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OpenVan.camp Editorial · Last updated:

Vehicle tracker

Electrical

Tracker, GPS tracker, vehicle tracker, stolen vehicle recovery, Thatcham S5, Thatcham S7, tracking device

A vehicle tracker is a hidden device that reports the vehicle's position over GPS and a mobile network. It supports recovery after theft and often reduces the insurance premium.

There are two tiers: cheap self-managed battery beacons (€30–80, magnet-mounted, months of runtime) and monitored subscription systems — in the UK these are Thatcham S5/S7 categories that insurers require on higher-value motorhomes. Wiring to the leisure battery is more reliable than the starter battery, but the tracker must stay powered when the vehicle is laid up. Hide it deep in the furniture rather than in the obvious places (behind the bumper, on the OBD port): thieves sweep for signal with jammers and check the standard locations first.

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Van Life Glossary

Content is available under CC BY 4.0 license. Source: OpenVan.camp.

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