S5 tracker and Ghost: the high-risk car pairing
The short answer: an S5 tracker paired with an Autowatch Ghost is the strongest mainstream dual layer set-up for a high-value keyless car. The Ghost stops the car being driven without a secret button sequence; the S5 tracker's driver recognition raises an alert the moment the car moves without its tag, and its control room supports recovery. It is also the pairing most likely to satisfy an insurer who has written S5 into the policy.
How dual layer protection covers each attack
| Situation | Ghost layer | S5 tracker layer |
|---|---|---|
| Key signal relayed from the house | Car will not drive without the button sequence | Movement without the driver tag triggers a control-room alert |
| Key cloned through the diagnostic port | Autowatch says the Ghost-II cannot be overridden through OBD devices | Same tag check applies |
| Keys taken in a burglary | Still blocks driving if set up for sequence only | Alerts if the tag is kept away from the keys |
| Car lifted onto a trailer | No effect | Tow-away alert and location for recovery |
What makes a tracker S5
S5 is Thatcham's vehicle tracking systems category. Tracker, one of the brands in this category, explains that driver tags or automatic driver recognition are mandatory for S5, while remote immobilisation is no longer mandatory. Global Telemetrics' comparison adds that both S5 and S7 need a certified 24/7 monitoring centre, a backup power supply and a roaming SIM. The driver recognition is the part that matters for keyless theft: the system knows the difference between you and someone holding a copy of your key signal.
Do I still need a Ghost if my S5 tracker can immobilise?
Some S5 trackers now include their own immobiliser. ScorpionTrack's S5+ will only start when its tag is present, and its control room can stop a restart remotely. Meta Trak's S5 Deadlock is sold on a "no tag, no start" basis, and SmarTrack offers an S5+ iMOB version. These make a single box do both jobs. The trade-off is that both layers then depend on one tag and one installation. A Ghost is a separate system on the car's own buttons, so a thief must defeat two unrelated products. On the highest-risk cars, that separation is the point.
Which vehicles suit S5 plus Ghost
- Keyless prestige SUVs and saloons that insurers rate as high risk and where the schedule names S5.
- Cars parked on open driveways or streets overnight, where a relay attempt can happen unseen.
- Newer models on CAN-FD networks, where the Ghost-III is the only Ghost that fits.
The honest gaps
Keep the S5 tag off the key ring, or the tag check proves nothing. Choose a sequence-only Ghost set-up if you can live without fob or phone disarm; Autowatch says those options reduce security. Budget for the S5 subscription every year: ScorpionTrack's published S5 plans start at £155 a year, and without one the insurer's condition may not be met. And remember neither layer stops a car being lifted.
Common questions
Will an S5 tracker with a Ghost satisfy an S5 insurance condition?
The S5 tracker satisfies it, provided the insurer accepts that product. The Ghost is extra protection, not part of the condition.
Should I choose Ghost-II or Ghost-III with an S5 tracker?
New installs use the Ghost-III, which Autowatch now supports as its only CAN-based Ghost and which handles CAN-FD cars.
Can the S5 tag and Ghost fob be the same thing?
No. They are separate products from separate makers. Many owners skip the Ghost fob entirely and use the button sequence.
Does an S5 tracker stop relay theft by itself?
It cannot stop the car moving, but it detects that the tag is missing and alerts the control room quickly.
Sources
- Tracker: S5 and S7 category notes
- Global Telemetrics: S5 vs S7 table
- ScorpionTrack S5 vs S7 comparison
- ScorpionTrack S5+ with immobilisation
- Meta Trak product range
- Autowatch Ghost-II product page
All sources read 6 November 2026.