Which Vehicle Security System is Best?

 If you are looking to secure your vehicle against modern theft methods like key cloning and relay attacks, you have likely come across the Ghost Immobiliser. But how does it compare to the Starline S9? As an expert installation workshop with over 30 years of experience, we break down the facts so you can make the right choice for your vehicle.

Both the Autowatch Ghost (and its newer Ghost Pro / Ghost III FD versions) and the Starline S9 are professional-grade, highly effective vehicle security systems. They both stop a thief from driving your car away even if they have your keys.

However, the difference lies in what they do next.

The Ghost is a single-purpose immobiliser. It does its job quietly, but it cannot track your vehicle, sound an alarm, or send an alert to your phone. The Starline S9 is a complete connected security platform — it includes the exact same digital immobilisation technology as the Ghost, but adds a full alarm system, live GPS tracking, smartphone alerts, and remote engine shut-off, all for a comparable price.

Put simply there is nothing the Ghost does that the Starline S9 cannot do, but there is a great deal the Starline does that the Ghost cannot.

The Autowatch Ghost (manufactured by Author-Alarm under the 'Igla' platform name) is a digital CAN bus immobiliser. 

It protects your vehicle by blocking the engine from starting or running unless a unique PIN code is entered using the existing buttons on your steering wheel or dashboard.

It is a stealth device — it has no key fobs, no LED lights, and no siren. It is undetectable by diagnostic tools, making it an excellent defence against key cloning and relay attacks.

The Ghost Family:

•Ghost II — The standard CAN bus immobiliser (based on the Igla 200 platform).

•Ghost II Pro — Adds an anti-carjacking feature (based on the Igla 231 platform).

•Ghost III Pro FD — The newest version designed specifically for 2024+ vehicles using high-speed CAN FD networks.

Note You may also see products like CAN Immo, Nemesis, Nitro, and Scorpion X on the market. These are all built on a similar Polish platform (SEO Electronics) and offer the same core functionality

digital immobilisation via a PIN code.

Think of a conversation, "I need a Hoover" so you go out and buy a Dyson or Shark maybe?

The Starline S9 is a comprehensive, multi-layered vehicle security and telematics system. It does not just immobilise the vehicle; it actively defends it and keeps you connected to it wherever you are in the world.

Like the Ghost, the Starline S9 features a digital CAN bus immobiliser (iCAN) that requires authorisation before the vehicle can be driven. However, it builds on this foundation with multiple additional layers of security. 

 As an independent, workshop-based installer, we have access to almost every security system on the market. We choose to be an Authorised Starline Installer because, in our 30 years of experience, it offers the most robust, comprehensive and Flexible protection available today.

Here is why we recommend it over standalone immobilisers

A silent immobiliser stops the car from moving, but it doesn't stop a thief from breaking your window, tearing apart your dashboard looking for the device, or stealing your steering wheel and airbags.

The Starline S9 features a full alarm system with shock, tilt, and motion sensors. The moment a thief attempts to break in or jack up your vehicle, the siren sounds and the vehicle fights back.

If someone attacks your vehicle in the middle of the night, a silent immobiliser won't wake you up. 

The Starline S9 will instantly call your phone, send an SMS, and push an alert through the app, telling you exactly which zone (door, bonnet, shock sensor) has been triggered.

Thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

If they somehow manage to bypass a digital CAN block, the Starline S9 has up to 5 additional wired or wireless analogue immobilisation points hidden throughout the vehicle that in the event of the unit being unplugged will remain immobilised.

 It is a multi-layered defence system, not a single point of failure.

If the worst happens and you are carjacked, you do not want to argue with a thief. Hand over the keys, walk away safely, and use the Starline app on your phone to track the vehicle live and remotely shut down the engine. 

Whether you drive a brand new Range Rover, a Ford Transit Custom, or a classic performance car, we can build a security package tailored to your exact needs. Every installation is carried out in-house by our own expert technicians at our St Helens workshop — no subcontractors, no shortcuts.