Thatcham overview

Who/what/where is Thatcham?

When looking for any car security product you may come across the name Thatcham and rightly ask yourself, who or what does that have to do with anything?!

Well, in a nutshell, Thatcham:

Was formerly known as The Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre

Was set up by British Insurers and is independently operated and funded by its 31 insurer members

Is a not-for-profit organisation set up to impartially test and rate cars for security as well as aftermarket car security devices

Therefore, if a product is deemed to meet their set criteria they are 'Thatcham approved'. Some insurers require 'Thatcham approved' devices to be fitted to cars or they won't offer insurance, while other insurers can offer discounts for cars fitted with approved aftermarket devices.

Thatcham divides car security products into 5 main categories

Category 1 - Electronic Alarm and Immobiliser

Category 2-1 - Electronic Alarm Upgrade

Category 2 - Electronic/Electromechanical Immobiliser

Category 3 - Mechanical Immobiliser

Category 4 - Wheel Locking Devices

TQA - Thatcham Quality Accreditation - which as replaced the Category 5 - After-Theft Systems for Vehicle Recovery rating

This is why you will see car alarms with descritptions like, "Thatcham Cat 2-1 alarms". This means that the alarm has been approved by Thatcham in Category 2-1.

In each of the of the product pages categories section we have outlined what the Thatcham criteria for that system is, as well as Thatcham approved manufacturers and suppliers.