The Meta AUTOBLOK is a modern, no-tag, no-start engine immobiliser. This standalone immobiliser arms automatically after you switch off the ignition on your vehicle. To disarm the engine immobiliser, you will need your Meta Trak driver recognition ID tag. Depending on your selected configuration, you'll need to either be near the vehicle with the ID tag present (proximity) or you'll need to press the central button on the ID tag to disarm it (button press). Please see further explanations of these two configurations in the 'configuration options' drop-down. The Meta AUTOBLOK no-tag, no-start engine immobiliser is designed to combat many modern theft methods such as relay attacks, key cloning, and OBD attacks/CAN injections.

The Meta AUTOBLOK engine immobiliser has two configurable options, you need to select which is your preference at checkout as it will be preprogrammed with this before shipment.

Proximity –

The proximity configuration is the most popular option for customers because it offers a simple and user-friendly experience without requiring any interaction with the immobiliser for system arming and disarming. This configuration is completely passive, as the immobiliser operates automatically via the proximity of the ID tag.

Once the vehicle's ignition is switched off the Meta AUTOBLOK engine immobiliser will arm 50 seconds later provided the ID tag is out of range of the vehicle. The range needed between the vehicle and the ID tag for the immobiliser to arm is around 5-10 meters in open air but this is massively reduced once obstructions are present (such as the walls of a house etc). Generally, if your vehicle is parked in front of your house, placing your ID tag at the back of your house will be sufficient, placing the ID tag inside a Faraday pouch/box along with your vehicle’s key is also good practice and will also massively reduce the range required for the Meta AUTOBLOK immobiliser to arm.

To disarm the engine immobiliser the vehicle driver simply needs to have the ID tag on their person. The Meta AUTOBLOK engine immobiliser will pick up the ID on approach to the vehicle and disarm it automatically, the driver doesn’t need to interact with the system at all as the disarming procedure is completely passive.

Button Press -

While not as popular as the proximity configuration, the button press configuration does provide some benefits. Mainly, it's useful for customers who want manual control over the disarming of their engine immobiliser, as the ID tag’s central button physically needs to be pressed to disarm the engine immobiliser as opposed to the ID tag simply being in range with proximity disarming. Some see this as being more secure but at the cost of convenience. Either way, it's down to customer preference.

With the button press configuration, once the vehicle’s ignition is switched off the engine immobiliser will arm 50 seconds later, regardless of whether the ID tag is still in range or even if it's still within the vehicle.

To disarm the engine immobiliser the vehicle driver needs to press the central button on the ID tag. A flash from the ID tag's red LED will indicate the button has been pressed and once the immobiliser disarms the ID tag will supply feedback in the form of 6 rapid flashes of its LED. These rapid flashes confirm that the engine immobiliser has been disarmed.

The Meta AUTOBLOK engine immobiliser is supplied with two ID tags. These tags are used to disarm the engine immobiliser either by proximity or via button press. One ID tag is a spare and other is attached to your vehicle’s keys or carried on your person.

Meta Trak’s driver ID tags use Bluetooth Low Energy technology to communicate with the AUTBLOK engine immobiliser. The tag’s battery life is approximately 12-18 months before a replacement battery is needed.

The Meta AUTOBLOK engine immobiliser includes an emergency PIN override feature for situations where the ID tag may have been lost or its battery depleted.

The emergency PIN override function allows the driver to unblock the engine immobiliser without the ID tag. A dedicated emergency PIN override button is installed as part of the Meta AUTOBLOK's setup, positioned within the vehicle for easy access by the driver. The button also features an LED for visual immobiliser status indication.

To disarm the engine immobiliser using the emergency PIN override function, a unique 3-digit PIN must be entered via the button. Your unique PIN code will be provided to you after the product is installed. Simply refer to the Meta AUTOBLOK user guide for the disarming procedure.

Enhance Your Vehicle’s Security with the Meta AUTOBLOK.

An insurance recommended No Tag, No Start, ADR engine immobiliser.

In today's world, safeguarding your vehicle has never been more crucial. The Meta AUTOBLOK is your ultimate defence against the evolving landscape of digital car theft. With cutting-edge technology at its core, this advanced aftermarket ADR engine immobiliser offers unparalleled peace of mind by ensuring your car remains protected against sophisticated threats.

