In this day and age, car theft is an unfortunate reality. Because of this, it’s essential to have adequate car insurance in place that will pay you out should your car get stolen. The problem with claiming off your insurance, however, is that your premiums - the amount you pay your insurer each month – are likely to rise after the fact. This makes your monthly car insurance costs much higher.
Here are some tips for preventing your car from being stolen in the first place:
1. Deter the opportunistic thief
In many cases, car thieves are opportunistic in that they’re on the lookout for easy targets. For this reason, always make sure your car doors are locked and your sunroof – if you have one - is closed. Even if you’re leaving your car unattended for just a short time, make sure it’s secure.
2. Secure your keys
With the improved security technology in most new cars today, getting hold of your car keys may be the only way a thief can steal a car. For this reason, breaking into houses to steal car keys is becoming increasingly common. Make sure that your car keys are hidden away in your home and not visible or reachable through a window or door.
3. Hide your personal belongings
Stealing items inside a car accounts for a large percentage of all automotive theft. To avoid this happening, don’t leave any belongings in your car that are visible. After all, it takes just a couple of seconds for a thief to smash your car window and take your property. Even if you’re driving, place any visible objects such as handbags and laptops out of sight, preferably in the boot. If you’re leaving your car, take these objects with you, as well as any portable electronics such as your satellite navigation system.
4. Park safely
When you park your car, make sure you leave it in a secure, well-lit car park that preferably has monitored or barrier entry and exits. If you have no alternative but to park on the street, try to park on a well-lit, public street rather than on a quiet side road or private alleyway.
5. Implement extra security features
If your car doesn’t have an electronic engine immobiliser, consider having one fitted. These systems disable the ignition when the car is parked, which further deters thieves.
Other visual and physical deterrents can include steering wheel locks, gear locks and alarm systems. While car alarms are often ignored if they go off, they may still attract unwanted attention for the would-be thief who may decide to run for it rather than get noticed.
Tracking systems that monitor your car and report its location to the police can be excellent investments in more expensive cars, and can also mean lower car insurance premiums depending on your policy.
If you’re looking for car insurance, Hollard provides affordable and flexible solutions to make sure your car is adequately covered in the event of an accident or theft. Interested? Apply online for a car insurance quote now.
Hollard Life Assurance Company (Reg. No. 1993/001405/06) is an authorised Financial Services Provider.
