AVS Car Security New Zealand

Standard siren

A standard siren is powered from the car alarm and does not have its own battery. The AVS 3010 car alarm has this type of siren.

Battery back-up siren

A battery back-up siren has its own back-up battery and charging system so it will continue to sound even if power is cut to it from the car (such as a thief trying to stop the noise by cutting the wires). The battery is automatically charged off your car’s electrical system. Some older AVS car alarm models had this type of siren.

Data battery back-up siren

A data battery back-up siren has its own back-up battery and charging system so it will continue to sound even if power is cut to it from the car (such as a thief trying to stop the noise by cutting the wires). The battery is automatically charged off your car’s electrical system. It also uses a data link between the car alarm module and siren rather than a simple trigger wire. This makes it much more difficult for a thief to bypass the siren. The Five Star AVS S5 car alarm, Four Star AVS S4 car alarm, and the Four Star AVS A4 car alarm all come with this type of siren.

Screamer siren

The AVS screamer (or piezo) siren is an extremely high-pitched, piercing siren that is installed in the cabin of the vehicle. It sounds only when your AVS car alarm is triggered helping to protect the interior of your car. Check out the You Tube video on our accessories page for a demonstration.

A full car alarm system will include a siren which will sound if the car alarm is triggered (such as a door, bonnet or boot being opened) and may also include sensors (such as a shock or glass break sensor).

All AVS car alarms also include a minimum of two immobilisers and the AVS S-Series (AVS S5, AVS S4, AVS S3) car security systems have three immobilisers.

Central locking is where your AVS car alarm is hooked up to the car’s central locking system so the doors will lock/un-lock via the AVS remote when the car alarm is armed/disarmed. All AVS car alarms work in this way.

Most late model cars already have a central locking system (all the doors lock and un-lock when the key is turned in the drivers door) although some cars may need extra door motor/s to power the driver’s door.

If your car does not have any central locking system door motors can be fitted to each door where central locking is needed. Each door motor fitted is an additional charge.

The AVS S-Series car alarms (Five Star AVS S5, Four Star AVS S4, Three Star AVS S3) and the Four Star AVS A4 car alarm can also be operated from your car’s factory remote so the alarm will arm/disarm when you push the lock/unlock button.

Door, bonnet, boot protection means that the AVS car alarm will be triggered, and the siren will sound, if a door, bonnet or boot is opened while the car alarm is armed. This is a standard feature on all AVS car alarms.

Some cars need after-market switches fitted for this feature to work but your AVS installer will advise if they are required.

Factory upgrade or MAP car alarms are designed for car’s with an existing central locking system. The car alarm is operated from the car’s factory remote so the car alarm will arm/disarm when the lock/unlock button is pushed.

All Star Rated AVS car alarms (Five Star AVS S5, Four Star AVS S4, Three Star AVS S3, and Four Star AVS A4) can be operated from the car’s factory remote instead of the AVS remotes. If there is a boot release button the AVS car alarm will also disarm before opening the boot. This will need to be set up at installation so ask your AVS installer if you want to use your car’s remote to operate the car alarm.

The benefit of choosing an AVS car alarm over a basic MAP or factory upgrade alarm is you get the convenience of factory key control with all the advantages of a full car alarm system. This includes either two or three immobilisers plus data battery back-up sirens, turbo timer features and a range of sensors and accessories. Plus there is the added benefit of the Star Rating for your insurance company.

What an immobiliser does

An immobiliser cuts power to one of the circuits (fuel, ignition, crank) in the car so the car cannot be started unless the car security system is disarmed via the remote.

All AVS car alarms include a minimum of two immobilisers and the AVS S-Series (AVS S5, AVS S4, AVS S3) car security systems have three immobilisers.

Automatic immobilisation

Automatic immobilisers will immobilise the vehicle approximately 40 seconds after the ignition is turned off even if the car security system is not armed. You can still open and shut the doors and get in and out of the vehicle but the car cannot be started unless the car security system is disarmed via the remote.

Automatic immobilisation is an important part of the New Zealand Star Rating/insurance requirements as it helps protect your vehicle from opportunist theft during every day activities like filling the car with petrol.

