorised fob is absent is a feature of the S5 Plus.
Does the Thatcham S7 have a driver fob?
No. The S7 has no ADR, no driver fob and no immobilisation. It provides monitored security and location.
Is monitoring included in the S5 headline price?
No. The headline price covers the tracker, VAT and nationwide professional installation at no additional cost. Required monitoring is selected and priced separately.
Is installation an extra cost on a Crystal Ball S5?
No. Installation is free nationwide professional installation, included in the headline price. Monitoring is the separate cost.
Can several drivers share one S5 vehicle?
Each authorised driver needs a fob. One driver fob is included with the S5 and additional fobs are £30 each.
Will my insurer accept a Thatcham S5 tracker?
Insurers set their own requirements. Check the exact category your insurer asks for, then match it to the verified tracker before you order.
One last thing
The most common gap is not the tracker. It is the person who receives the ignition alert and does not know what to do with it. Name that person and write down the first action before the tracker is fitted. An alert only protects the vehicle if someone acts on it.
If you want a Thatcham S5 tracker scoped for your fleet, Request a Quote and the Crystal Ball team will confirm fob numbers, monitoring and installation for your vehicles.
Explore the relevant Crystal Ball tracker
Crystal Ball Thatcham S5 Tracker
Monitored S5 vehicle security with location, supported alerts and app access, plus fob-based Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) and supported unauthorised-use alerts when the fob is absent. No immobilisation.
£74
INCLUDES TRACKER, VAT AND NATIONWIDE PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. REQUIRED MONITORING IS PRICED SEPARATELY.
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