Car alarm systems

Whether your focus is to protect the contents you keep inside your vehicle, or to keep your car from being stolen itself, a car alarm system is a worthy investment. Now, while most modern cars do come with built-in alarm systems, there are advanced technological features that your device may not include. This makes researching car alarms a worthy cause – one that may prevent you from filling in a theft report at your local police station.

And if your mode of transport doesn’t feature any type of alarm or tracking device, then this article is definitely for you!

In This Guide:

What is a car alarm system?

To avoid getting overly technical, a car alarm system is nothing more than an assortment of sensors that connect to a siren when activated. Most basic car alarm systems are placed in the driver’s door. So, if someone tries to open said door without the original key or without deactivating the alarm first, then a siren would start wailing.

Most modern car alarm systems, however, offer more advanced features than this. They can also include:

  • An assortment of sensors, switches, and motion detectors placed all around a vehicle’s target spots.
  • A siren with a choice of sounds to choose from, so that you can distinguish your car’s siren from others.
  • A radio receiver to allow wireless control.
  • A back-up battery, so that the system can function if the main battery is disconnected or depletes itself.
  • A computer control unit that monitors the environment.

Types of Car Alarm Systems

While car alarms all work similarly and have the same purpose, they can be categorised into different types.

Active

Active car alarm systems are activated or deactivated when you touch a button. This gives users more control over how they use their vehicle alarm.

Passive

Passive car alarm systems are activated the moment you switch off your engine and lock the doors. This option is ideal for those who prefer a hands-off approach to vehicle security.

Audible

Like we mentioned, most car alarms are linked to a siren that set off when the sensors are activated. This sound is extremely loud so that you can hear it from a distance.

Silent

Not all sensors are linked to a siren. This is because some car owners prefer not to scare off criminals but would, instead, like the opportunity to catch them in the act.

Immobilising

Immobilising car alarm systems will simply not start if the vehicle’s key has not been inserted.

Two-way paging

This type of system allows two-way communication between your car’s alarm and the key fob. You’ll receive alerts when the alarm is activated or tampered with or when the doors are locked or unlocked.

The Advantages of Having an Alarm Installed in Your Car

A car alarm system poses many advantages over and above preventing your vehicle from being stolen. This type of security measure can:

  • Increase a car’s resale value.
  • Possibly reduce your car insurance premiums.
  • Help to prevent the contents you keep inside your car from being stolen.
  • Help to increase the chances of recovering your vehicle if it is stolen (you will be able to alert the authorities as soon as your car alarm is activated).
  • Give you peace of mind (you’ll sleep better at night knowing that you will have a car to get you to work and back in the morning).

How much do car alarm systems cost?

The saying “you get what you pay for” applies to car alarms. This means that you can get extremely basic units that average as little as R400 – or you can get more advanced types that hover around the R1,500-R2,000 mark.

Essentially, the price you pay will be determined by your needs, your expectations, and your budget.

Will a car alarm system reduce my insurance premiums?

Most insurance companies will calculate your insurance premiums by studying your risk profile. This risk profile includes information such as the type of car you drive, where you live, and your driving history. It will also highlight any security measures you have put in place. This means that it is possible that your car insurance will be reduced when you add a car alarm to your vehicle.

What about vehicle recovery?

If you are very concerned about the security of your vehicle, you could choose to sign up for vehicle recovery or vehicle tracking as an extra precautionary measure.

What is vehicle recovery?

Vehicle recovery is a basic form of vehicle tracking and allows service providers to pinpoint your car’s whereabouts in the event that it’s stolen. It does this by installing a GPS device in your vehicle.  

What is vehicle tracking?

Vehicle tracking works exactly as vehicle recovery does, except you’ll also be able to track your vehicle’s whereabouts using a web or smartphone app. This type of tracking generally comes with additional features too.

Secure Your Vehicle Today

Whether you choose a car alarm system or a vehicle recovery system to keep your car safe from criminal hands, it’s important that you do put at least one type of security measure in place. And that’s why invite you to use Money Expert’s vehicle tracking comparison tool. All you need to do is fill in a quick form and we’ll supply you with plans and prices from local recovery companies in no time. Are you ready?

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