CarLock Review
I recently fitted a CarLock GPS tracking device to the Supra and having had it for a few weeks thought it would be helpful to share a review with the forum.
You can find full details of the unit at the website http://www.carlock.co/
What does it do?
The CarLock title is a misnomer; do not expect this gadget to let you stop a felon as they speed off in your pride and joy. It is a GPS tracking device, it will alert you via a smartphone app if the car is tampered with or moved. In the event that the car is stolen you should be able to tell plod where it has been removed to. It also gives you a score out of 100 each month for how responsible your driving is, points are deducted for harsh cornering or excessive acceleration
As the unit runs off the car battery it also gives you live update if the battery charge level, useful if the Supra is not your daily commute. The app logs each journey you take showing distance travelled, time taken and plots each journey on a map. It can also navigate you to your car if you are uncertain where you have left it.
Fitting
The unit is designed to plug into an OBD2 port. As the Supra does not have such a thing you also need to purchase the optional adaptor (£10) which can then be used to power the unit. As I was having my car serviced at the same time the installation was done by my garage. The unit sits behind one of the trim panels in the driver foot well and provides a good signal. You can move the unit between different vehicles or use multiple units to track more than one vehicle.
Insurance
The website indicates that insurers might offer discounts to you if you fit a CarLock. Admiral, my current insurer, does not. In fact, when I asked them about this they were insistent that you inform them if the unit is fitted as it counts as a modification under the policy.
Cost
The unit itself retails at £99 plus £8 delivery. Your first month’s subscription is included after which you can pay £5.95 a month or £69.95 per annum.
Conclusion
I have had a couple of “false positives” when the unit has decided that it needs to report the car is being moved even when I have scheduled it not to monitor but otherwise the experience has been good. You have the reassurance of knowing where the Supra is at all times plus its battery level. It would be nice to find an insurance company that offers a discount on its premium for having one fitted but that was never my main reason for buying.