Does carGuardian replace my tracker?

No, and it shouldn't. Trackers find the car after it's gone. carGuardian stops it leaving in the first place. Most customers run both — tracker for recovery, carGuardian for prevention.

Will it void my factory warranty?

No. carGuardian is non-destructive — no cut wires, no soldered taps. A certified installer can remove it without trace and your factory warranty stays intact.

Will my insurer give me a discount for this?

Honest answer: not yet. We launch Q3 2026 and no SA insurer has signed a discount schedule against carGuardian specifically. GotYou Telematics is an approved telematics provider with major SA underwriters. Keep your current cover until your broker confirms a switch keeps your premium intact.

What if I forget the PIN?

Call our 24/7 support line. We verify your identity (ID plus the install-day code we issued you), walk you through a recovery PIN over the phone, and help you set a new one. Average call: under 5 minutes.

Will it stop a flatbed-tow theft?

No, and we won't pretend it will. Flatbed theft bypasses any electronic immobiliser. That's the recovery layer's job — your tracker covers it. carGuardian + a tracker is the honest answer.

What if a thief finds the carGuardian unit?

Honest answer: if the unit ever fails — flat battery, breakdown, physical removal — the car reverts to factory immobiliser behaviour and starts as normal. There is no fail-closed mode (the manufacturer publishes this). Removing the unit still requires cabin time, the right tools, and platform-specific CAN-bus knowledge — it is not a roadside attack. The deterrent is the unknown location and time cost, not a brick-the-car mechanism.

Will carGuardian flatten my car battery?

No. Sub-milliamp standby draw — well below what the average car battery loses to its own electronics overnight. Units have been left armed on customer vehicles parked for 6 weeks with no impact.

Does carGuardian stop relay attacks and key cloning?

Yes. carGuardian adds a second authentication layer that does not use the key. A relay-amplified or cloned key passes the factory immobiliser check, but the engine still refuses to crank because carGuardian hasn't received the owner's PIN. The same mechanism closes CAN-bus diagnostic key-programming attacks.

Comparison · carGuardian — Stop Relay Theft & Key Cloning

Feature comparison

See how carGuardian is different

Side-by-side against your factory alarm, a tracker on its own, and the prior generation of SA PIN immobilisers. Features, not feelings.

	Factory alarm Stock vehicle	Tracker only Recovery layer	Known SA immobilisers Prior generation	carGuardian Next-gen
Engine refuses to crank for a thief	×	×	✓ most	✓ always, while armed
No extra fob, tag or remote to carry	n/a	n/a	× extra fob / tag	✓ OEM buttons only
No clonable RF signal (anti-relay)	× key broadcasts	× SIM & GPS	~ varies by model	✓ PIN never leaves car · fob 128-bit encrypted
Workshop diagnostic-tool theft blocked	×	n/a	~ some	✓ closed
Hidden install · no visible add-on	n/a	× aerial / LED	~ keypad visible	✓ invisible
Smartphone backup if you forget your PIN	n/a	app for tracking only	× rare	✓ included
Service & valet mode	×	n/a	~ varies	✓ both
Anti-hijack drive-away cut (on-board)	×	~ via control room	~ some	✓ on-board
No monthly subscription	✓	× Monthly fee	✓ most	✓ No monthly fee

Honest take: a tracker is still smart insurance for the worst case (e.g. flatbed theft, which no electronic immobiliser can stop). Most SA owners run both — carGuardian closes the modern attack methods so the tracker is rarely called.