Unmatched Protection Against Theft

Automatic Engine Immobilisation

The Meta AUTOBLOK has two configuration options—proximity and Button Press—which effectively do the same job of protecting your vehicle against stolen theft methods and are really only used as user preferences.
Automatic (Proximity) immobilisation seamlessly activates when you walk away from your vehicle, thwarting theft methods such as relay attacks, key cloning, and CAN injection. The Meta AUTOBLOK protects when you leave the active proximity area (around 5-10m), ensuring your vehicle remains secure until your return. Learn more about the two configuration options in the ‘Meta AUTOBLOK Key Features section.

Key Stand-Out Features and Benefits

• Automatic Engine Immobilisation: Your engine immobiliser is armed and disarmed automatically via proximity of your Meta Trak ID tag. No input from you is needed to arm and disarm your immobiliser*. Aftermarket engine immobilisation protects against digital theft methods that exploit OEM (original equipment manufacturer) security flaws. * Proximity config.

• Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR): The system identifies you as the authorised driver using a small signal-transmitting ID tag and, in turn, deactivates the engine immobiliser. For your convenience, the Meta AUTOBLOK is supplied with two ID tags, one as a spare in case the other is lost.

• Emergency PIN Override: The Meta AUTOBLOK engine immobiliser is equipped with an emergency PIN override feature that comes in handy when the ID tag is lost or its battery is depleted. This feature lets the driver deactivate the engine immobiliser without the ID tag. A dedicated emergency PIN override button is integrated into the Meta AUTOBLOK system and is conveniently positioned within the vehicle for easy driver access. The button is designed with an LED to clearly indicate the immobiliser status. To deactivate the engine immobiliser using the emergency PIN override function, the driver must enter a unique 3-digit PIN via the override button. Upon installation, you will receive your unique PIN code. You can find detailed instructions for the disarming procedure in the Meta AUTOBLOK user guide.

Make a wise investment in the Meta AUTOBLOK immobiliser to ensure ultimate peace of mind. This modern engine immobiliser offers comprehensive protection and a significant advantage in vehicle security. Don't risk your vehicle's safety—opt for the Meta AUTOBLOK to protect against modern theft methods.

If you're in the market for a vehicle security system, why not opt for the Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK? It is an advanced all-in-one S5 tracker and immobiliser system designed to prevent theft. In addition to an automatically arming engine immobiliser, thanks to the inclusion of a tracker, the Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK can also perform remote immobilisation of your vehicle's engine from anywhere. It's also insurance-approved, so it could save you money on your premium.

Want to discover more about Meta Trak’s cutting-edge vehicle security hardware? Visit our dedicated Meta Trak page.

The Meta AUTOBLOK is a standalone No Tag, No Start immobiliser designed to counter various modern digital theft methods. Many vehicle insurers mandate the installation of a No Tag, No Start immobiliser to comply with their policy requirements, and the Meta AUTOBLOK immobiliser meets these criteria. The Meta AUTOBLOK arms itself automatically 50 seconds after the vehicle's ignition is switched off. To disarm the AUTOBLOK engine immobiliser, the driver needs to either bring the driver recognition ID tag back into range of the vehicle or press the central button on the tag, depending on the chosen configuration. The Meta AUTOBLOK also includes an emergency PIN override for situations where the ID tag may have been lost or its battery is depleted. The Meta AUTOBLOK immobiliser offers vehicle owners a cost-effective, high-quality product that can counter various modern digital theft methods such as relay attacks, key cloning, and OBD attack/CAN injections.

The Meta AUTOBLOK engine immobiliser is not a Thatcham-approved product. However, this does not impact the product's effectiveness in preventing vehicle theft or its overall quality. Thatcham simply does not have a specific category for this type of modern aftermarket ADR "No Tag, No Start" immobiliser.

Vehicle insurers often request this type of immobiliser as a low-cost solution to help their customers prevent vehicle theft. Not only does a standalone ADR immobiliser effectively deter vehicle theft, but customers also only need to pay a one-time cost for the hardware and installation. This means they do not have to pay ongoing annual subscription fees, which is often required for vehicle tracking services.

