Thatcham Cat 1 alarm or not?

[andyborris]

I can buy a Thatcham Cat 1 alarm for £80, comes with a certificate for the insurance company, or a non Cat 1 alarm for £40.
Really only want it for the remote door locking bit, is it worth stumping up the extra £40 to save a bit on the insurance? How much will I save, 5%, 10% or more?

I know I can get just the remote locking, without a alarm, but they're not much cheaper then the cheap alarm!

Andy

[DRIFTBOY]

I fitted a cat 1 alarm to my car and the insurance basically ignored it because it wasn't fitted by a professional alarm fitter and the certificate wasn't stamped!
Having my next one fitted!

[ballin]

If you value your car mate, get the CAT1, its more than just cheaper insurance, its a guarantee of a decent alarm.

I would never buy anything other than thatcham certified alarm, theres no point

[andyborris]

I fitted a cat 1 alarm to my car and the insurance basically ignored it because it wasn't fitted by a professional alarm fitter and the certificate wasn't stamped!
Having my next one fitted!

That's interesting, at £80 I've got to fit myself.

Guess I'll have to talk to the insurance company and see what they say. Can't afford to have it fitted .

Andy

[orangecurry]

what ballin said

though I would check that it IS a current cat 1 alarm

have a look for a PDF on here somewhere
http://www.thatcham.org/security/index. ... =75&c=cat1

click on 'Passenger cars' and wait for the PDF

...which should list your alarm - remember, as an alarm gets older, it will 'fall off' the Thatcham listing

[orangecurry]

errr it does have to be professionally installed.

[andyborris]

Sorry for wasting every ones time, my insurance company don't give a discount for a Cat 1 alarm, fitted or not.

But they still asked if the car had one when I brought the insurance! So I guess it's the cheapo one, actually made by Hawk (as is the Cat1 alarm), but they sell direct via EBay.

Andy

[glenbat]

Ummm.. i think you can get Cat 1's fitted for about £199? Google it or even look on Ebay
A lot of mobile installers are certified and will provide the certificate for insurance companies

IIRC one or 2 of the lads on here are alarm experts, one of them should be along soon

[e30bemer]

Insurance companys can never make up there mind!

Just get a tracker fitted, a few bouncers to watch the car, and a Rottweiler on the back seat!

And see if they do a discount???