Autowatch Ghost III: what has changed from the Ghost II

The Ghost has been the immobiliser we fit most, and the questions about the new one have started arriving. The short version: if you liked the idea of a Ghost II, the Ghost III is the same idea, and it now reaches cars the old one could not.

What stays exactly the same

Living with it is unchanged. You turn the ignition on and enter your own sequence using buttons that are already in the cabin — steering wheel controls, the indicator stalk, the window switches. Until it is entered, the engine will not start for anybody, whoever is holding a key.

• No key fob and no flashing LED, so there is nothing on the car to find and nothing broadcast to intercept
• Stops relay attack, key cloning and plugging a programmer into the OBD port
• Service mode for garage visits, and an emergency back-up code in case you forget the sequence
• Optional phone app or key-tag on eligible vehicles, if you would rather the car recognised you
• No subscription — you pay once and it is yours

What is new in the Ghost III

It supports CAN-FD

This is the change that matters. Cars pass messages between their modules over a data network called CAN. Many of the newest models — broadly, cars built from 2024 onwards — have moved some of that traffic onto CAN-FD, a faster version the Ghost II was never built to talk to. The Ghost III speaks both, so the latest cars that were out of reach for the Ghost II can now have one fitted.

A new processor

Underneath, it runs on an all-new, faster processor with a lower power draw. You will not notice that from the driver's seat, but it is what lets it keep up with a faster network, and a lower standing draw is kinder to the battery on a car that is not driven every day.

Which cars need it?

Every Ghost we fit is now a Ghost III, so the question is really whether your car is supported. Coverage depends on the exact model and year rather than the badge, and some of the newest platforms are still being added. Send us the registration and we will check it against Autowatch's compatibility list before you book anything.

Is the Ghost III Thatcham approved?

No. Thatcham does certify immobilisers — Category 2, and Category 2e for the enhanced ones since June 2026 — but the Ghost III is not Thatcham certified, and neither was the Ghost II. Among the systems we fit, the Pandora Microbot is the one that holds a Thatcham certificate.

Whether an insurer accepts a particular immobiliser is up to that insurer, and the wording varies. If yours has asked for a specific type of security, send us their exact wording and we will tell you in writing whether the Ghost III meets it — before you book, not after.

I already have a Ghost II. Should I upgrade?

No need. A working Ghost II carries on protecting the car exactly as it did the day it was fitted. The Ghost III matters for cars being fitted now, and especially for newer cars that need CAN-FD support. If you change your car, that is the time to talk about it.

What it costs

We fit the Autowatch Ghost III for £499 including installation — the same price as the Ghost II — at your home or workplace anywhere around Milton Keynes, with no call-out fee and no subscription. It takes two to three hours on your driveway, and we set your sequence with you and show you service mode before we leave.