All AVS car alarms except the AVS 3010 have automatic immobilisers (the AVS 3010 immobilisers are only active when the car alarm is armed).

Immobiliser only versus car alarm

All AVS car alarms include a minimum of two immobilisers and the AVS S-Series (AVS S5, AVS S4, AVS S3) car security systems have three immobilisers. A full car alarm will include a siren which will sound if the car alarm is triggered (such as a door, bonnet or boot being opened) and may also include sensors.

An immobiliser system only does not include any siren or sensors. The AVS S3 is a Three Star immobilliser system only that can be operated with your own car’s factory key or the AVS remotes. It can be upgraded later to a full alarm system.

The PIN code override is a secure code (usually entered through the ignition) that allows you to disarm your car alarm if your remotes are lost or broken. This is a standard feature on most car alarm systems today and replaces the old style override switch.

A PIN code override system for emergency disarm is part of the New Zealand Star Rating/insurance requirements for Star Rated car alarms.

All AVS car alarms have a PIN code override system for emergency disarm. If you have an AVS car alarm but do not know what your PIN code override procedure is please check your owner’s manual. It is always a good idea to practice emergency disarm so you will know what to do if your remotes are lost or broken.

Each time the arming/disarming button is pushed on a car alarm remote the remote sends out a code. The car alarm the remote is coded into will respond when it recognises the correct code and arm/disarm.

Rolling code means the code the remote sends out changes every time the button is pushed. This prevents the code from being picked up by an electronic ‘code grabber’ and used at a later date to disarm the car alarm. All AVS car alarm remotes are rolling code.

What is the Star Rating System?

Since October 2003 car alarms in New Zealand have been classified by the Star Rating system (5 Star, 4 Star, 3 Star, 2 Star, 1 Star). Car alarms from registered brands such as AVS are given a Star Rating based on the features of the car security system and its certification.

What is certification?

Star Rating looks at the certification of each car security system. Certified systems have been independently laboratory tested and graded according to either the New Zealand/Australian (AS/NZS) certification or Thatcham (British) certification. Because AVS is a New Zealand brand our products are certified under the AS/NZS standard.

Briefly the Star Rating of a system includes:

1. One Star – the same features as a Three Star car immobiliser but not certified
2. Two Star – the same features as a Five Star car alarm but not certified
3. Three Star – car immobiliser only certified to AS/NZS 4601.1999 Rev A
4. Four Star – car alarm certified to AS/NZS 3749.1.2003 Class B or Three Star immobiliser with siren
5. Five Star – car alarm certified to AS/NZS 3749.1.2003 Class A

What are the benefits of choosing a Star Rated car alarm?

Star Rated car alarms and immobilisers have been assessed by the New Zealand Security Association and are insurance approved (when installed by a registered installer - see below). Furthermore if you are purchasing a 5 Star or 4 Star car alarm or a 3 Star car immobiliser system you know it has been independently laboratory tested to ensure it has certain security features and meets certain manufacturing standards. This means both you and your insurance company know your car security system is recognized by the insurance body in New Zealand.

What Star Rating do I need?

Your insurance company will tell you if a Star Rated car security system is required and what Star Rating you need. They take in to account the type of car you drive as well as your own insurance history. Please be aware for the Star Rating of a product to be valid you will need to choose a registered installer (see below).

We recommend using a registered alarm installer

For the Star Rating of a car security system to be valid once installed it must be installed by an installer that is registered with the New Zealand Security Association (NZSA) and according to the professional installation AS/NZS Standards (3749.2 1997) for full compliance.

The NZSA website has a list of registered installers which can be accessed from our links page. NZSA registered installers have photographic ‘ID’ cards and NZSA certificates. We recommend that you ask to see these prior to having your car alarm fitted. At the completion of the work, they will issue you an ‘installation certificate’, which you can then show to your insurance company.

Always check with your insurance company

If you are looking at buying a car talk to your insurance company first. Because each insurance company may classify a vehicle differently check that you can get insurance for the vehicle, what Star Rating you need (if any) or if the car alarm currently installed in the car meets your insurance company requirements.

Where to go for further information

If you would like further information on the Star Rating system and a list of NZSA registered installers check out the New Zealand Security Association website which can be accessed from our links page.