The Meta AUTOBLOK immobiliser carries a 3 year parts and labour warranty.

The Meta AUTOBLOK is what can be considered a conventional, albeit modern engine immobiliser. It is effectively placed in between a specific wire of the vehicle's electrical system and prevents power from flowing along this wire to its intended destination. Traditionally this would perhaps be a wire to do with the starter circuit, thus preventing power from getting to the starter motor, although these days things can be a little more complex when electrified/hybrid powertrains are involved. When the Meta AUTOBLOK is implemented onto this specific wire it prevents power flowing along the wire via an internal relay. The relay simply opens and closes the circuit to either prevent power flowing (engine immobilised) or to allow power to flow to its intended destination (engine can be started).

The Meta AUTOBLOK engine immobiliser controls the authorised starting or non-starting of the vehicle’s engine by use of a driver recognition ID tag. The vehicle driver uses the ID tag to disarm the immobiliser either by its proximity to the vehicle or by pressing the button on the tag depending on customer preference. To keep things simple we will explain the ‘proximity’ configuration for the Meta AUTOBLOK and how it's used to allow the authorised starting of the vehicle's engine.

Once the vehicle's ignition is switched off the Meta AUTOBLOK immobiliser arms 40 seconds later providing the ID tag is out of range of the vehicle (5-10m). At this point, the immobiliser is set to a state where if the engine is attempted to be started without the ID present it opens the circuit on that ‘specific’ wire and stops power flowing, therefore denying starting of the vehicle’s engine. In the same instance, if the authorised driver returns to the vehicle with the ID tag the immobiliser picks the tag up on approach and tells the immobiliser not to open the circuit when the engine is attempted to be started. Therefore, it allows power to flow through the AUTOBLOK immobiliser to its intended destination thus allowing the engine to start.

Put simply, when attempting to start the vehicle if the driver recognition tag is not present the engine will not start. In this scenario, the Meta AUTOBLOK will always open the circuit to stop the power flow from the ‘specific’ wire.

So how does the Meta AUTOBLOK (a conventional immobiliser) differ from digital CAN-BUS immobilisers?

Firstly CAN-BUS immobilisers do not use a *relay, they use software to immobilise the vehicle. A CAN-BUS immobiliser connects to the vehicle's Controller Area Network (CAN) bus and communicates with the vehicle ECU (engine control unit), it then intercepts electronic signals which control the engine startup routine.

There are 3 main ways a CAN-BUS immobiliser immobilises the vehicle –

1.       Starter Isolate – Doesn’t allow the vehicle to crank.

2.       Engine stall – The engine starts but stalls when the gear selector is moved from park.

3.       Gear Lock – The engine will start but the gearbox is locked in park, no other gears can be selected.

To disarm a CAN-BUS immobiliser a PIN needs to be inputted, the PIN will consist of a sequence of presses of interior buttons such as the ones on the vehicle's dash, steering wheel, door etc. The CAN-BUS immobiliser is armed automatically 3-30 seconds after the vehicle’s ignition is switched off.

*On some specific models of vehicle a CAN-BUS immobiliser doesn’t use software to immobilise your vehicle at all. In instances where problems with the 3 standard types of immobilisation, or issues with external factors (see pros and cons) it uses an external relay.

The immobilisation function is done via the external relay which is controlled by the CAN-BUS immobiliser checking whether the correct PIN sequence has been entered or not. If the PIN is not entered the CAN-BUS immobiliser operates the relay and opens the circuit. If the CAN-BUS immobiliser sees the PIN entered correctly it does nothing. As the external relay is configured to be normally closed, provided the correct PIN is entered the engine will start. As you can see in this set-up, bar the inputting of a PIN, the ‘CAN-BUS’ immobiliser operates just like a conventional engine immobiliser in that it physically opens a circuit rather than immobilising the vehicles directly via the CAN-BUS.

What are the Pros and Cons of CAN-BUS immobilisers?

