I recently bought a manual 2024 Skoda Karoq 1.5ltr SEL car and it's now time for me to renew my car insurance. However, I just can't determine what type of Thatcham alarm system I have fitted and the insurance company need to know to complete the quote. I've had a look here (https://www.thatcham.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/September-2020-OE.pdf) from another Briskoda post but all I can see for Karoq Nov 2017 onwards is 'Security System V' (TC3 -1520/0714 RTSUML) and that pdf is also out of date. As far as I can tell there is Thatcham Approved Category 1 (with alarm and immobiliser) and Thatcham Approverd Category 2 (with immobiliser only). I did phone up the Skoda garage where I bought the car from, but all they could confirm was that it was 'manufacture fitted Thatcham system', which isn't enough information for the insurance company.

Does anyone know how to find out the exact type of Thatcham alarm fitted to each car? I've also had a look in my owners manual and that doesn't say either (and covers all versions of the car so isn't much use).

Thanks very much for any help, Nick

This sort of thing really annoys me with insurers, they demand the vehicle reg, which tells them exactly what the car is, & then they start asking questions about it. Direct Line are one of the worst, having just told them via the reg which car you have, they then ask if it's a van!

Try a comparison site via a cashback site.

14 hours ago, NickGreen said:

and the insurance company need to know to complete the quote

The insurance company has full access to the Thatcham database, all they need to know is that its fitted with the OE Alarm system and not an after market system.

Edited 11 November, 202511 Nov by NottsIan

If you are using the Skoda App then you also have a tracker built in. That also helps with reducing the premiums, as long as you continue to pay the annual subscription after the free period runs out.

22 hours ago, NickGreen said:

... As far as I can tell there is Thatcham Approved Category 1 (with alarm and immobiliser) and Thatcham Approverd Category 2 (with immobiliser only).

That's right. And since your car no doubt has an alarm, the system must be Thatcham Approved Category 1. That is presumably what the insurance company expects to hear.

Thanks All, for your replies. I actually wrote to Thatcham this morning (support.thatcham.com [in internet address bar] -> General Enquiries -> Other) and received a reply:

Good Afternoon Nick , I can confirm that your vehicle (reg.) has a Thatcham Approved Category 1 Alarm and Immobiliser, fitted as standard by the manufacturer.

Just as mumpsim says! Can't believe it was so difficult to find. Also, to note, insurance company auto-filled "category 2" online when I was completing the form so it appears their system didn't collect the correct information from the Thatcham database. Another concern was that Skoda showroom where I bought the car had no idea. Crazy! Anyway, will now complete insurance process. Hope this post proves useful to others in the future.

Best wishes, Nick

Hi.

If you need any help with insurance at all then please feel free to drop me a line.

Regards,

Dan.

Just to confuse things, my 2023 Mfr, 24 plate, SE L also has an additional immobilizer/tracker. It is a Meta Trak S5-VTS which was fitted by the dealer as it was their demo car. Apparent Johnson's do this with all their demo cars, so I assume they get a good trade discount. This version with a fob requires the fob (as well as the car key) to be in the car to start it. When I bought the car, they deregistered it. Though, I also called Meta Trak to confirm the change of ownership. They also gate be a price for reactivating, but a Škoda 1.5 petrol, manual SE L is not exactly a target. So I declined. Especially as mentioned the car has an alarm, immobilizer and the phone app is a tracker.