VanGuardian FAQs

• Alarm unit: gives an audible low-battery alert when you try to arm it, repeating for about 7 days.
• Remote fob: the blue LED on the arm button dims, and range drops noticeably

Each electronics compartment takes 3 AAA batteries, and the swap takes under 5 minutes. Instructions are in the printed booklet, or in the “How To” video at vanguardian.co.uk. Batteries are lead- and mercury-free — recycle them at a local collection point rather than general waste.

6 to 8 months on standby, or 3 to 5 months with daily use. Actual life varies with temperature and battery brand.

• Alarm unit: 6 x AAA alkaline batteries (3 per electronics compartment), pre-installed.
• Remote fob: 1 x P27 battery (a smaller AAA-type battery)

A standard alarm only activates once a door is opened — by which point damage is already done. VanGuardian activates on first contact with the vehicle, before a lock is forced or a panel is peeled. Combined with a visible external deterrent, this removes a thief’s main advantage: the ability to work on your van unnoticed. Stopping that first-contact intrusion also protects what — and who — is inside the van, not just the bodywork.

VanGuardian is a self-fit zonal alarm system that detects contact with a specific zone of your van, motorhome, or motorbike — such as a door, roof rack, or bike rack — using a tri-axial accelerometer. It’s tuned to ignore wind sway and rocking, so it only triggers on genuine contact.

• • Sensor: tri-axial accelerometer, zone-specific detection
  • Sensitivity: 7 adjustable levels
  • Built-in filtering for wind and vehicle rocking

VanGuardian ships set to its most sensitive level. It has 7 sensitivity settings you can adjust yourself to suit your vehicle, location, and conditions. Heavy rain and roadside HGV traffic are the two most common reasons owners lower the sensitivity. Adjustment instructions are in the box, or in the video library at vanguardian.co.uk.

No — it’s not a replacement for a wired alarm. It closes a specific gap that wired, factory-fitted alarms leave: they only trigger after a door opens. VanGuardian triggers on first contact, which means it also covers areas a wired alarm never monitors:

• Bike racks — a common gap for a motorhome alarm to miss
• Roof racks and pipe carriers — areas a standard trade van alarm can’t monitor at all

It’s self-fit — no drilling, no wiring loom — and fits in minutes.

Yes. It’s designed for self-installation: no drilling, no wiring, and the vehicle doesn’t need to go off the road while you fit it.

Yes, the alarm unit is transferable to a new vehicle. The base is not — removal destroys it by design, but leaves no damage to the vehicle’s paint or bodywork.

To remove it:
1. Detach the alarm cover plate using the removal tool provided
2. Unscrew the alarm compartment from the base
3. Using pliers or grips, peel the base away from the vehicle, working from one corner to the other

A replacement base is available from vanguardian.co.uk — this also makes VanGuardian suitable for leased vehicles, since it leaves no permanent marks when removed.

Yes. VanGuardian is fully water-resistant, including high-pressure jet washes.

VanGuardian is bonded to the vehicle using a waterproof, high-bond adhesive across its full base. Once armed, the unit is tamper-protected:

• Attempted removal triggers a 2-second warning alarm
• If tampering continues, it escalates to a continuous 30-second, 113dB alarm

VanGuardian units are made in the UK from ABS pin-seal plastic — the same material used in automotive bumpers and trim. ABS absorbs impact without denting, buckling, or scratching, and doesn’t transfer impact damage to the vehicle’s door panel. It also keeps production costs, and the retail price, lower than a metal housing would.