Quick answer: a Ghost 2 immobiliser fitted at your home or workplace costs from £449 with Royale Car Keys. That price covers the Autowatch unit, the mobile installation, and the setup of your PIN sequence, with a 5-year warranty on the unit. Fitting takes 1–2 hours and there is no subscription afterwards. The exact price depends on your car — some newer BMW, Mercedes and Audi models need the newer Ghost 3 — so the fastest way to get a real number is a 30-second call to 07777 676261 with your registration. Below is an honest breakdown of what you pay, what changes the price, and whether it is worth it for your car.
Ghost Immobiliser Cost at a Glance
- Ghost 2 immobiliser, fitted at your location: from £449 — includes the unit, installation hidden in the loom, PIN setup and a demonstration
- Ghost 3 (for newer cars with CAN-FD): priced per vehicle — same protection, newer hardware; needed on some BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi models from recent years. Tell us the model and year and we quote before we set off
- GPS tracker as an add-on: from £150 — for recovery if the car is ever taken another way
- Ongoing cost: £0 — no subscription, no app fee, no annual check
The price is confirmed before we set off, and you pay after the job is done. For comparison, Autowatch's own recommended retail price for a Ghost 2 unit alone is £499 including VAT, and most installers in London and the South East advertise £449–£499 fitted. We are at the lower end because we come to you: there is no workshop to pay for.
What the £449 Includes
- The Autowatch Ghost 2 unit itself
- Mobile fitting at your home or workplace — London, Kent, Essex, Surrey and Sussex
- The module hidden inside the vehicle's wiring, with no visible parts, LEDs or cut wires for a thief to find
- Your personal PIN sequence set up on buttons the car already has (steering wheel, doors or centre console)
- Service mode and your emergency code explained, and a test start before we leave
- 5-year warranty on the Ghost unit
What Makes the Price Go Up or Down
Your car's network. This is the big one in 2026. The Ghost 2 works on standard CAN-bus vehicles, which is most cars on the road. Some newer models — Autowatch names recent BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi among others — use a faster network called CAN-FD, and on those only the Ghost 3 will work. Tell us the make, model and year and we will tell you which unit you need before we quote.
App or key tag authorisation. Both Ghost units can be set up so a paired phone or a small tag disarms the immobiliser without entering the sequence. It is convenient, but Autowatch itself warns it lowers security: a thief with your keys and the tag, or a phone left in range, can drive the car. We fit the standard PIN setup unless you ask for the app, and we will tell you honestly what you give up.
Where it is fitted. A workshop installation often adds the cost of getting the car there and back, or a day without it. Mobile fitting at your driveway or office avoids that, and it is how we work every day.
Extras. An immobiliser stops the car being driven away. If you also want to find it if it is taken on a lorry, a GPS tracker from £150 does that. Most customers choose one or the other; owners of frequently targeted cars often choose both.
Who installs it. A Ghost is only as good as its installation. Autowatch units are sold through trained, approved installers, and a badly hidden or badly wired unit can be found and removed in minutes, or cause faults on the dashboard. Ask any installer whether they are Autowatch-approved and TASSA-registered before you pay.
Ghost 2 or Ghost 3 — Which One Does Your Car Need?
Autowatch has stopped producing the Ghost 2 and now makes the Ghost 3, which supports both standard CAN and the newer CAN-FD networks. That does not mean a Ghost 2 is out of date: Autowatch says an installed Ghost 2 does not need upgrading, and on a standard CAN-bus car it gives exactly the same protection. We keep both units in stock: the Ghost 2 for standard CAN cars, the Ghost 3 for cars that run CAN-FD.
The simple rule: if your car is a few years old, it is almost certainly standard CAN and the Ghost 2 is the right choice. If it is a recent BMW, Mercedes or Audi, or any car from the last couple of years, ask us to check — if it runs CAN-FD, we fit the Ghost 3. Either way the PIN sequence, service mode and emergency code work the same.
Is a Ghost Immobiliser Worth the Money?
