Car insurance - how secure is your vehicle?

It would seem that car crime is on the decrease according to statistics released by the home office. Vehicle crime has dropped 51% since 1997, but when you consider the fact that this still equates to roughly 1.7 million vehicle thefts last year alone; we still have a long way to go.

The average person's risk of having their vehicle stolen currently resides at a figure of once in 107 years. This may mislead you into thinking your safe, but having your vehicle stolen just once in a lifetime can be a nightmare and something you should endeavour to avoid. Consider this; the older your car the easier and more likely it is to be stolen. In fact cars over 9 year's old account for two thirds of all vehicles stolen. New cars between the age of 0-3 years have much more sophisticated security systems. This shows direct correlation in theft statistics showing this age of car to account for only 11% of vehicles stolen.

A shocking 68% of vehicle crimes occur near the home, 43% on the street outside alone. So you can see this is still a very relevant and important topic.

The first thing we need to contend with is car insurance; the average claim for theft relating to possessions or loss of vehicle will increase your premium at renewal time and can prove to be a time consuming process. Anything you can do to prevent items being stolen from your vehicle and the vehicle itself will therefore safe you a lot of time and money. You should check the level of cover you have for items such as in car navigation and entertainment systems. You may find this is an area you need to take extra cover in; it is worth noting that some insurers can add a bolt-on for areas you are lacking cover in, allowing you to perfectly tailor your insurance.

If you have a classic car you should take special precaution and consider having it garaged and locked away when not in use. Cars over the age of 12 years are the easiest and most likely to be stolen, accounting for a theft rate of 22 cars stolen per 1000 vehicles registered. Specific classic car insurance is becoming easier to find and the good news is many companies are now setting up exclusive policies to cater for them.

So just what can you do to secure your car whether it is 1 year old, 10 or classic? To start with; make sure you secure windows, doors, sunroof and boot when you leave your car. This may seem like common sense but it is very easy to forget. You can make your vehicle immediately safer by having an immobiliser professionally installed. Ensure it is Thatcham or Sold Secure approved as this will help to decrease your car insurance premium. If you do not have an immobiliser and cannot afford the expense of having one fitted, a cheaper option can be to fit a steering wheel lock to help mechanically immobilise your vehicle. Something we may not always consider in relation to our car is the wheels themselves. If your vehicle has very expensive alloy wheels, especially relevant in classic cars; fit locking bolts where possible to prevent theft. They are relatively cheap to purchase and easy to fit, quickly ensuring your wheels are safe.

Moving on to the interior of the car and your possessions; ensure you don't leave any items in view. If you have a navigation system ensure you remove the cradle, especially if in the window and wipe off any suction cup marks. Mark any audio equipment to make it easier to trace if stolen. Also you can have your registration number etched on all windows and even headlamps as this could help the police recover your car in the event of it being stolen.

Finally, if you have a spare set of keys ensure you never leave them by the door or near a window in your home. This could make it very easy for a thief to steal your car if they gain access to your home. Indeed this is fast becoming a popular method amongst car thieves due to the advent of better security systems in cars.
by Chris Rowlands