Auto-Theft > Immobilizers
Equipment and Distribution
Manitoba Public Insurance partners with two immobilizer distributors, CAA Manitoba and Absolute AutoGuard, to ensure a reliable supply of units at a substantially reduced price and a high standard of installation quality. CAA Manitoba supplies MasterGard M6000 immobilizers and Absolute AutoGuard supplies Autowatch 573PPi immobilizers to a network of installation facilities, who sell and install the units for a guaranteed price.
The Canadian Standard for Automobile Theft Deterrent Equipment and Systems
The Canadian Standard for Automobile Theft Deterrent Equipment and Systems (ULC-S338) is the benchmark for minimum performance requirements for aftermarket immobilizers. Any aftermarket immobilizer manufacturer can apply to be tested against this standard, and any facility can apply to have staff trained and certified to install approved immobilizers.
The Canadian Standard was developed by the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s (IBC) in consultation with consumers, law enforcement, vehicle manufacturers and aftermarket security system suppliers and insurers under the supervision of the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).
In aftermarket systems, the Canadian Standard demands that the immobilizer cut three vital circuits in the vehicle: the starter, the ignition and, if possible, the fuel-supply to disable the vehicle (if the vehicle has a manual fuel pump another location meeting the requirements is chosen by the installer).
IBC has been monitoring the performance of immobilizers that meet the Canadian Standard for eight years, and reports that no vehicle in Canada has ever been stolen due to the defeat of one of these immobilizers when properly installed.
Other products may claim to be effective but the manufacturers have not submitted these immobilizers to national testing by the Underwriters Laboratory. This is the only way to ensure products meet the Canadian national standard. Any manufacturer can submit their product for testing and be recognized by the IBC.
