Device with plates
A marten that steps on a plate gets a mild shock and leaves.
Devices like this have proved to be good protection.
Marten and rodent protection
A marten or a mouse chewing the cables under the bonnet? We fit a device that drives them away with a mild electric shock or with sound.
Send us the make, model and year and whether anything has already been chewed.
We work in several cities in Serbia. Tell us your city.
What is the matter with your car?
Choose what applies to you.
The car shows a fault Fluid leaks, the engine jerks, a warning light comes on or the headlights cut out. We find what was chewed and repair it.
There are traces under the bonnet Paw prints, torn insulation, droppings or a nest. We wash the engine bay and fit a device.
No damage yet The car stands outside at night, you park in several places or the car stands for a long time. We fit a device before they come.
Fluid is leaking and the temperature is rising? Do not drive on.
Tell us what you found and send the make, model and year.
Which device you need
Which device goes in your car, we tell you when you send the make, model and year.
Device with sound
Drives the marten away with a sound that keeps changing pitch.
Sound helps, but not always and usually not for long.
Plates and sound in one
Has both plates and a speaker in one device.
The sound drives the marten away, and a plate gives a shock when the marten steps on it.
The marten keeps coming back or there are already traces? Then together we see whether plates or both in one are better.
How much does marten protection cost
The device, the engine bay wash and fitting in one price.
- Price
- It depends on the device and the number of plates for your car, so there is no single price. We tell you when you send the make, model and year.
- Payment
- Cash or through a company.
- Place and time
- Tell us your city, we agree it by phone.
What the price depends on
- Which device you choose: with sound, with plates or both in one.
- How many plates your car needs.
- Whether the places where the marten gets in are low, so we have to lift the car.
Important
- Do not touch the plates while the car is parked. They are live then. The voltage is not dangerous for a healthy person, but people with heart conditions and pacemakers should keep away from the plates.
- The device works while the car is parked and uses very little power. A device with battery protection switches itself off when the battery gets weak.
How we fit it
- 1
You send the car model
Send us the make, model and year of the car. If a marten has already been under the bonnet, also tell us what was chewed.
- 2
We tell you which device goes in and what it costs
We tell you which device goes in your car, how many plates it needs and what the installation costs.
Work starts only when you agree.
- 3
We inspect and wash the engine bay
We look at where a marten can get under the bonnet and where there are traces. We wash the engine bay, and where needed the underbody and the area around the wheels.
- 4
We fit the device
We connect the device to the battery through a fuse. We place the plates where the marten gets in and walks, away from hot and moving parts. In the engine bay we stick a label warning that the plates are live.
- 5
We check it and show you
We measure the voltage on the plates and check that the device works. We show you where the device fuse is and how to switch the device off.
What martens and mice chew under the bonnet
A warm engine is a shelter for a marten. Under the bonnet it chews rubber and plastic parts. The stone marten lives in suburbs and in the cities themselves, and here mice and rats chew cables too.
The damage is often seen only when the car starts to break down. When it is noticed late, the repair can be much more expensive:
- Ignition cable: the engine jerks, and unburnt fuel damages the catalytic converter.
- Coolant hose: the coolant leaks and the engine can overheat.
- A thin rubber hose on the engine: the car loses power and can go into limp mode.
- The rubber boot around the driveshaft: the hole is not noticed straight away. Dirt and water get in through it, and the joint is ruined.
- Sensor cable: a warning light comes on or the car will not start.
Why the marten comes back
A marten leaves its scent everywhere it goes, even when it only crosses the bonnet. When another marten smells it, it becomes aggressive and chews harder.
That is why we wash the engine bay before installation. So the device does not start working under a bonnet that already attracts martens.
What you will hear, and what is true
“A spray or a smell drives the marten away.” Smells help, but not always and usually not for long. A plate gives a shock when the marten steps on it.
“Nobody can hear the sound.” Some people hear that sound and it bothers them.
“A protective sleeve around the cables solves everything.” The sleeve only protects the ignition cables. The hoses and the boots around the driveshafts stay exposed.
“I will catch it.” By law the marten is protected game. That is why we drive it away with a device that does not hurt it, without traps or poison. When a marten is caught, another one soon takes its place.
“Comprehensive insurance always pays for marten damage.” It depends on the insurer and the package. With some, animal bites are part of full comprehensive cover, and with others rodent damage is an add-on agreed and paid for separately. Check your policy.
After installation
- Switch the device off before jump-starting, fast-charging the battery or welding on the car. We show you how to switch it off after installation.
- If a marten still leaves traces under the bonnet, let us know. The engine bay needs washing again.
- When you can, park the car in a garage.
More about the signs of a marten in the car
Updated 27 October 2026.
Questions
How much does it cost to fit a marten repeller?
It depends on the device and how many plates your car needs. The price includes the device, the engine bay wash and fitting. We tell you the price when you send the make, model and year.
How do I know if it was a marten or a mouse?
A marten leaves paw prints on the paint and tears the insulation under the bonnet. Mice and rats leave droppings and a nest. You do not have to work out which animal it was. Tell us what you found and we tell you which device goes in.
A marten chewed a cable. Can I drive?
If the engine jerks or coolant is leaking, do not drive on. We find and repair the chewed cable, then wash the engine bay and fit the device. We tell you the repair price after the check, before the work.
Can I fit a device with plates myself?
The plates are live and must sit where the marten gets in and walks. Some of those places are low, so we lift the car. The cable to the plates must be kept away from hot and moving parts. We fit them and then measure the voltage.
Can a marten damage an electric car?
Yes. The car then reports a fault, and there is no danger of a shock. A high-voltage cable is not repaired; the whole cable set is replaced, so the damage is expensive.
Related services
Auto electrician
Electrical faults: alternator, starter motor, wiring and lights.
More about the electrician
Car diagnostics
We check the stored fault codes and explain what is urgent.
More about diagnostics
Battery replacement
A new battery at your address, with a charging check and registration in the car computer when the car needs it.
More about replacement