Have you bought a new car and are you considering additional security? You may be put off by the fear of losing your warranty, the belief that a modern car is sufficiently protected straight from the factory, or the feeling that your vehicle is of no interest to thieves. Yet these very assumptions are among the most common misconceptions that make thieves‘ work easier.
In this article, we look at five myths about vehicle security. For each one, we explain what the reality is and show how Pandora systems respond to the situation.
Myth 1: Installing an alarm voids the warranty on a new car
The fear of losing the warranty puts many new car owners off additional security. Some worry that any intervention in the vehicle’s electronics will lead to problems with servicing or warranty claims. As a result, the new car remains protected only by its factory security.
How Pandora responds: Installing Pandora security systems has no effect on the vehicle warranty. All Pandora products meet safety and quality requirements and hold homologation under the European standard ECE 116, granted by the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic and valid throughout the European Union.
In addition, Pandora systems are developed, manufactured and tested in accordance with the IATF 16949 standards, which set strict quality requirements for the automotive industry, including original equipment manufacturing. Each system undergoes multiple quality checks before delivery to ensure its reliability and a high standard of workmanship.
Professional installation is handled by certified Pandora installation centers.
Myth 2: A new car has sufficient security straight from the factory
Modern cars are equipped with an immobilizer, an alarm and often a keyless system as well. The problem, however, is that the same model has the same security, located in the same place. Once thieves figure out how to defeat it, they can repeat the procedure again and again.
The situation in Slovakia shows that this is not just theory. In June 2026, police in Košice warned of several passenger car thefts within a few days, with the stolen vehicles including cars made by Toyota. Thieves often target specific models whose weaknesses they know well.
How Pandora responds: Pandora systems operate independently of the factory electronics. They have their own immobilizer, advanced communication encryption and a unique installation system. A thief therefore cannot rely on a universal procedure familiar from the factory security of a given model.
Myth 3: I have GPS in my car, so I will always find it
Factory GPS tracking is useful, but thieves know about it. Organized groups can disable it along with the other factory systems before they even drive away with the car. In August 2026, in connection with a series of Toyota RAV4 thefts, Czech police pointed out that it is precisely the lack of location information that has a major impact on the chances of tracing the vehicle. They also added that in the past, a vehicle was found thanks to the owner’s own tracking device that was not part of the factory equipment.
GPS also has its limits. In an underground garage or a covered parking lot, the signal can fail.
How Pandora responds: for example, Pandora ELITE uses not only GPS but also Wi-Fi technology for geolocation, so it can determine the vehicle’s position even in underground garages. The control unit has a built-in backup power source and the siren has its own backup power supply, so the system responds even when the car battery is disconnected.
Myth 4: My car is ordinary, thieves are not interested in it
Many drivers think that only luxury vehicles get stolen. The statistics, however, tell a different story. According to data from the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, police recorded 644 motor vehicle thefts in Slovakia in 2025, or almost two every day. According to data from the Register of Vehicle Operating Records (RPZV), the most frequently stolen brands have long included Škoda, one of the most widespread brands on Slovak roads.
Common models are attractive to thieves precisely because they are easy to sell, easy to strip for parts and do not attract attention. Thieves also frequently steal vans, which often carry expensive tools or goods.
How Pandora responds: quality security does not have to be reserved for premium cars. Pandora PRIMO protects the vehicle, for example, against the use of a jammer, a duplicate key or a remote control code grabber, against replacement of the engine control unit, or against an attempt to tow the car away. A wireless blocking module with hidden installation makes the car practically undrivable without the authorization tag.
Myth 5: An aftermarket alarm cannot be installed in the latest cars
New vehicles have increasingly complex electronics, and some owners therefore worry that additional security will not work with them. On top of that, the latest model ranges increasingly use the CAN FD bus, a faster communication protocol that, according to our article on CAN FD, reaches speeds of up to 8 Mbps compared with 1 Mbps for classic CAN.
In reality, however, Pandora security systems feature latest-generation technology, which means they can be used even in the most advanced premium vehicles. Connection to CAN data buses allows installation even in the most advanced vehicles, and Pandora SMART PRO v4, for example, works perfectly with their electronics.
How Pandora responds: for vehicles with CAN FD, there is a version of Pandora PRIMO with a CAN FD bus connection, as well as Pandora SMART, which fully supports the CAN FD protocol. As we reported when introducing Pandora PRIMO FD, the solution is designed, for example, for the Škoda Kodiaq 2, Škoda Superb 4, Škoda Octavia 4 FL 2024, VW Passat B9 and VW Tiguan 3 models. If you are not sure whether the system is compatible with your car, we will check it for you as part of a no-obligation price quote.
Myths about car security are a thief’s best ally. Installing a Pandora system will not affect your vehicle’s warranty, factory security and GPS can both be disabled, ordinary cars get stolen too, and Pandora systems can be installed even in the latest vehicles with a CAN FD bus.
