Discovery Insure has warned that motorists could find themselves without theft or hijacking cover if the tracking devices required by their policies are inactive, faulty, or not correctly installed.
The insurer said its claims data shows that although overall vehicle theft and hijacking have declined over the past two years, incidents typically rise by about 10% in November and December.
The South African Police Service recorded an average of 86 stolen vehicles a day between January and March 2025, underscoring the continued scale of vehicle-related crime.
Precious Nduli, the chief commercial officer at Discovery Insure, said a functioning tracking device is central to both recovery efforts and the underwriting of vehicle cover.
“Having a functioning tracking device in your vehicle improves the chances of it being recovered, which lowers your risk profile as a driver and lowers the expected cost of claims, which can make your premium more affordable,” she said.
“Without a tracking device, the risk might be too high for insurers to offer cover at all, which is why many insurers make it a condition for cover, especially for high-value or high-risk vehicles.”
Conditions for theft and hijacking cover
Tracking-device requirements are common for luxury vehicles, high-risk models, commercial vehicles, and fleets. In many cases, insurers require installation through an approved provider within about five days from the start of cover. Some vehicles may need more than one device if they present elevated risk based on theft trends or usage patterns.
Nduli said a tracking device becomes pivotal when a claim is lodged.
“If your car is stolen, the tracking device is essential for recovery. Without it, especially if your insurer has made it a prerequisite, your cover could be limited to basic third-party insurance or future claims rejected.”
Devices need maintaining, not just installing
Discovery Insure noted that tracking devices typically need replacement every 18 to 24 months, but lifespan can shorten because of harsh driving conditions, poor installation, electronic malfunctions, or physical damage. If a device is inactive or offline, the policyholder’s theft or hijacking cover may be invalid, even where the vehicle was forcibly taken.
Nduli advised motorists to check whether their insurers provide testing support or alerts when a device stops communicating.
“Contact your insurance provider to understand how to test if your device is not working. Some insurers will also notify you if they detect that your device is not working,” she said. She added that those using third-party tracking services must ensure subscriptions remain current, because lapses could affect cover.
Technology behind modern tracking
Tracking devices vary widely in sophistication. Traditional hardwired units remain common, but insurers are increasingly seeing uptake of advanced wireless systems supported by smartphone-linked features, real-time location monitoring, geo-fencing, and impact detection.
“There are many different trackers available in the market. If your vehicle is stolen, the device can be pinged through a network of nearby smartphones to triangulate its position, which is then relayed to emergency responders in real time,” Nduli said. “We’ve found that the chance of recovering a vehicle using this technology is more than 50% higher than with a standalone tracker.”
Some devices also incorporate telematics, offering value-added safety tools, such as automatic emergency response after severe collisions and rewards or fuel benefits linked to driving behaviour.
