Factory-Fitted Security vs Aftermarket Vehicle Tracking: Is Your Car Protected Enough?
Modern vehicles come with increasingly sophisticated security technology, but is factory-fitted security enough on its own?
Factory systems such as alarms, immobilisers and connected vehicle apps provide an important first line of defence. However, a dedicated aftermarket vehicle tracker adds another layer of protection by helping detect, locate and recover a vehicle if a theft does take place.
For drivers looking for more comprehensive vehicle security, the strongest approach is often to use both.
What Is the Difference Between Factory-Fitted Security and an Aftermarket Vehicle Tracker?
Factory-fitted vehicle security is primarily designed to help prevent unauthorised access or use, while an aftermarket tracking system is designed to help monitor, locate and recover a vehicle if it is stolen.
Factory systems are built into the vehicle by the manufacturer. Aftermarket trackers are specialist security devices installed separately from the vehicle’s original equipment.
This means the two systems can work alongside each other rather than replacing one another.
What Is Factory-Fitted Vehicle Security?
Factory-fitted security refers to security technology installed by the vehicle manufacturer before the car reaches its owner.
Depending on the make and model, this can include:
- Vehicle alarms
- Engine immobilisers
- Keyless entry security
- Interior and movement sensors
- Manufacturer apps
- Connected vehicle services
- GPS-based vehicle location features
These systems are an important part of modern vehicle protection and vehicle manufacturers continue to improve them as new theft methods develop.
However, no single security measure can completely eliminate the risk of vehicle theft.
Why Can Modern Cars Still Be Stolen?
Vehicle thieves continually adapt their methods to overcome new security technology.
Rather than relying only on physically stealing a key, criminals may use methods such as:
- Relay attacks
- Key reprogramming
- Electronic attacks
- Signal interference
- Theft of genuine keys
This is one reason why a layered approach to vehicle security can be beneficial.
If one security measure is bypassed, another layer may still help protect the vehicle or assist with its recovery.
What Does an Aftermarket Vehicle Tracker Add?
A professionally installed aftermarket vehicle tracking system provides a dedicated security solution designed specifically around vehicle monitoring, theft detection and recovery.
Depending on the SmarTrack system selected, features can include:
- 24/7, 365 monitoring
- Driver Detection
- Movement alerts
- Secure Control Centre monitoring
- Dedicated theft support via Repatriations Team
- Police liaison during a confirmed theft
- Multiple tracking technologies on selected systems
- Insurance-recognised tracking options
This creates an additional layer of security beyond the vehicle’s standard factory systems.
If a thief successfully overcomes the original alarm, immobiliser or key security, a dedicated tracker can still provide an important route towards locating and recovering the vehicle.
Factory GPS vs Aftermarket Vehicle Tracker: What’s the Difference?
Many modern cars include manufacturer apps that allow owners to view their vehicle’s location.
This can be extremely useful, but a factory GPS location feature and a dedicated stolen vehicle tracking system are not necessarily the same thing.
A manufacturer app is often designed primarily around convenience and connected vehicle features.
A dedicated aftermarket tracker is designed specifically for vehicle security and theft recovery.
With SmarTrack, customers also have access to the Global Telemetrics Secure Control Centre, where trained operators can assist following a confirmed vehicle theft and will deploy their dedicated Repatriations Team who work alongside the police for each theft.
This adds a human recovery service alongside the tracking technology itself.
Is an Aftermarket Tracker Better Than Factory-Fitted Security?
For stolen vehicle tracking and recovery, a dedicated aftermarket tracker provides specialist capabilities that standard factory security may not offer.
However, this does not mean factory-fitted security is ineffective.
Factory systems such as alarms and immobilisers remain valuable because their purpose is often to prevent or delay a theft from occurring in the first place.
Aftermarket tracking serves a different role.
A simple way to look at it is:
Factory security can help prevent the theft.
Aftermarket tracking helps protect you if the theft succeeds.
For this reason, aftermarket tracking is best viewed as an additional security layer rather than a replacement for the technology already built into the vehicle.
Why Does an Independent Tracking System Matter?
One benefit of an aftermarket tracking device is that it operates as an additional security system separate from much of the vehicle’s standard equipment.
Criminals may become familiar with the security technology used in particular makes and models.
If a vehicle’s factory systems are compromised, relying entirely on those same systems could potentially limit the options available after the theft.
A separately installed tracking system introduces another obstacle.
The aim is not to disregard the vehicle manufacturer’s security technology, but to reduce dependence on a single type of protection.
What Is the Best Way to Protect a Car From Theft?
A layered vehicle security strategy is generally stronger than relying on one security measure alone.
This could include:
- Factory-fitted alarms and immobilisers
- A professionally installed vehicle tracker
- Physical security devices
- Secure parking where possible
- Good key security
- Additional theft-prevention technology
Each layer serves a different purpose.
An alarm may deter a thief. An immobiliser may make the vehicle harder to start. Physical security may increase the time required to steal it. A tracking system may help locate and recover the vehicle if those preventative measures are overcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is factory-fitted vehicle security enough?
Factory-fitted security provides an important first layer of vehicle protection, but it cannot guarantee that a car will not be stolen. Adding an aftermarket tracker can provide further protection and stolen vehicle recovery support.
Do new cars already have trackers?
Some modern vehicles include GPS location or connected app functionality, but this is not always equivalent to a dedicated stolen vehicle tracking and recovery system.
Can thieves disable factory-fitted tracking?
Vehicle thieves may attempt to interfere with electronic or factory security systems. A separately installed aftermarket tracker adds another independent layer of security.
Will an aftermarket tracker affect my factory security?
A professionally installed vehicle tracking system is designed to work alongside the vehicle’s existing security rather than replace it.
Can a vehicle tracker help lower insurance costs?
This depends on the vehicle and insurer. In some cases, insurers may require an approved tracking system as a condition of cover rather than offering a direct premium reduction.
Add Another Layer of Protection With SmarTrack
Your vehicle’s factory security is valuable and should remain an important part of your overall protection.
SmarTrack adds another layer.
With professionally installed vehicle tracking, 24/7 monitoring and support from the Global Telemetrics Secure Control Centre, SmarTrack systems are designed to provide additional protection if a vehicle is successfully stolen.
For owners looking for the strongest overall security approach, the goal does not have to be choosing between factory security and aftermarket tracking.
The better approach is to make them work together.
Discover the SmarTrack range and find the right level of vehicle tracking protection for your vehicle.