Pros –

1.       Engine immobilisation after ignition off can be very fast.

2.       The engine cannot be started without the PIN code, so no risk of a thief gaining access to a tag (although driver recognition tags are available for most CAN-BUS immobilisers for customers who don’t like to enter a PIN)

3.       A small compact design makes for good covert installation possibilities.

Cons –

1.       Expensive, they cost roughly £200-300 more than conventional immobilisers while doing pretty much the same job.

2.       You need to enter the PIN code every time you want to drive the vehicle, depending on your selected PIN code length, this can turn into a tedious task for a daily driven vehicle.

3.       Due to the need to wait for the CAN-BUS immobiliser to be ready to accept your PIN code after you switch the vehicle ignition on, plus entering the pin and then waiting for it to indicate its acceptance, you can't just jump in a start your vehicle. You'll likely have between a 5-10-second delay every time you want to start your vehicle.

4.       Most CAN-BUS immobilisers have a signal point of failure, meaning if you know what you're doing you can disable it quite easily without needing to rewire anything on the immobiliser or vehicle side.

5.       They create a lot of CAN faults within the vehicle’s DTC (diagnostic trouble code) memory when scanned using diagnostic equipment. The sheer amount of CAN faults can be misleading for authorised service persons or dealership technicians when trying to diagnose a real vehicle fault.

6.       They can be easy to find. Due to the nature of the product, many CAN-BUS immobiliser installers follow the brand installation specifications. Unfortunately, this leads to generic installation positions of the CAN-BUS immobiliser for many vehicles, particularly vehicles that share platforms across many brands, coupled with a single point of failure, CAN-BUS immobilisers can be compromised quite quickly in some cases.

7.       Automotive manufacturers, Thatcham, and many Insurers steer clear of CAN-BUS immobilisers and do not recommend installing them to your vehicle due to their sometimes-temperamental nature. Issues with CAN-controlled onboard vehicle equipment have been a cause of frustration and concern amongst installers and customers alike.

8.       Claimed to be undetectable via diagnostic scanners but with the sheer amount of CAN faults and missing CAN messages in diagnostic reports it's not at all hard to tell when a vehicle has a CAN-BUS immobiliser installed.

9.       There's an unfortunate amount of misleading or irrelevant marketing for these types of products which can confuse the public and what security may best serve their needs.

10.  Vulnerable to external influences. Modern vehicles can receive software updates at any time via over-the-air communication or while in the dealership. If a particular piece of software or parameter is changed on the vehicle's OEM software, the CAN-BUS immobiliser can stop working. In these cases, an engineer will need to come back out and reprogram or update its software to work with the vehicle's newly updated OEM software. This is because the CAN-BUS immobiliser has no remote functionality so cannot receive over-the-air software/firmware updates. It’s a pain for installers and inconvenient for customers.

11.  Most CAN-BUS immobilisers are a stand-alone product only, they cannot be connected to a tracking device to add remote functionality such as remote immobilisation of the vehicle's engine or other features of interest.

As you can probably tell, we're not a big fan of CAN-BUS immobilisers and its why we don’t sell them in our online shop. To make it clear, we certainly wouldn’t tell customers not to have one installed, it's just we think there are better options out there more suited to the everyday customer and driver in terms of user-friendliness, experience, and of course, value. Hopefully, we can explain why below.

So why do we think modern conventional immobilisers are a better option for most customers? - Simplicity.

Quite frankly, CAN-BUS immobilisers aren’t needed, contrary to popular belief, any modern vehicle can be immobilised using a conventional immobiliser. Electric, Hybrid, Mild-Hybrid, - CAN-BUS immobilisers came about to immobilise these newer powertrain technologies. The reality is that conventional immobilisers can immobilise any vehicle and any powertrain without issue. Software issues, CAN faults, inconvenient user experience, and the added expense, can therefore be avoided. CAN-BUS immobilisers don’t offer any more in terms of security over a modern conventional immobiliser, they do the same thing, immobilise your engine if the required authorisation is not provided.

What are the Pros and Cons of a modern conventional No Tag, No Start engine immobiliser such as Meta AUTOBLOK?

Pros –

1.       Cost-effective. They are much cheaper to purchase than most CAN-BUS immobilisers.

2.       User-friendly. With the use of a driver recognition tag, the operation of the immobiliser couldn’t be easier, it can even be totally automatic and require no input from the vehicle driver to either arm or disarm the immobiliser. As opposed to constantly needing the enter a PIN code using your vehicle's interior buttons every time you want to start the vehicle, a conventional immobiliser offers a streamlined user experience.

