Why does my car alarm keep going off?
Find out why your car alarm may be driving you bonkers and how to improve your car’s safety.
Whether it’s the middle of the day or night, hearing your car alarm going off repeatedly can drive anyone bonkers.
Depending on how often you hear the alarm, you may teeter between panic and (if it’s the hundredth time) total lack of concern. But somewhere along that spectrum, you might spare a thought for your car insurance, especially if it’s more than a gust of wind or wayward playground ball that triggers your alarm.
How do I know if my car has an alarm?
The most reliable way is to check through your car’s owner manual. That may mean digging it out of the glove box, under a layer of questionable looking sweets and packets of tissues, but it’s worth having a scan through.
You could also look for a light on the dashboard, which flashes to show the alarm system is armed. Your key fob may have a button that indicates your car has an alarm system. Also, it’s likely that your mechanic could tell you during your next service.
Common causes of car alarms going off
Your car alarm may be triggered for a few common reasons (other than it being broken into).
Low battery voltage
If your car battery is running low, it may not send the right voltage to your alarm system and could end up setting it off. If you hop into your car ready for the morning commute, but the battery is dead after the alarm blared through the night, it’s probably the battery at fault.
Faulty sensors
From sensors that beep when you’re reversing towards a bump to ones that lock your car automatically as you set off on your adventure, there are many points for sensor’s failing. There are some sensors dedicated to noticing activities that could signal a break-in (like glass-break sensors) or someone trying to steal your car. But when they become faulty or too sensitive, that may lead to your alarm kicking off.
You may want to chat with your mechanic if you believe a sensor may be the underlying problem. They may be able to scan your car for loose electrical connections, wires that are going haywire, or sensitive sensors.
Faulty installation
It may be that you have an older car that had its alarm fitted (after leaving the factory) with an aftermarket alarm, which either a mechanic or the previous owner installed. And while you may give the previous owner kudos for their DIY efforts, it’s easy to make mistakes with these types of installations.
If the alarm isn’t installed properly, as per the manufacturer’s instructions, or one of its parts becomes faulty over time, it may be a problem for two reasons:
- it may lead to random bursts of activity, with your alarm going off as and when it wants (probably in the most inconvenient times, like when you’re showering or mid-video conference).
- it may affect your insurance. If the alarm system isn’t installed correctly, it may invalidate your car insurance. So, make sure to get it checked out by a professional and check your insurance policy.
Environmental factors
Whether it’s a strong gust of wind, hailstorm, or a rugby ball bouncing off the bonnet there are a range of different environmental situations that could set off your alarm. It could be that your alarm system is set to a higher sensitivity than you’d like, so it’s worth asking your mechanic whether it can be adjusted.
It’s worth checking that your car doors and windows are closed properly, too.
How to turn off a car alarm
This not only depends on your car (make, model, and year), but it also on the type of alarm system you have. But here are a few ideas, and make sure to have your owner’s manual to hand:
- Use the key – your car key may have a built-in remote, but if you use the key to manually unlock the driver’s side door, rather than the remote, it may reset your alarm.
- Check the dashboard – your car might have a button saying “off” on the dashboard. This may deactivate the alarm.
Improving the safety of your car
Whether to sleep more peacefully at night or to help you find a lower price on your car insurance, you may find benefits to reducing the chance of your car being stolen or vandalised.
Here are five tips you:
- Get a certified alarm – if you’re looking to install a car alarm system, make sure it has a Thatcham Security Certification and is installed by a qualified mechanic.
- Double check – before walking away from your car, always check your car is locked. This means, don’t only rely on your key fob. Pull the handles of your car and (if you have a dashboard light) check the LED security light is blinking. If you have one and it’s not blinking, this may indicate a problem with the sensor, so get it checked out by your mechanic. This also means taking care of your car keys and fob. Sometimes it’s wear and tear or the battery going, but it’s important to keep it working well.
- Hide it away – make sure to either take any valuables with you or hide them out of sight when you leave your car.
- Park safely – when parking your car, make sure to find a secure place.
- Explore anti-theft devices – in addition to your alarm system, you may want to check whether an anti-theft device may be appropriate to work alongside your car’s alarm system. This may look like:
- steering wheel and brake locks, which disable the steering wheel and pedals.
- faraday bags, or a pouch that holds keyless technology that blocks thieves from accessing your car remotely.
- GPS tracking, so if your car is stolen, it may help you find where it’s located.
- dashcams are cameras held on your dashboard that get footage of what’s happening inside your car.
You may also want to have an immobiliser in your car, as part of its security features, so make sure to understand how it works with the alarm system and your car insurance. Check out our article on whether installing a car immobiliser affects your car insurance, if you’d like to explore the topic more.
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