GPS Accessories

Immobilizer relay

Immobilizer relay – Good to know!

According to The Economic Journal, a 2016 study found that vehicle immobilizers reduced the overall car theft rate by about 40% between 1995 and 2008.

In addition, immobilizers have been officially made a mandatory component for all new cars sold in Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland, Australia, and Canada.

About the immobilizer relay

This is an electronic anti-theft device that disables certain engine functions of a vehicle, making unauthorized starting impossible unless the chip/transponder key coded with the correct information is present.

The immobilizer relay provides protection against unauthorized use of vehicles or in case of theft. The system is designed so that it can be activated remotely, directly from the CargoTrack platform or by SMS.

How does an immobilizer relay work?

As an anti-theft device, the immobilizer relay disables one of the systems needed to start a car’s engine, namely the ignition. This is done through radio frequency identification between a transponder in the ignition key and a device called a radio frequency reader in the steering column.

When the key is inserted into the ignition, the transponder sends the reader a signal with a unique identification code, which the reader then passes to a receiver in the computer’s control module. If the code is correct, the computer allows the fuel and ignition systems to operate and the vehicle to start.

If the code is incorrect or missing, the vehicle’s computer disables the system and the car will not start until the correct key is inserted into the ignition. The vehicle can only be restarted with your authorization or that of the person using the CargoTrack platform.