3.       Minimal fault logging. When using a diagnostic scanning tool, CAN-BUS immobilisers can be seen to create a ton of CAN-BUS faults in the vehicle's DTC (diagnostic trouble code) memory. A conventional immobiliser will normally create just one fault in the DTC memory, this fault is not visible to the driver of the vehicle and will not persist on the vehicle dash/display.

4.       Tried and tested. Simple and effective immobilisation. Vehicle immobilisation doesn’t need to be complicated, and it doesn’t need to cost the earth. Reliable vehicle security and engine immobilisation can be achieved with a tried and tested, cost-effective and user-friendly modern No Tag, No Start immobiliser.

5.       Not influenced by vehicle manufacturer software updates. As the immobiliser doesn’t connect to the vehicle CAN-BUS, vehicle software updates won't affect the functioning of the product.

6.       Remote function. Most No Tag, No Start immobilisers can be connected to a tracking device to enable remote functionality such as remote engine immobilisation and other features of interest. If you are interested in this type of functionality it's recommended you select a ‘combined tracker and immobiliser’ system from our shop as opposed to opting for a stand-alone No Tag, No Start immobiliser.

7.       Simple emergency override. If you forget, lose, or the battery is depleted for your driver recognition tag an override feature is available to get your vehicle started and on your way in quick time.

Ok so there are lots of Pros to a modern conventional No Tag, No Start engine immobiliser but what might be the Cons?

Cons –

1.       Reliant on a battery-powered driver recognition tag. The system comes with 2 tags however it's recommended you keep a spare battery for your tag in your vehicle at all times if it becomes low or depleted. The battery life of the tags is usually around 12-18 months but can be slightly longer. Without a working tag, the immobiliser will remain armed but can be disarmed using the emergency PIN override function.

2.        Slower immobiliser arming after ignition off. After the vehicle ignition is switched off the Meta AUTOBLOK will arm 40 seconds later. While slower than most CAN-BUS immobilisers it's within the unofficial but accepted industry standard arming delay time. The delay considers the potential for engine stalls and driver behaviour such as when leaving and then returning to a vehicle quickly where arming the immobiliser in this short time could be inconvenient for the driver when needing to start the engine again.

3.       The driver recognition tags could be stolen and used to start the vehicle. Granted, with a CAN-BUS immobiliser without knowing the PIN sequence the vehicle cannot be started (in an opportunist case). Ultimately, just like keeping your vehicle key safe, it’s in the vehicle owner's best interest to also keep their driver recognition tags safe.

In summary, we recommend using a conventional, yet modern No Tag, No Start engine immobiliser over their CAN-BUS counterparts. We have come to this conclusion due to the numerous positive attributes associated with them, including their cost-effectiveness, ease of use, simple emergency override procedure, minimal fault logging, system expansion potential, resilience to OEM software updates, and long history of tried and tested applications.

Again, if you're looking to pair your No Tag, No Start engine immobiliser with a tracker to gain remote engine immobilisation functionality then please visit our ‘combined tracker and immobiliser’ page in our shop. Alternatively, if you are simply looking for a stand-alone engine immobiliser then you're already in the right place ‘engine immobilisers’ in our shop.

Officially, no.

But the Meta AUTOBLOK engine immobiliser is distributed and linked to the Meta Trak brand and product family.

For instance, the technical support, product distribution and service/warranty support is all handled my the same people behind the Meta Trak UK brand.

So while the Meta AUTOBLOK engine immobiliser essentially comes from the same brand (Meta Trak) its officially labelled as a Meta System product simply because it hasn't anything to do with telematics (tracking systems).

We aim to have your Meta AUTOBLOK immobiliser installed within 2-5 days after purchase.

It can take longer during busier periods of the year and of course all depends on our engineers availability.

Generally it takes around 1 - 2 hours to install the Meta AUTOBLOK depending on the vehicle.

Your installation engineer will provide you with an installation completion document. This document will include your emergency override PIN and the name and contact number of your installation service provider.

You can simply photograph or scan the document and send it to your insurer to confirm that the product has been installed.