Ghost Immobiliser Cost for Fleets: How to Budget Per Vehicle and Across the Fleet

You run 25 vehicles and every price you can find is written for someone with one car. Does it include fitting? Is there a monthly fee? And what does the ghost immobiliser cost across the whole fleet? Below: what a quote should cover, how to multiply it across your vehicles, and what else to budget for. If the product itself is new to you, start with the ghost immobiliser guide.

How much does a ghost immobiliser cost?

It depends on the installer, the vehicle and the unit being fitted, so we won’t give you a single figure to plan around. Ask for a written quote for each vehicle that shows the unit, the fitting and VAT, and ask whether there is any ongoing fee.

What should a quote include?

Two things at least: the unit, and installation by a trained and approved technician. Ask whether there is a subscription or maintenance charge, and in writing what the warranty covers, for the unit and for the fitting.

What does it cost to fit a whole fleet?

Your fleet cost starts with the quoted price per vehicle multiplied by the number of vehicles. The table below is arithmetic on an example figure of £500 a vehicle, including VAT. It is not a market price and not a quote, so swap in your own.

You don’t have to do it all at once. Start with the vehicles you worry about most, such as those parked outside homes or on the forecourt overnight, then work through the rest.

What else should you budget for?

The unit price leaves out time and admin.

Each vehicle is off the road while it’s fitted. Ask the installer how long they need and whether they’ll come to you, then stagger the vehicles so you aren’t short of cars on the same day. For a taxi, PCO or rental firm that’s lost income, so put a figure on it.

Then there are PINs. Someone has to decide who holds each one and change it when a driver leaves. Our installation guide covers the steps.

Last, check every vehicle is compatible before you set the budget. The unit, and so the price, can depend on the vehicle.

Does the model change the price?

It can. Ask which model is going into each vehicle and what that model costs, and get both in writing before you commit. A mixed fleet can end up with more than one model and more than one price.

Is it worth it against the cost of one theft?

Do the sum with your own numbers. Take the excess you’d pay, the days that vehicle would be off the road, the income you’d lose in that time and the cost of hiring or replacing it. Dealers should add the margin on the unit. Set the total against the quote for that vehicle.

Ask your insurer what you need to declare. Our guide to whether a ghost immobiliser reduces fleet insurance covers that side.

An immobiliser stops the vehicle being driven. It doesn’t stop a vehicle being lifted onto a flatbed, which is where a tracker comes in. See ghost immobiliser vs GPS tracker.

What should you ask before ordering for a fleet?

1. A written quote for each vehicle, showing the unit, the fitting and VAT.
2. Which model is being fitted, and its price in writing.
3. Whether each vehicle is on the maker’s compatibility list.
4. Whether the installer is approved by the unit’s maker.
5. How long each vehicle is off the road, and whether fitting can happen on your site.
6. What the warranty covers, for the unit and for the fitting.
7. How PINs are set, changed and reset.
8. Who you call if a unit fails or a vehicle won’t start, and how fast they answer.
9. Whether the unit is on TASSA’s list of verified products. A seller’s claim is not the same as being on the list.
10. What you need to tell your insurer. Ask the insurer, not the installer.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a monthly fee for a ghost immobiliser?

It depends on the unit and the installer, so ask. Get any subscription or maintenance charge, or the absence of one, in writing before you order.

Does the price include fitting?

Ask. Make sure the quote shows the unit, the fitting and VAT as separate lines, so you can compare like with like.

Is a ghost immobiliser cheaper for a fleet?

We haven’t found a published bulk or fleet price. Ask each installer for a fleet quote and set it against the table above.

In short, a fleet budget is the quoted price times your vehicles, plus the time each one is off the road and the admin of PINs. Tell us how many vehicles you run and what they are, and we will talk through fitting them and what it comes to for your fleet. Talk through your fleet with Traknova.