Car Alarm or Immobiliser? Car Security in NZ
A car alarm and an immobiliser do different jobs. An alarm sounds a siren and flashes the lights when someone opens a door, the boot or the bonnet, or bumps the car. An immobiliser stops the engine from starting without your key or remote. Many newer cars have a factory immobiliser but no alarm, so a system that adds both gives the most protection.
What a car alarm does
An alarm watches the doors, boot and bonnet, and usually has a shock sensor that reacts to a knock or broken glass. When it triggers, the siren sounds and the indicators flash. Its job is to draw attention so a thief gives up and moves on.
What an immobiliser does
An immobiliser cuts one or more circuits the engine needs to start, and only releases them when it recognises your key, remote or tag. A car with a working immobiliser is much harder to drive away, even if someone gets inside.
Does my car already have one?
Many newer cars have an immobiliser built into the key. Older cars and some imports may have neither an immobiliser nor an alarm. Your owner's manual, or a security light on the dash that flashes when the car is locked, are clues. If you are not sure, send us your make, model and year and we will tell you.
Features worth having
- Alarm and immobiliser together: noise to scare a thief off, and a car that will not start if they stay.
- Backup siren: a siren with its own backup power keeps sounding if the battery lead is cut.
- Shock sensor: reacts to someone breaking a window or knocking the car.
- Remote locking or keyless entry: handy on older cars that only have a key, and push start is possible on suitable cars.
Insurance
Some insurers ask whether a car has an alarm or immobiliser, and some have their own requirements. Check with your insurer before you choose a system.
Have one fitted
We install car alarms and immobilisers at your home or work anywhere in Auckland: see car alarm installation. A dash cam with parking mode adds footage of anyone who tampers with the car, and our guide to parking mode and your battery explains how it is powered.
Frequently asked questions
Is an immobiliser better than a car alarm?
They do different jobs. An immobiliser stops the car being driven away, and an alarm scares a thief off before they get in. Together they give the most protection.
Can you fit an alarm to an older car?
Yes. Older cars are often the ones that benefit most, because many have no alarm or immobiliser from the factory.
Will a car alarm drain the battery?
A correctly installed alarm draws very little while armed. A car left unused for weeks can still go flat, as it would without an alarm.
Do I need to tell my insurer I have an alarm?
It is worth asking. Some insurers ask about alarms and immobilisers, and some have their own requirements.