Think about how modern cars are stolen. A relay attack picks up your key's signal through the front door and the car unlocks and starts as if the key were inside. A cloning attack programs a new key through the diagnostic port in a minute or two. Neither needs your keys. Both are defeated by a Ghost, because the engine will not start until the PIN sequence is entered, and the sequence exists only in your head. There is no fob to steal, no signal to relay, and the unit does not broadcast anything a scanner can detect.
Against that, £449 is in the same range as a typical insurance excess, and far less than the rise in premiums after a theft claim. The Ghost 2 is TASSA verified, and Autowatch notes that many insurers look favourably on TASSA-verified and Thatcham-recognised devices, with some offering reduced premiums. Check with your insurer before and after fitting — some ask for the installation certificate.
The cars we are asked about most are the ones thieves go for most: Range Rover and Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Ford, and vans — Ford Transit and Transit Custom above all. If you drive one of these and park on the street or a driveway, a Ghost is the cheapest serious protection you can buy.
Mobile Installer vs Workshop vs Dealer
Mobile installer (us): from £449, fitted at your location in 1–2 hours, no day without the car. You watch the car the whole time and nobody else learns your sequence.
Security workshop: typically £499 fitted — the most common advertised price — plus getting the car there and back. Fine if you are nearby and can spare the time.
Main dealer: main dealers do not usually offer a Ghost. Their own security packs tend to be alarms or trackers, which do nothing against a cloned key.
What Happens When You Book
- Call or WhatsApp with your make, model and year. We confirm whether your car needs the Ghost 2 or Ghost 3 and give you a fixed price.
- We come to you. At your home or workplace, the unit is wired into the car's network and hidden in the loom. 1–2 hours, no visible changes.
- You set your PIN. We show you how to enter it, how to change it, how service mode works for the garage or valet, and what to do with your emergency code if you ever forget the sequence. Then a test start, and you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Ghost immobiliser cost in the UK?
Fitted prices from approved mobile installers are typically £449–£499 for a Ghost 2 in 2026. Royale Car Keys fits the Ghost 2 from £449 at your home or workplace, including the unit, installation and setup. Newer cars that need the Ghost 3 are priced per vehicle — send us the model and year for a fixed quote.
Is there a subscription or monthly fee?
No. You pay once for the unit and the fitting. There is no app fee, no annual check and no renewal.
How long does the installation take?
Usually 1–2 hours at your location. You do not need to leave the car anywhere.
What if I forget my PIN sequence?
Every Ghost comes with a randomly generated emergency code. Entering it disarms the immobiliser and lets you set a new sequence. We give you the code at installation; keep it somewhere safe, not in the car.
Can the garage or a valet still drive my car?
Yes. Service mode suspends the PIN requirement so someone can drive the car without knowing your sequence. By default it switches itself off after 15 minutes of continuous driving, and the Ghost re-arms when the ignition is turned off.
Does it work on vans?
Yes. Ford Transit and Transit Custom, Mercedes Sprinter and Vito, Vauxhall Vivaro and most other vans are supported. Vans are stolen for the tools as much as the vehicle: a Ghost stops the "drive-away" theft, and we also fit external lock shields that stop the door being peeled or drilled. Many van owners have both.
Will a Ghost affect my car's warranty?
A correctly installed Ghost does not cut factory wiring or change how the car runs; it talks to the car's own network. If your car is under a manufacturer warranty, tell the dealer it is fitted and keep your installation certificate.
Is the Ghost 2 still available?
Yes. Autowatch has moved production to the Ghost 3, but Ghost 2 units are still available, still supported, and we have them in stock for standard CAN-bus cars. For cars with a CAN-FD network we fit the Ghost 3.
Get a Real Price in 30 Seconds
Tell us your make, model and year and we will say which Ghost your car needs and what it costs — fixed, before we set off. Call 07777 676261, WhatsApp us, or book online. We fit across London, Kent, Essex, Surrey and Sussex, at your home or workplace.