Tracker

[spinaltap]

When I queried having Tracker fitted to our car last year, the local Mercedes sales rep stated that a potential thief could easily detect the location of, and subsequently render useless, a tracker device by using their mobile phone.

 

[mbenz76]

I will enquire with my dealer tomorrow. Since they advertise it on the MB website I assume the MB dealers can fit them? And do they take a long time?

 

[alanuk400]

What about one of these
Realtime GPS Vehicle Car Tracking System Tracker Device on eBay (end time 17-Feb-10 07:07:25 GMT)

Alan

 

[mbenz76]

GPS trackers are rendered useless though if the car is stolen and stored under cover.

 

[lynall]

The question should be to the posters saying they have got a discount of how much?

It would have to be pretty special in my mind to justify having a tracker fitted and without being rude to you its just a std merc.



Lynall

 

[mbenz76]

When I started thinking of Tracker it was more a "get it back quick" thing.

I am still tempted, because after all, at the end of the day it's a £50k car I am buying and if it is stolen (and not thrashed about) then I want it back quickly. After all, if I think logically about it, even if I get paid out for a replacement, this has taken 3 months to get, and I couldn't wait that long again

I was busy at work today so haven't got round to calling the dealer yet - might call them over the weekend or Monday. Looked on MB website though and it says it is £199 (plus fitting) and £132/year subscription.

I would be very interested to know which insurance companies offer a discount and what that turns out to be in reality. MB claim most offer 15%. Even at that I wouldn't come out on top, but I would have some extra peace of mind I guess.

Still undecided!

 

[Aoraki]

MBenz76. I have Tracker Horizon fitted to my W212, I got a good deal though as I was an existing customer. I only paid £150 for the unit and fitting, opposed to £449 for new customer (also gave me a free years subscription). The Horizon adds GPS so if the VHF signal is lost, Tracker can hopefully find it via GPS.

PS I didn't do it for insurance discount, I did it to get the car back if the worst was to happen, as you point out there's a long time between placing an order and collecting the car.

 

[Swiss Toni]

I have seen many cars recovered as a result of Tracker (often one car with a device will lead the Cops to a store of others).

I would also say that very few are cars that I would personally want back....

Once it has been taken, do you want it back? (I think there is an arguement for them on insurance grounds and on classic cars, but personally, if a newer car of mine was taken, I wouldn't care to see it again).

 

[mbenz76]

Once it has been taken, do you want it back? (I think there is an arguement for them on insurance grounds and on classic cars, but personally, if a newer car of mine was taken, I wouldn't care to see it again).

This is exactly what I was pondering over further up the post.

What then concerned me though was if it was not recovered, how long would an insurance company wait before declaring a write off and paying out so you can get another car ordered? Because I am willing to bet they will drag it on and on and on if they don't find a car!

 

[Swiss Toni]

This is exactly what I was pondering over further up the post.

What then concerned me though was if it was not recovered, how long would an insurance company wait before declaring a write off and paying out so you can get another car ordered? Because I am willing to bet they will drag it on and on and on if they don't find a car!

It would be interesting to know whether having a device fitted makes any difference to the length of time an insurance company waits before they accept the loss and pay out.

I have never been in a position to tell whether there is a longer or shorter delay.

I guess you could ask the ABI?

 

[splang]

Yeah - i had the exact same thing with my E500 with Direct Line....

No tracker and went elsewhere for much less cash!

 

[mbenz76]

The downside for me with Direct Line is my policy only renewed back in December, so I will no doubt get stuck with a hefty "admin" fee if I tell them to stick it and go elsewhere.

Definitely will shop around though and see what sort of deals can be had with Tracker fitted.

 

[APM]

It is a condition of my insurance that it is fitted.

Ditto;direct line but no reduction.................................

 

[mbenz76]

I think we are getting screwed with Direct Line

No wonder they are not on comparison sites!

 

[Dryce]

I think we are getting screwed with Direct Line

No wonder they are not on comparison sites!

The comparison websites have replaced brokers at the commodity end of the market. The big guys like Aviva and Direct Line figure they're better advertising and pulling in their customers direct rather than paying a fee or commission to the comparison sites.

Direct Line is basically the same as Churchill and Privilege. Tesco certainly used to be in that mix as well last year but they may have moved elsewhere.

 

[BenzedUP]

I think you should fit one as it's a new car.

I have a Tracker on my car and it deffo helps my insurance £££..

 

[Aoraki]

The comparison websites have replaced brokers at the commodity end of the market. The big guys like Aviva and Direct Line figure they're better advertising and pulling in their customers direct rather than paying a fee or commission to the comparison sites.

Direct Line is basically the same as Churchill and Privilege. Tesco certainly used to be in that mix as well last year but they may have moved elsewhere.

I have just renewed my Renault Master insurance using a comparison web site. The best quite came from Kwik Fit which I excepted. Today, insurance docs landed on my doorstep, what I hadn't realised was that I'm now insured with "AVIVA" who where much dearer when dealing direct.

 

[mbenz76]

Called Direct Line today to try and haggle a discount for Tracker.

Told today that they will insist on Tracker being fitted due to the car costing £50k and definitely no discount!

They did tell me that they (Direct Line) own Tracker. So that would explain the no discount!

So as they insist and I will get hit with a large admin fee for cancelling the policy I am going to have to install it and live with the policy. Made it clear to them though that I would be leaving at renewal time.

 

[Lockking]

It depends how you value your car. If it's something very special to you and you want that exact car returned if stolen, then yes. But if you're happy with an insurance replacement, then no.

I personally think that Trackers work best on classic cars, since these are harder to replace.

And easier to nick!

 

[mbenz76]

I also checked the wording of my policy which promises to replace my new car in the first year with a new replacement.

However it adds the stipulation that they will only do this if the replacement is available in the UK.

So that makes a direct replacement impossible for a car like mine with lots of options specified.

Glad I opted for the VRI now