Autowatch Ghost Immobilisers

How does a Ghost immobiliser actually work?

The Ghost connects to your vehicle’s CAN-bus — the data network the car already uses to talk to itself. Once it is fitted, the engine will not start until a PIN sequence has been entered using buttons you already have: the steering wheel controls, the door or window switches, the climate panel. There is no extra keypad and nothing added to the dashboard.

Because the sequence is entered on existing controls, there is nothing for a thief to look for. No LED blinking on the dash, no aftermarket box under the wheel, no second fob to carry. From the driver’s seat it is a couple of seconds and a few button presses; from outside the car it is invisible.

• Connects to the CAN-bus rather than cutting into factory wiring
• Your PIN is entered on buttons the car already has
• No key fob, no keypad, no warning LED to give it away
• Sequence is chosen by you and can be changed later

Will it stop keyless theft and key cloning?

This is the reason most people ask about a Ghost. A relay attack works by capturing the signal from your key through the wall of your house and repeating it at the car — the car believes the key is present and unlocks and starts. Key cloning works by copying the key’s data at the OBD port.

Both attacks defeat the key. Neither defeats a Ghost, because the Ghost is not listening for a key at all. There is no signal to capture or repeat — the immobiliser is waiting for a sequence of button presses that exists only in your head. A thief with a perfect clone of your key still cannot start the engine.

Does fitting one affect my warranty or insurance?

The Ghost reads the CAN-bus rather than cutting into the factory loom, which is why it is designed to be warranty-friendly — nothing is spliced and the installation can be reversed. We will confirm suitability for your exact make, model and year before booking; a small number of vehicles need a different approach.

On insurance, some insurers reduce a premium for an immobiliser and some do not, and it varies by underwriter rather than by product. Tell your insurer what has been fitted and ask — we can give you the details of the unit for that conversation.

What happens if I forget my sequence, or the car goes in for a service?

There is a service or valet mode. It temporarily suspends the PIN so a garage, valet or family member can drive the car without knowing your sequence, and it is switched back on afterwards. You do not have to hand your sequence to anyone.

If you genuinely forget it, there is an emergency override procedure — you are not stranded and the car does not need recovering. Before you leave us we run through your sequence with you until you are comfortable with it, and we will talk you through it again any time afterwards if you need a reminder.

Ghost immobiliser or a tracker — which do I need?

They do different jobs, and the honest answer is that they solve opposite halves of the same problem. An immobiliser stops the car being driven away in the first place. A tracker does not prevent a theft; it helps recover the vehicle afterwards, with a monitoring centre and the police involved.

If you want the car not to be taken, that is the immobiliser. If your concern is getting it back — or your insurer has asked for tracking — that is the tracker. Plenty of customers have both fitted in the same visit, and we will price that honestly rather than pushing you toward the more expensive option.