Lowdown On Lojack
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I have it, but I'm not sure exactly about some of these details. There's no "monthly charge" exactly, but I'm pretty sure there is some periodic charge -- I think it's per year. The reason I'm not sure is I think I paid a lot of it upfront (like maybe for a few years), and I wasn't paying that much attention because I was so desperate just to get the car.
Pros and cons: The pros I think are pretty obvious -- the car can be traced if it's stolen.
Cons: I don't think there are any, except the cost, unless you mind the fact that they'd be able to trace you.
(I don't think they really do that. Unless you really piss off somebody, like one of the admins/mods here.) :lol:
I don't know if you'd consider this a con, but.....somehow I have the idea that they can't trace the car very well unless you report it pretty soon after it gets taken (don't remember why, and don't know for sure). That would mean that if you park your car somewhere for a while (e.g. at the airport), then come back and find the car missing, Lojack might not help. But as I said, I'm not sure about this.
I hope someone else can help us out about that.....
Pros and cons: The pros I think are pretty obvious -- the car can be traced if it's stolen.
Cons: I don't think there are any, except the cost, unless you mind the fact that they'd be able to trace you.
(I don't think they really do that. Unless you really piss off somebody, like one of the admins/mods here.) :lol:
I don't know if you'd consider this a con, but.....somehow I have the idea that they can't trace the car very well unless you report it pretty soon after it gets taken (don't remember why, and don't know for sure). That would mean that if you park your car somewhere for a while (e.g. at the airport), then come back and find the car missing, Lojack might not help. But as I said, I'm not sure about this.
I hope someone else can help us out about that.....
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If I remember correctly, there are two versions of LoJack.
The first is the passive one. It just sits there until it gets activated by LoJack (the company), generally, when you report your car as stolen.
The second version comes with fobs that you carry around with your car keys. If the car is moved without the fobs being nearby, it immediately sets off LoJack and they start tracking immediately. If I remember correctly, this is not tied to the starter, but to the actual movement of the car - so there isn't anything to indicate to the thief that the car has been LoJacked.
The second obviously has its advantages, but it is also more expensive (I think they said it was $800 for the basic and $1,000 for the advanced - at least in the Seattle area).
Mind you, even if they do start tracking your car, it's no guarantee that your car will not be stripped or something. It also won't help if the car isn't moved - so if they steal all four of your wheels, it won't make a peep.
The first is the passive one. It just sits there until it gets activated by LoJack (the company), generally, when you report your car as stolen.
The second version comes with fobs that you carry around with your car keys. If the car is moved without the fobs being nearby, it immediately sets off LoJack and they start tracking immediately. If I remember correctly, this is not tied to the starter, but to the actual movement of the car - so there isn't anything to indicate to the thief that the car has been LoJacked.
The second obviously has its advantages, but it is also more expensive (I think they said it was $800 for the basic and $1,000 for the advanced - at least in the Seattle area).
Mind you, even if they do start tracking your car, it's no guarantee that your car will not be stripped or something. It also won't help if the car isn't moved - so if they steal all four of your wheels, it won't make a peep.
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Yeah Larch I am in the same boat. What did worry me was the lack of research I did on it... a real impulse purchase I am supposed to get mine on Monday and I told them to through Lojack in @ a $1000. The money up front doesn't really bother me, because I figure the unit will pay for itself in insurance savings after 4-5 years.
However, afterwards I told them to pencil it in I forgot to ask about monthly charge. Just like XM radio is only free for three months the sales folks of course never offer that info You start to worry about a service charge of $10, $20, $30 etc etc a month.
I spoke to a cop once who stated "I don't know why more people don't get this because we can find any stolen car in about five-10 minutes" His thinking was that once the unit was turned on, the police units would be able to pick it up. If your police did a decent job patrolling it was only a matter of time before one of them got a hit on their scanner.
That's still no guarantee that they will but then I think I remember being told that Lojack will pay your deductible if the car fails to be found, does that sound right? Sound the product is pretty sound in coverage.
Since mine cost $1000 and the saleswoman said that the LOJACK can notify you via phone or pager that your car was stolen, I'm guessing that I got the second version Revenent was speaking off.
However, afterwards I told them to pencil it in I forgot to ask about monthly charge. Just like XM radio is only free for three months the sales folks of course never offer that info You start to worry about a service charge of $10, $20, $30 etc etc a month.
I spoke to a cop once who stated "I don't know why more people don't get this because we can find any stolen car in about five-10 minutes" His thinking was that once the unit was turned on, the police units would be able to pick it up. If your police did a decent job patrolling it was only a matter of time before one of them got a hit on their scanner.
That's still no guarantee that they will but then I think I remember being told that Lojack will pay your deductible if the car fails to be found, does that sound right? Sound the product is pretty sound in coverage.
Since mine cost $1000 and the saleswoman said that the LOJACK can notify you via phone or pager that your car was stolen, I'm guessing that I got the second version Revenent was speaking off.
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If you need more information, here's their FAQ:
http://www.lojack.com/lojack-faqs/index.cfm
And this is the "version" you got:
http://www.lojack.com/products-services/auto-security-system/early-warning-auto-loss-recovery.cfm
http://www.lojack.com/lojack-faqs/index.cfm
And this is the "version" you got:
http://www.lojack.com/products-services/auto-security-system/early-warning-auto-loss-recovery.cfm
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13,780 Posts
http://www.lojack.com/why/index.cfm
"LOJACK GUARANTEES RECOVERY!
