Lexi Webster
If you're buying or selling a car in Australia, you'll likely come across the term 'car immobiliser'. An immobiliser is an electronic security device that prevents a vehicle from starting without receiving the correct signal from the driver, such as a transponder, electronic key, or key fob. Since 2001, it has been compulsory for all new vehicles in Australia to have an immobiliser device installed, and these devices have been shown to significantly reduce car theft. If your car was manufactured after 1998 or 2001, it likely has an immobiliser. You can check by consulting your vehicle's handbook or contacting the manufacturer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Preventing vehicle theft |
| Function | Preventing the vehicle from starting without the correct signal from the driver |
| Signal Types | Transponder, electronic key, or other mechanisms |
| Installation Types | Factory-fitted, aftermarket |
| Factory-Fitted Installation Requirements | Compulsory for all new vehicles in England and Wales since October 1998, compulsory for all new vehicles in Australia since 2001 |
| Aftermarket Installation Requirements | Compulsory for vehicles in Western Australia since 1999, Western Australian government subsidized aftermarket installation starting in 1997 |
| Effectiveness | Statistically significant reduction in theft of cars with engine immobilizers compared to cars without |
| Insurance Impact | Vehicles with immobilizers may be deemed lower risk and have lower insurance premiums, but this is not guaranteed due to multiple factors influencing insurance policies |
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What You'll Learn
How to check if your car has an immobiliser
If you have a car model manufactured after October 1998, it likely has a factory-fitted immobiliser. On the other hand, for older cars produced before that date, you can check whether your system has an immobiliser by contacting the car manufacturer, searching through your car owner's manual or vehicle handbook, or asking a qualified mechanic.
Immobilisers are a piece of electronic security technology designed to deter and inhibit vehicle theft. They work by disabling two essential components out of three existing main parts: the starter motor, ignition, and fuel system. They prevent a vehicle from starting unless the correct key or key fob is used.
If your car has a key fob or a smart key, it almost certainly has an immobiliser. This is assuming that no one has tampered with the immobiliser. If you bought your car used, it's possible that a former owner disabled or removed the immobiliser. However, it's also possible that the previous owner installed one. In your car's handbook, you should find all the information about the immobiliser, including whether it has been removed or changed.
Some immobilisers have been upgraded to a two-tier security system with fixed and changeable codes. The second code is recorded in the transponder and changes when you start the car. When you try to start the car, the immobiliser checks the permanent code first, then demands the second changing code. It compares it to the one saved in the database and finally starts the car. Once the vehicle starts, the immobiliser generates a new second code and transmits it to the transponder.
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Factory-fitted immobilisers
If your car was manufactured after 1998, you can rest assured that it has a factory-fitted immobiliser. To confirm this, you can refer to your vehicle manufacturer's handbook or consult your owner's manual. If you are unsure, you can also contact your car's manufacturer or get your car inspected by a qualified mechanic, who should be able to tell you if it has an immobiliser.
The presence of a factory-fitted immobiliser can impact your car insurance. When obtaining an insurance quote, providers will ask if your car is equipped with one. Immobilisers reduce the risk of car theft, so insurers may offer a lower premium for vehicles with immobilisers. However, it is important to note that insurance policies consider various factors, and the presence of an immobiliser does not guarantee a reduced premium.
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Immobilisers and car insurance
Immobilisers are designed to ensure that a car can only be opened and started with the correct key. They are an effective way to enhance vehicle security and prevent car theft. In Western Australia, it is compulsory to fit a government-approved immobiliser when licensing or transferring a vehicle.
Installing an immobiliser can also bring down your insurance premium. Insurance companies offer lower premiums to drivers with immobilisers installed in their cars because the system reduces the risk of theft, making the car a less attractive target for thieves.
Most cars manufactured in the last couple of decades have an immobiliser as standard. You can check if your car has an immobiliser by referring to your vehicle's handbook. If that is not possible, you can contact the manufacturer or find a mechanic to check for you.
There are different types of immobilisers available, including built-in electronic and mechanical immobilisers. Built-in electronic immobilisers prevent the car from starting if a thief uses a fake key in the ignition or hot wires the car. Mechanical immobilisers, such as steering wheel or gearstick locks, act as both a visual deterrent and a physical obstacle.
In addition to factory-fitted immobilisers, there are also aftermarket immobilisers available, such as CODE SAFE in Victoria, Australia, which offers advanced car immobiliser systems and vehicle security solutions. These systems use a keypad or electronic token to prevent the engine from starting without the correct code or token.
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Immobiliser installation in Western Australia
In Western Australia, it is compulsory to fit a government-approved immobiliser when registering or transferring a vehicle. Immobilisers significantly decrease the likelihood of car theft.
You can check if your car has an immobiliser by referring to the vehicle manufacturer's handbook. Alternatively, if your car was manufactured after 1998-2001, it likely has a factory-fitted immobiliser.
If you need to install an immobiliser, there are numerous businesses in Western Australia that sell and install them. For instance, Immobiliser Perth installs, repairs, and services car alarms and immobilisers in Perth, Western Australia. They offer a range of immobilisers, including simple touch keys and upmarket remote-control immobilisers, with prices starting at $248 for supply and installation. They also provide a mobile service in the metro area.
It is important to ensure that the immobiliser you choose is government-approved and installed to Australian standards. You can find out more information about approved immobilisers and relevant legislation on the Western Australian government website.
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How immobilisers work
Immobilisers are electronic security devices that prevent a car's engine from starting without the correct key (transponder or smart key). This prevents the vehicle from being "hotwired" and reduces motor vehicle theft. Immobilisers work by controlling the starter motor, fuel system, and ignition system. Even if a correct key is used, if the immobiliser does not receive the right code, it will not activate these systems.
Most modern immobilisers have a transponder embedded in the car's key fob that transmits a code to the ECU whenever the key is inserted into the ignition barrel. Some older immobilisers may use a separate fob or require a button to be pressed inside the vehicle to deactivate the immobiliser. Others may have a keypad that can be programmed to accept a four-digit number before the car starts. Factory-fitted immobilisers are well-integrated into the vehicle's electronics and should work seamlessly.
Immobilisers must intercept at least two circuits, typically the low-voltage ignition circuit and the fuel pump circuit. Some may also intercept the low-current starter motor circuit from the key switch to the relay. The first automotive immobilisers with keys containing embedded transponders were introduced in 1992, and many luxury automakers began incorporating them soon after. Since 1998, it has been mandatory for all cars to have factory-fitted immobilisers.
While immobilisers have been shown to reduce car theft rates by about 40% between 1995 and 2008, they are not without vulnerabilities. Many immobiliser systems use the Megamos chip, which has been proven susceptible to hacking. Additionally, some systems may remember the last key code for an extended period, allowing non-transponder keys to start the car even after the original key has been removed. Upgrading to a newer immobiliser or exploring aftermarket options with additional features can enhance security.
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Frequently asked questions
A car immobiliser is an electronic device that prevents a vehicle from starting without receiving the correct signal from the driver. This can be communicated through a transponder, electronic key, or other mechanisms.
If your car was manufactured after 1998/2001, it should have a factory-fitted immobiliser. If your car was manufactured before this date, you can check by contacting the manufacturer, consulting your owner's manual, or getting your car checked by a qualified mechanic.
Car immobilisers significantly reduce the risk of car theft. They also lower insurance premiums as insurers deem vehicles with immobilisers to be at a lower risk of theft.
In Western Australia, you can purchase immobilisers from numerous businesses and arrange for them to be fitted. If your car does not have an immobiliser as standard, you can also have one fitted by a professional.
