Your car is one of the most valuable things you will ever own. Therefore it makes sense to protect it. As sad as it is, one of the main threats to your car is theft. It is fairly easy to deter amateur thieves, but what about professional ones? While they can be more difficult to stop, there are a few tips you can follow to ensure your car isn’t a target. Below you’ll discover some of the best ways to protect your car from theft and potentially save money on your insurance as you do.
Where is your car parked?
Where your car is parked will determine how easy it is for thieves to target. Unfortunately, many people don’t have much of a choice where they park; particularly if they live on a built up, busy street. However, if you are lucky enough to have a garage, it is highly recommended you use it. After all, if it isn’t in plain sight, it can’t be targeted. If you do need to park on the road, try to park as close to your house as possible and at least in full view where you can keep an eye on it.
Keep it locked and remove the keys
This may seem like an overly obvious statement but it’s surprising how many cars are stolen due to being unlocked. Even if you’re only planning on leaving your car unattended for a few minutes, it’s important to lock it and take the keys with you. This simple advice can prevent you making a very costly mistake.
Install a car alarm in older vehicles
As featured by the DMV, it’s a common misconception that thieves mainly target newer cars. In fact older cars tend to be more of a target due to their lower security features and valuable parts. Newer models tend to be almost impossible to steal. Many older cars on the other hand tend to have very minimum security installed. If you own an older model, it is highly recommended you at least install a car alarm.
Know what the thief is looking for
While all cars are a potential target for thieves, there are some that tend to get stolen more than others. The Express has published a list of the top 10 most stolen cars in the UK. It’s worth taking a look at this list to see whether your make and model is on there. If it is, you can start taking extra precautions to protect it. Find out if there are any weak spots for your model and target them.
Overall ensuring your car is protected against thieves is largely common sense. The tips above will help you to lower the risk of having your car stolen. Remember, good security will also help to reduce your insurance premiums.
The ways thieves operate is something that all drivers must learn. New drivers should take this in as part of the learning process. Just as you learn and review the rules of the road, learn to be streetwise to combat would-be thieves by studying some of the criminal ‘hazards’ you might face while on the roads.