Hollard Approved Trackers: The Devices That Qualify
Hollard's Claims Management Directive on tracking devices is one of the more thoroughly documented insurer positions in the SA market. The directive sets out what counts as an approved tracker, and brokers translate the directive into the schedule wording on each policy.
This guide unpacks that practical reality - what Hollard approves, where the schedule is silent, how early-warning systems fit, and how to confirm compliance via the broker channel.
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Get my quotesHollard's published tracking device directive
Hollard publishes a Claims Management Directive on Tracking Devices, distributed through its broker network. The directive sets out the device categories Hollard recognises and the standards each must meet.
Where ambiguity exists on a particular schedule, the directive is the working reference. Brokers operate against it as a matter of routine.
Approved means a device category, not a brand
Approved on a Hollard schedule means the device meets the category named in the directive: professionally installed, monitored stolen-vehicle-recovery, served by a 24-hour operations room.
Category names cover early-warning systems, radio-fallback units and full SVR packages. The directive maps each category to recognised standards.
The broker channel and the verification step
Hollard clients deal with the insurer through their broker, who handles the device-against-directive verification. The directive, the schedule and the certificate all sit in the broker's file.
Direct queries to Hollard typically route back through the broker for resolution. The relationship is structured around that channel.
Tracking-device categories and the schedule
The schedule names the category required against the vehicle. On most personal-lines cars the category is a monitored recovery unit; on high-risk vehicles, the category steps up.
Read the schedule for the category. The broker translates the category into a device-against-directive match.
Early warning systems and the directive
An early-warning tracking system alerts the operations room before a theft is complete - a tow without ignition, an unauthorised movement, a tampering event. Hollard's directive recognises early-warning units as a higher category on certain vehicles.
Where the schedule names early-warning, a standard SVR-only unit may not satisfy the condition. The broker confirms the match.
Recognised SA recovery providers
Units from the major South African recovery brands - Cartrack, Netstar, Tracker, Beame, Matrix - feature in Hollard's directive with their relevant product tiers. Practical compliance on most cars is achieved through one of these names.
Smaller providers may also feature where their devices meet the category standards. The directive is wider than the headline brands but tighter than a free-for-all.
Hollard Car Lite and tracker positioning
Hollard Car Lite is a more flexible cover product positioned at price-conscious motorists. Its schedule treatment of tracker conditions follows the same directive but the practical thresholds may differ on lower-value vehicles.
Read the Car Lite schedule for the specific position on tracker requirements. The directive remains the working reference.
Cellular-only versus radio-fallback expectations
Hollard's higher device categories assume radio-frequency fallback rather than cellular-only coverage. The reason is the documented vulnerability of cellular-only units to active jamming during a theft.
On lower-risk vehicles, cellular-only units sometimes satisfy the schedule. The category named on the wording is the deciding factor.
Subscription continuity: the silent condition
An approved unit with a lapsed subscription is approved in name only - the recovery service is not contractually active and the operations room will not respond to a theft signal.
Diarise the renewal and align it with the policy month where possible. One missed debit order is enough to reset the compliance position.
Switching trackers while insured with Hollard
Replacing one approved unit with another is allowed and routine, provided continuity is maintained and the broker has the new certificate. The insurer cares about the directive's category being met, not about brand loyalty.
Time the swap so the new unit reports before the old one goes offline, then notify the broker with the new certificate.
Used cars, inherited units and revalidation
Used cars on Hollard policies often carry units from the previous owner. The unit is silent until the subscription transfers, and the broker requires a fresh certificate in the new name to register compliance.
Health-check, transfer, certificate, broker update. Four steps that close a sometimes-month-long compliance gap.
Reading a Hollard schedule with the broker
Open the schedule and search for tracking device, security requirement or anti-theft language attached to your vehicle. The directive category will be named alongside.
Where the wording is unclear, the broker resolves with reference to the directive. The schedule is what a future claim is tested against.
Vehicle access benefit and the tracker context
Hollard's vehicle access benefit covers the costs of regaining access to a vehicle in certain circumstances. It is a separate benefit and does not substitute for a tracker condition where one applies on the schedule.
Read both clauses where present. They serve different purposes on the same policy.
Bottom line on Hollard approved trackers
Hollard approves devices against its Claims Management Directive on Tracking Devices, with brokers handling the verification. The directive's categories cover SVR units, radio-fallback and early-warning systems.
Read the schedule with the broker, match the device to the category, file the certificate, and the system runs as designed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Hollard Claims Management Directive on tracking devices?
A document Hollard distributes through its broker network setting out the tracking device categories and standards the insurer recognises. The directive is the working reference for device-against-schedule matching.
Which tracking device is the best in South Africa for Hollard cover?
The major SA recovery providers - Cartrack, Netstar, Tracker, Beame, Matrix - all feature in Hollard's directive. The best choice depends on the device category named on your schedule and the recovery footprint in your area.
Is tracker care an early warning system?
Tracker Care and early-warning systems are different categories - early-warning alerts the operations room before a theft completes, while care-tier subscriptions vary by provider. Confirm against Hollard's directive category named on your schedule.
Does Hollard insurance still exist in South Africa?
Yes - Hollard is a long-established South African insurance company operating across personal and commercial lines, distributed primarily through brokers.
What is an early warning tracking device?
An early-warning tracker alerts the recovery operations room before a theft is complete - a tow without ignition, an unauthorised movement, a tampering event. Hollard's directive names early-warning as a higher category on certain vehicles.
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