Crystal Ball Alternatives: Dashcam and Tracking Options for Taxi Fleets Compared

Crystal Ball is a credible choice for Thatcham-approved vehicle security, and it also sells a dash cam that appears on TfL’s approved list. The honest picture, if you are running it today or comparing it before you sign, is that tracking, cameras and immobilisation are sold as separate lines, and fleet tracking is priced by quote. That is why some taxi and PCO operators compare it with options that bundle more in one place.

This article compares Crystal Ball against four options: a camera specialist, a commercial vehicle safety brand, a fuel card group with tracking, and Traknova, which sells dash cams, tracking and immobilisers to SME taxi and PCO fleets.

What Crystal Ball offers, and who it’s best for

Crystal Ball is a UK fleet tracking and security supplier selling Thatcham-approved trackers, FleetTracker GPS tracking and SmartCam dash cams. It suits operators who want a Thatcham tracker first and will buy the camera and any immobilisation separately.

Security is the strongest part of the offer. Its S5, S5+ and S7 Thatcham trackers are monitored around the clock by an alarm receiving centre. The S5 adds a driver ID card, and on the S5+ the vehicle cannot be started if a journey is attempted without an authorised card. Remote immobilisation is also sold as an add-on to its tracking, and FleetTracker can send email alerts for geofence breaches and unexpected vehicle movements.

Crystal Ball currently lists its TfL dash cam at £349 including installation and a 12-month app subscription, then £72 a year, with footage held for up to 28 days. Fleet tracking has no published price: its FAQs say cost depends on fleet size, vehicle type and add-ons. Comparison site ExpertSure puts the Thatcham tracker subscription at £375 over two years, about £15.63 a month, and says Crystal Ball does not publicly disclose contract lengths.

Why taxi and PCO operators compare Crystal Ball with alternatives

Two things come up. First, fleet tracking has no published per-vehicle monthly price, so comparing means a quote from every provider. Second, TfL approval is model by model. TfL says taxi and private hire owners can choose whether to fit in-vehicle CCTV, but its CCTV guidelines say only systems approved by TfL can be installed in licensed taxis and private hire vehicles.

Crystal Ball does sell approved cameras. Its Smart Cam models appear on TfL’s approved list dated 3 September 2026, ticked for private hire vehicles. Whichever supplier you choose, confirm the exact camera you are quoted is the listed one for your vehicle type. Outside London, your licensing council sets its own rules.

Traknova: dashcam, tracking and immobiliser combined

Traknova sells dash cams, tracking and immobilisers to taxi and PCO operators, so camera footage, location and vehicle security can come from one supplier rather than several. It sells the Hikvision G40, a model that appears on TfL’s approved list for private hire vehicles, and its shop says professional installation is available across the UK.

Crystal Ball sells remote immobilisation as an add-on, and its S5+ tracker blocks starting without a driver ID card. Traknova’s immobiliser takes a different route. It is designed to stop the vehicle starting without an authorised driver tag. Alongside it, Traknova offers digital tracking that needs no hardware on many vehicles from 2016 onwards. Ask for its price and contract terms as you would from anyone else.

SmartWitness: for operators who mainly need cameras

SmartWitness makes connected in-vehicle cameras. Two of its cameras were on TfL’s approved lists in May 2025, but SmartWitness does not appear on the list dated 3 September 2026, so a London operator should ask which current model, if any, is approved before ordering. Sensata bought the company in 2021, so confirm who owns and supports it today, and ask what it offers beyond cameras if you also need tracking or security.

Brigade Electronics: for heavy vehicle and bus operators

Brigade Electronics is a UK company selling safety devices for commercial vehicles and mobile plant, including 360 degree cameras, reversing alarms, obstacle sensors, radar and digital recorders, with a strong focus on buses and coaches. If you run minibuses alongside standard taxis, it is worth a look for those. Its range is not aimed at cars and it does not appear on TfL’s approved list, so for saloon private hire vehicles it is unlikely to fit.

Radius: for combined tracking and fuel cards

Radius is a fuel card group that also sells vehicle tracking and dash cams. Its Kinesis tracking platform and Vision dash cams sit alongside the fuel cards, and its site says linking a fuel card to a vehicle lets it alert you if fuel is bought while the vehicle is somewhere else. Its tracking page cites over 650,000 live subscriptions worldwide. If fuel spend matters as much as vehicle security, that is a genuine convenience. That page does not mention taxi or private hire, shows no pricing or contract terms, and Radius is not on TfL’s list dated 3 September 2026, so check camera approval and ask for terms before relying on it in London.

How to choose the right dashcam and tracking solution for your taxi fleet

Before signing with any provider, check the following:

• Confirm the exact camera model you are quoted is on TfL’s approved list for your vehicle type, or on your licensing council’s list outside London.
• Ask every provider, Traknova included, for a per-vehicle monthly price, the contract length and exit terms in writing before a sales call.
• Check whether tracking, dashcam and vehicle security come from one provider or three, since every extra provider is another contract, another support line and another point of failure during a dispute.
• Confirm UK-based installation and support, and ask what happens, specifically, if a camera or tracker fails mid-contract.

Crystal Ball remains a reasonable choice if you want Thatcham-approved trackers and a TfL-listed camera and are comfortable with quote-based fleet pricing. If you would rather get dashcam, tracking and immobiliser from a single supplier, that is what Traknova is built for, so ask for its price and terms alongside the rest. You can also see Traknova and Crystal Ball side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Does Crystal Ball sell a TfL-approved dash cam? Yes. Crystal Ball’s TfL dash cam page says the system is listed on TfL’s register of approved CCTV systems, and its Smart Cam models appear on TfL’s approved list dated 3 September 2026, ticked for private hire vehicles. TfL’s list is model specific, so check that the camera you are quoted is the listed one.

What is the cheapest Crystal Ball alternative for a small taxi fleet? There is no single answer, because cost depends on whether you need tracking, a dashcam and immobilisation together or separately. Crystal Ball currently lists its TfL dash cam at £349 including installation and a 12-month app subscription, then £72 a year. Ask each alternative for the installed price, subscription and contract length for the same setup, and compare those.

Do I need both a tracker and a dashcam, or does one cover them? They solve different problems. A tracker shows where a vehicle is and can alert you to unauthorised movement. A dashcam records what happened during an incident or passenger dispute. Many operators run both, which is why bundled options exist.

Will switching from Crystal Ball affect my insurance? Check with your insurer before you remove or swap any device they have on file, and ask whether your policy sets a security or camera condition that your new system needs to meet.