With the purchase of a LoJack, you receive a two-year Limited Recovery Warranty. With this Recovery Warranty, if your vehicle is stolen and not recovered within 24 hours, LoJack will refund the purchase price of your LoJack system up to the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). Additional warranties that extend your coverage are available. Ask your dealer for details."
Additional warranties:
http://www.lojack.com/products-services/auto-security-system/index.cfm
"Extended Recovery Warranty (XRW)
Warranty that enhances your LoJack System or LoJack Early Warning Recovery System by extending your LoJack Limited Recovery Warranty for as long as you own your vehicle. Read more information, terms, conditions and exclusions (pdf) of this warranty."
"Guarantee Plus 5000 (GP 5000) (not available in New York)
An additional 5-year warranty that guarantees up to $2,500 for your reimbursable expenses if your vehicle is stolen and not recovered within 30 days from the date of theft or reported theft or is deemed a total loss due to theft. IN addition, you could receive up to $2,500 toward the purchase of a replacement vehicle from the dealer where you originally purchased the vehicle. Read more information, terms, conditions and exclusions (pdf) of this warranty."
"Protection Plus 5000 (PP 5000) (New York State Only)
An additional 5-year warranty so that if your vehicle is stolen and not recovered with 30 days from the time it's reported stolen or is recovered and deemed a total loss with 30 days you could receive:
Up to $2,500 to cover documented reimbursable expenses*
Up to $2,500 toward the purchase of a replacement vehicle at the dealership of original purchase
Read more information, terms, conditions and exclusions (pdf) of this warranty."
"LOJACK GUARANTEES RECOVERY!
With the purchase of a LoJack, you receive a two-year Limited Recovery Warranty. With this Recovery Warranty, if your vehicle is stolen and not recovered within 24 hours, LoJack will refund the purchase price of your LoJack system up to the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). Additional warranties that extend your coverage are available. Ask your dealer for details."
Additional warranties:
http://www.lojack.com/products-services/auto-security-system/index.cfm
"Extended Recovery Warranty (XRW)
Warranty that enhances your LoJack System or LoJack Early Warning Recovery System by extending your LoJack Limited Recovery Warranty for as long as you own your vehicle. Read more information, terms, conditions and exclusions (pdf) of this warranty."
"Guarantee Plus 5000 (GP 5000) (not available in New York)
An additional 5-year warranty that guarantees up to $2,500 for your reimbursable expenses if your vehicle is stolen and not recovered within 30 days from the date of theft or reported theft or is deemed a total loss due to theft. IN addition, you could receive up to $2,500 toward the purchase of a replacement vehicle from the dealer where you originally purchased the vehicle. Read more information, terms, conditions and exclusions (pdf) of this warranty."
"Protection Plus 5000 (PP 5000) (New York State Only)
An additional 5-year warranty so that if your vehicle is stolen and not recovered with 30 days from the time it's reported stolen or is recovered and deemed a total loss with 30 days you could receive:
Up to $2,500 to cover documented reimbursable expenses*
Up to $2,500 toward the purchase of a replacement vehicle at the dealership of original purchase
Read more information, terms, conditions and exclusions (pdf) of this warranty."
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10,086 Posts
A couple of things:
(1) You aren't guaranteed anything close to the full value of the car. As near as I can tell, the most you get toward a new car is $2500.
(The other $2500 is for "expenses.")
(2) That first part up there ("Recovery Warranty") says "if your vehicle is stolen and not recovered within 24 hours." But, within 24 hours of WHAT? When it was stolen, or when you notify them??? I really can't tell.
As per what I said in the earlier post, this might mean that if you park your car at the airport, then come back a few days later and find your car missing, it might not be traceable because you (probably) didn't even know about it until more than a day after it was stolen. And the main kinds of situations where I might have to worry about theft are such situations, where I park the car for a while.
Nevertheless I did feel Lojack was worth having. But this limitation does concern me.
(1) You aren't guaranteed anything close to the full value of the car. As near as I can tell, the most you get toward a new car is $2500.
(The other $2500 is for "expenses.")
(2) That first part up there ("Recovery Warranty") says "if your vehicle is stolen and not recovered within 24 hours." But, within 24 hours of WHAT? When it was stolen, or when you notify them??? I really can't tell.
As per what I said in the earlier post, this might mean that if you park your car at the airport, then come back a few days later and find your car missing, it might not be traceable because you (probably) didn't even know about it until more than a day after it was stolen. And the main kinds of situations where I might have to worry about theft are such situations, where I park the car for a while.
Nevertheless I did feel Lojack was worth having. But this limitation does concern me.
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Your concern is mitigated if you get the Early Warning system. Even if the car is moved, you're still notified.
On the other hand, if you're out of contact range (maybe you're in Europe, you don't have a worldwide cell plan, etc, etc), then I don't know if they assume the worst or not.
(Note that I have no affiliations with Lojack or any other equivalent services. I'm just a good human web information search bot.)
On the other hand, if you're out of contact range (maybe you're in Europe, you don't have a worldwide cell plan, etc, etc), then I don't know if they assume the worst or not.
(Note that I have no affiliations with Lojack or any other equivalent services. I'm just a good human web information search bot.
)
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Yes, but insurance will cost you in the end.
If Lojack covered the cost of the replacement vehicle (which is pretty hard, since it's hard to determine what a replacement vehicle should be), then it wouldn't impact your insurance premiums.
If Lojack covered the cost of the replacement vehicle (which is pretty hard, since it's hard to determine what a replacement vehicle should be), then it wouldn't impact your insurance premiums.
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