Get in Touch
Get a Quote
The Thatcham tracker app shows vehicle owners where the vehicle is, where it has been and when something is wrong, such as a tow or tamper alert. What else you see depends on which tracker sits behind the app. This 2026 guide covers the three Crystal Ball models: S7, S5 and S5 Plus.
- The Thatcham tracker app shows live location, journey history and alerts; the tracker model decides what security sits behind it.
- Crystal Ball S7 suits monitored tracking with no fob and no immobilisation.
- Crystal Ball S5 adds fob-based Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) and unauthorised-use alerts.
- Crystal Ball S5 Plus adds immobilisation when the authorised fob is absent.
- Required monitoring is priced separately from the tracker in all three cases.
Which model fits depends on what your insurer requires: the S7 for monitored location and alerts, the S5 where fob-based Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) matters, and the S5 Plus where immobilisation is required.
Why this matters in 2026
An app is only useful if it shows the right information at the right moment. Owners and fleet managers often buy a Thatcham-approved tracker because an insurer asks for one, then find out later what the app does and does not do.
The app is your view of the tracker. It is not the monitoring service. Professional monitoring is a separate, required part of a working Thatcham tracker, and it is selected and priced separately from the hardware.
The app also does not replace the vehicle’s other protection. It reports what the tracker knows. What the tracker can do about it depends on the model.
What makes a good Thatcham tracker app experience
Use these criteria to judge any monitored tracker, including the three below:
- Location: the app shows where the vehicle is in real time.
- History: you can review where the vehicle has been, including route or snail-trail data where shown.
- Alerts: tow and tamper alerts reach you when the tracker detects them.
- Control settings: incident mode, service mode, emergency contacts and account preferences are available where the current page shows them.
- Security tier: the tracker category matches what you or your insurer require.
- Monitoring: the monitoring arrangement is clear before you buy, and priced on its own.
Before you buy, check each function against the current product page on crystalball.tv. Functions can change, and the live page controls.
Thatcham tracker app models at a glance
| Model | Best for | Standout feature | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Ball S7 | Monitored vehicle security and recovery support | Real-time location, journey history and tow and tamper alerts in the app | No ADR, no driver fob, no immobilisation |
| Crystal Ball S5 | Security with fob-based ADR | All verified S7 functions plus fob-based ADR | No immobilisation |
| Crystal Ball S5 Plus | Highest verified monitored-tracker security | S5 functions plus immobilisation when the authorised fob is absent | Depends on the authorised fob being used correctly |
All three need required monitoring, priced separately. The headline price of each Crystal Ball tracker includes the tracker, VAT and free nationwide professional installation. There is no separate installation charge.
Crystal Ball S7: monitored location and alerts in the app
The S7 is the starting point. It is a Thatcham S7 tracker that reports to a professional monitoring centre and to you through the app.
In the app you can see the vehicle’s real-time location. You can review journey history, including snail-trail or route data where the current page shows it. Tow and tamper alerts tell you when the tracker detects movement or interference you did not expect.
The current mobile-app functions also cover incident mode, service mode, emergency contacts and account preferences. Service mode is the one to understand: it exists so that planned work on the vehicle does not read as a theft attempt.
Crystal Ball S7 pros:
- Real-time location in the app.
- Journey history for checking where the vehicle has been.
- Tow and tamper alerts.
- Emergency contacts and account preferences held in the app.
Crystal Ball S7 cons:
- No Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) and no driver fob.
- No immobilisation. It helps locate a stolen vehicle but does not stop it starting.
- Monitoring is required and priced separately.
This suits vehicle or asset security where a verified S7 category is enough, and where your insurer or your risk profile asks for S7 and nothing more.
Crystal Ball S5: fob-based Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR)
The S5 does everything the verified S7 does, then adds fob-based Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR). Each authorised driver carries a fob. When someone starts the vehicle without a detected fob, the tracker raises an unauthorised-driver or usage alert, exactly as the current product page describes.
For the owner, that turns the app into more than a location map. You find out at ignition that the vehicle is being used without an authorised fob, rather than only learning later that it has moved.
The S5 does not immobilise the vehicle. The alert tells you something is wrong. It does not cut the engine.
Crystal Ball S5 pros:
- Every verified S7 function.
- Fob-based ADR for authorised drivers.
- Alerts when the fob is not detected at ignition.
- Suits insurers that ask for the S5 category.
Crystal Ball S5 cons:
- No immobilisation. That belongs to S5 Plus.
- Fobs need to be issued and kept with the right people.
- Monitoring is required and priced separately.
This suits shared vehicles, small fleets and owners who need to know who is driving, with monitored theft protection behind it. It applies where an insurer names S5 or where knowing the driver matters to you.
