7 Ways To Keep Your Car From Being Stolen

Over 2,000 vehicles are stolen each day. The more quickly a car thief can steal your vehicle, the more appealing it is to them. Anything you can do to slow joy-riders or professional car thieves down will make your vehicle a less desirable target.

Here are 4 ways you can help keep your vehicle from being taken for a joy ride or parted out by thieves.

  1. Always keep your vehicle locked, even while driving.
  2. Never leave your car running and unattended or the keys in the ignition.
  3. Never leave your keys in the car when parked. All windows and the sunroof should be closed.
  4. Don’t hide a spare key in or near your vehicle.
  5. If your vehicle does not already an anti-theft system consider adding one.
  6. When parking your vehicle, try to find a well-lit, high traffic area.
  7. Make your car harder to tow away by turning your wheels toward the curb and using your emergency brake.

If your car is stolen, contact the police first with as much of the following information as possible: year, make, model, and color of your vehicle, license plate number, vehicle identification number, the location where the vehicle was parked, approximate time of the theft; and the names of any eyewitnesses.

For your insurance to pay, you must have Comprehensive coverage on your policy. Comprehensive usually has a $100, $250, or $500 deductible. After notifying the police, you will want to submit the claim to your insurance company.

Do your best to avoid the frustration, inconvenience, and financial consequences involved with auto theft. Police recover less than half of the stolen automobiles. And even if your vehicle is recovered, it is unlikely to be in tip-top shape. The thieves may dismantle it for parts, damage it during a joy ride, or crash it.

Article Source: Mid-Columbia Insurance Agency