Rewire Security S5 review
Rewire Security Thatcham S5 GPS Tracker (installation included)
By Tom Calder
The serious option: a Thatcham-certified S5 system, the category insurers ask about, with 24/7 monitoring, a driver ID tag so it knows when the car moves without you, and professional fitting included. It's the only kind of tracker here that can earn an insurer's recognition, but Thatcham itself says certification doesn't guarantee it, so ask your insurer in writing which category it accepts before you buy. Budget for the monitoring: £150 a year at Rewire's prices after the included year.
- Best for
- High-risk keyless cars, or when your insurer asks for S5
- Skip it if
- You just want to know if the car moves
as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Thatcham S5 certified
- 24/7 monitoring and driver ID
- Fitting included
Worth knowing
- £150 a year for monitoring
- Installer appointment needed
- Insurer recognition varies
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Our review
A professionally fitted GPS tracker certified to Thatcham's S5 category, the one with a driver tag, so a 24-hour monitoring centre is told when the car moves without you and can bring in the police. The thing to weigh is the subscription: the hardware is modest for what it is, but the service it depends on is a yearly cost. It suits a keyless or high-value car, or an owner whose insurer has named S5.
What S5 means
Thatcham's definitions say an S5 vehicle tracking system exists to detect unauthorised use and improve the odds of recovering a stolen vehicle. To be certified it must be monitored around the clock by a centre meeting BS 8591 Category 1, carry a roaming SIM, GPS, a driver identification device, motion detection, data logging, two-way data and a battery back-up, and resist attack for at least two minutes. S7 is the recovery-only category, without the driver tag, and certifications are reviewed every two years. Thatcham's own search listed Rewire Security's S5 (TSC381) and S5 Tracker (TSC743) under S5 when checked on 10 October 2026. Rewire's S5+ adds an immobiliser, which Rewire says is not a separate Thatcham category.
What happens when the car moves
One driver tag comes in the box and lives in your pocket, apart from the key. If the car moves without it, the alert goes to Rewire's monitoring centre, which Rewire says verifies it with you and liaises with the police; Rewire says its alarm centre can initiate a level 1 police response once a theft is confirmed. That tag is why S5 answers relay theft, where a thief stretches a keyless signal from your hallway and drives off with a working key: the car still leaves without the tag. The GPSLive app shows the car, pushes movement alerts, sends a tow alert if the car moves with the ignition off, warns if the unit is unplugged, draws geofences and keeps a year of route history.
Insurers and the certificate
Thatcham says plainly that its certification does not guarantee insurer recognition, because that is negotiated between each maker and its insurance partners. Rewire says the same: it depends on your insurer, policy and vehicle, some require S5 and others accept S7. Rewire also quotes a premium saving of up to 20% and a recovery rate over 96%; both are its own figures with no independent check behind them. So before paying, get your insurer's answer in writing on which category it wants.
How it compares
The Monimoto 9 is the self-fit alternative: hidden anywhere, no wiring, up to a year per charge, and it phones you if the car moves without its fob, which What Car? timed at about 90 seconds. It costs £39 a year after two free months, has no live map and no Thatcham certificate, so no insurer will count it. An Apple AirTag, on our car security comparison, is a cheap lead rather than a tracker. Whichever you choose, a sealed Faraday pouch such as the Disklok pouch is the cheaper first step on a keyless car.
Living with it
Fitting is free anywhere in the UK: a certified engineer contacts you after purchase and comes to your home or workplace. Monitoring is a separate subscription, £150 a year at Rewire's price, with longer plans costing less per year; the Amazon listing title says a year is included, so confirm what your purchase route covers. Extra tags are sold separately, the warranty is two years, and Rewire fits cars, vans, lorries, motorbikes and machinery. Thatcham's criteria require battery back-up and a roaming SIM, so a certified unit has both, though Rewire does not say how long the back-up lasts. Fit it only to a vehicle you own, never to track a person.
Our verdict
Buy the Rewire S5 if your car is keyless, worth stealing to order, or insured on terms that mention an S5 tracker, and you accept a yearly monitoring fee for a service that calls the police rather than just you. Choose the Monimoto if you want to know the car has moved and will do the rest yourself. Do not buy any tracker expecting a discount until your insurer has confirmed one.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 21 Oct 2026. Sources: Rewire Security: S5 Thatcham GPS tracker product page; Rewire Security: Thatcham tracker categories, S7 vs S5 vs S5+; Rewire Security: insurance and Thatcham approved trackers (installation, warranty, monitoring); Rewire Security: Thatcham tracker guide (monitoring centre verifies with the owner, liaises with police); Thatcham Research: vehicle security product definitions guidelines (Category S5 and S7); Thatcham Research: Thatcham Security Certification; Thatcham Research: certified product search.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you just want to know if the car moves: the Monimoto 9 does that with no fitting and a much smaller subscription.
Key specs
| Type | Thatcham S5 tracker, installer-fitted |
| Security rating | Thatcham S5 certified |
| Fits | Cars, vans and motorhomes; fitted for you |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for A phone call the moment your car moves without you
as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A cheap lead on where a stolen car went, for iPhone owners
as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Best for The evidence layer: 4K footage insurers and police can actually use
Read the review →Questions
Is the Rewire Security S5 tracker Thatcham approved?
Thatcham's certification search listed Rewire Security's S5 (TSC381) and S5 Tracker (TSC743) under Category S5 on 10 October 2026. Thatcham reviews certifications every two years and says a certificate does not guarantee insurer recognition.
How much does the Rewire S5 cost to run each year?
Rewire lists monitoring at £150 a year, with longer plans priced lower per year. Fitting is free, one driver tag is included and extra tags cost more. Check whether your purchase includes a first year, as the Amazon listing title says.
Will the Rewire S5 lower my car insurance?
Only if your insurer says so. Thatcham states certification does not guarantee insurer recognition, and Rewire says some insurers require S5 while others accept S7. Rewire's figure of up to 20% off is its own claim, so get your insurer's position in writing.
What is the difference between Rewire's S5 and S7 trackers?
Both are monitored 24 hours a day with tow and tamper alerts and theft recovery. The S5 adds a driver identification tag and an unauthorised driver alert, which Thatcham requires for the S5 category; S7 is recovery only.
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