Crystal Ball S5 Plus: immobilisation when the fob is absent
The S5 Plus keeps all verified S5 functions and adds immobilisation when the authorised fob is absent. It is Crystal Ball’s highest verified monitored-tracker security.
The app shows the same location, history and alert information. The difference sits in what the tracker does when an unauthorised start is attempted: the vehicle is immobilised, as the current page describes. Do not read more into that than the page states.
Crystal Ball S5 Plus pros:
- Every verified S5 function, including ADR.
- Immobilisation when the authorised fob is absent.
- The strongest verified security of the three models.
Crystal Ball S5 Plus cons:
- Everyone who drives the vehicle needs an authorised fob.
- More security than some vehicles need.
- Monitoring is required and priced separately.
This suits vehicles that attract theft, and buyers or insurers who require ADR plus immobilisation. Where S7 already meets your insurer’s wording, the simpler model is the right answer.
What the Thatcham tracker app does not show
Knowing the limits stops disappointment after fitting.
- It does not show camera footage. A Thatcham tracker is a security device, not a dash cam. If you need recorded evidence, that is a different product, such as SmartCam 4G, which has its own portal and on-demand footage.
- It does not replace monitoring. The app informs you. Professional monitoring is a separate, required service.
- It does not decide insurance outcomes. Whether a tracker satisfies your insurer is the insurer’s decision. Thatcham Research states that its security certification does not guarantee insurer recognition, because that is negotiated between the product manufacturer and their insurance partners. Confirm the required category in writing before you buy.
- It does not promise recovery. A tracker supports stolen-vehicle location and recovery. It cannot guarantee a result.
Which model to pick before you buy
Work through these steps in order:
- Ask your insurer which Thatcham category they require, and get it in writing.
- If they name S7, choose S7 and stop there.
- If they name S5, or you need to know who is driving, choose S5.
- If they name S5 Plus, or you need immobilisation, choose S5 Plus.
- Confirm the monitoring arrangement and its separate cost before you order.
If you want to understand the alert side first, read what happens after a Thatcham tracker theft alert. It explains what follows once the app notifies you.
How to decide between them
The three models are not competing for the same slot. Each answers a different security need: monitored location, ADR, and immobilisation. Work through the criteria above, from the simplest correct product to the most advanced. Choose the simplest model that meets your requirement. Do not buy up a tier for features you will not use.
Which Thatcham tracker should you choose?
Crystal Ball S7 is the right default. It gives you the core app: real-time location, journey history and tow and tamper alerts, backed by professional monitoring. Move to S5 when you need fob-based ADR and unauthorised-use alerts. Move to S5 Plus only when immobilisation is a genuine requirement.
For a direct comparison of tiers, request a quote or contact the Crystal Ball team, a family-run UK business with an in-house development team and human support.
FAQ
What does a Thatcham tracker app show?
It shows the vehicle’s real-time location and journey history, and it delivers tow and tamper alerts. Incident mode, service mode, emergency contacts and account preferences are available where the current product page shows them.
Is there a Thatcham tracker app for the Crystal Ball S7?
Yes. The Crystal Ball S7 comes with a mobile app showing location, journey data and alerts. Check the current product page for the exact functions.
Does the app work without monitoring?
Monitoring is required for a working Thatcham tracker and is priced separately from the tracker. The app gives you the view, and monitoring is the professional service behind it.
What is the difference between S7, S5 and S5 Plus in the app?
S7 gives monitored location and alerts. S5 adds fob-based Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) and unauthorised-use alerts. S5 Plus adds immobilisation when the authorised fob is absent.
Can the Thatcham tracker app show camera footage?
No. A Thatcham tracker does not record video. Camera footage comes from a separate product, such as SmartCam 4G, which has its own customer portal.
Is installation included in the Crystal Ball tracker price?
Yes. The headline price includes the tracker, VAT and free nationwide professional installation: S7 £125, S5 £74 and S5 Plus £249 (checked 14 October 2026). Monitoring is selected and priced separately, from £149, £275 and £299 for one year respectively.
Will a Thatcham tracker lower my insurance premium?
That is the insurer’s decision. Some insurers require a specific Thatcham category, so confirm the exact requirement with yours before buying.
One last thing
Ask your insurer for the required category in writing before you pick a model. It is the one step that decides whether you buy S7, S5 or S5 Plus, and it is the step most owners skip.
If you want the tracker and its required monitoring priced together for your vehicle, request a quote and tell us the category your insurer has asked for.
Explore the relevant Crystal Ball tracker
Crystal Ball Thatcham S7 Tracker
Monitored S7 vehicle security with location, supported alerts and app access. No ADR, driver fob or immobilisation.
£125
INCLUDES TRACKER, VAT AND NATIONWIDE PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. REQUIRED MONITORING IS PRICED SEPARATELY.