How Do You Know If Your Car Has A LoJack System?

If you're a car owner, I'll bet you've never even considered whether your car had a LoJack system installed. That's because it's not something that would occur to most people. After all, who would ever think they needed such a thing? 

But there’s a need and demand for such systems. So, if you’ve ever wondered if you’ve got one in your car, the article will provide all the information you may need about that.

What Is A LoJack System?

LoJack is a GPS-based vehicle location tracking device activated through Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and other descriptive information and then registered with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. The system is turned on by the police after a theft report has been issued and entered into the database. It then sends signals to police vehicles with tracking equipment, alerting any automobile within a 3-5 mile radius. 

The device is quite effective because the signal is strong enough to penetrate underground parking garages, dense foliage, and shipping containers. The manufacturer’s website even claims that stolen vehicles with LoJack have a 90% recovery rate compared to 12% without it.

Where Can The System Be Installed?

If you never knew that such a system existed or just never looked through your vehicle thoroughly, you might not even know it was already installed. If you want to check, there’re a couple of places where it could be:

• Under the passenger seat. You can check this by sliding back the seat and looking behind it. If you don't see anything unusual, search other areas of your car as described below.
• Under the hood. If there's enough room in front of your engine block, an additional compartment may house the system.
• Inside the trunk or hatchback area. Many vehicles house the tracker in their trunk or hatchback area. Just look around and try to see if it’s there.

Other Ways To Check Your Car Has The System

If you couldn’t locate the device by checking the places mentioned above, there’re a couple of other things you could do. These include:

• Look at the registration. Search for a small yellow sticker that says "LJK'' or "LoJack" in black letters on the registration that should be visible when you open your glove compartment. You can also look for it on a label next to the VIN on your car's door jamb, usually covered by a removable plastic cover.
• Ask the manufacturer. If you're trying to figure out if your car has LoJack, the best thing to do is call your manufacturer and ask. Call the customer service line or their main office number. It will help you better understand what tracking or security system comes as a standard feature in your car. Often such systems are bundled in a single package called "smart key".
• Ask your mechanic. If none of the above methods work, try asking your mechanic in person when you’re in for service. They would easily be able to spot the system during a routine check-up and let you know.

How Much Does The System Cost?

If none of the methods mentioned help, and you fail to locate the system, it simply means it wasn’t installed in the first place. If you want to rectify that, you can just simply buy it. The price, however, will depend on the type and model of your car, as all devices are custom-tailored for every kind of automobile.

But let’s turn to a couple of examples. If you have a classic car, setting up the system will set you back by $700-$725, while newer models may be in the $720 range. However, if you’re looking for total protection, the price will be around $1,200 as a one-time fee. The package would include the silent transmitter installed in your car, a warning signal to tell you if it was moved, and an extended warranty for five more years in addition to the two in the standard package. 

However, there may be additional costs involved. For example, the $45 fee you pay for renewal in some cases or any kind of extended warranty. 

Summary

The bottom line is that a LoJack system can be easily located if installed. Just use the methods provided, and they should help. But if your car has no such protection in place, visit the LoJack website and pick a package that will be most convenient. After all, you never know when trouble might arrive, and it’s a good idea to prepare. 

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