As you may have seen in the news, vehicle theft is a hot topic in the insurance industry; it has been reported that 33% more vehicles were stolen in 2020 than the previous year*, despite us having been in a national lockdown. The increase in keyless vehicle entry is one of the main causes, due to thieves possessing the technology to break into and start a vehicle without having to cause any physical damage. With this in mind, it’s understandable that your insurer will likely ask for additional security if you own a high value vehicle with keyless entry.
This article provides some tips on how to keep your vehicle safe.
Vehicle Theft: Location, location, location
Location will be a key factor when insurers look to determine whether a vehicle is a high theft risk or not. Unfortunately, there is no correct answer to the question ‘which location is best?’, but there are some things to take into consideration.
Vehicles parked on the street in city centre locations tend to be the hardest to insure. Insurers will probably ask where the vehicle is parked overnight and during the day. If you live in the countryside but work in a city, you may still be asked some further questions. Vehicles street parked in city centres are more likely to draw the attention of thieves; this being said, there are mitigating factors associated with heavily populated areas. For example, pedestrian flow is likely to be a deterrent during the daytime and there is more likely to be CCTV coverage (although this might only provide a video of criminals in balaclavas stealing your vehicle).
Thieves normally target the most vulnerable vehicle on the street so it may come down to survival of the fittest; consider whether your vehicle stands out from the rest of the street. When purchasing a particularly high value vehicle, or a vehicle that is more likely to be stolen than others, we would strongly recommend exploring alternative parking solutions in city centre locations, such as underground car parks. Whilst this can be costly, street parked vehicles do tend to present the biggest challenge when trying to find insurance solutions, and so it may well be worth the additional spend. We would also recommend sourcing insurance quotations before you purchase your new car, to get an idea of the types of premium and cover available.
Whilst the above is true, vehicles in rural locations are not immune to targeted burglary. In many cases, a rural location will provide a thief with the security of a more isolated environment. Vehicles can be watched for weeks to determine patterns of use and the best time to strike. It’s also likely that expensive vehicles will stand out more in rural locations and thus, draw more attention. Having said this, rural residents may benefit from a garage or gated driveway; if this is the case, it is important to pass this information onto insurers as it could lead to a lower premium.
Vehicle Theft: A key issue
As we have said, vehicles with keyless entry are being targeted frequently, and so how you look after your keys will be one of the main factors in determining how easy your vehicle is to steal. Breaking into a property to steal keys is not a new issue; obvious key hooks or leaving your car keys in plain sight will increase the chances of car theft. Therefore, choose a safe place where a criminal would be unlikely to look. If you own several vehicles but rarely use some, we recommend using a locked safe to store their keys.
Faraday pouches are an excellent idea if your vehicle does have keyless entry as this can stop thieves from intercepting the signal between your keys and the vehicle. These can be sourced very cheaply or can often be negotiated as part of a new vehicle purchase.
Vehicle Theft: Trackers
Insurers are very likely to ask for the installation of a tracker if the vehicle is of high value, theft attractive or kept street parked in a city centre. Trackers can provide peace of mind for the owner, and more manufacturers are now providing an app-based solution. There are different levels of trackers, the main difference being the inclusion of an Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR). Trackers with this will trigger if it is moved without the driver (or a token) being present. We would advise consulting your broker/insurer before purchasing a new vehicle to see what level of tracker will be required. Again, trackers can often be negotiated as part of a vehicle purchase.
Although trackers will often be a requirement of insurance, they are by no means a sure-fire way to protect your vehicle. If the tracker is activated, you may get information on when the vehicle was stolen and its last movements, but this is by no means a guarantee of recovery.
Vehicle Theft: Locking the vehicle
Although this seems a very basic thing to do, it is becoming more common that vehicles are being stolen whilst unlocked. This could be due to keyless entry, as the driver can enter the vehicle without pressing a button, and so they forget there is still action required when leaving it. The same applies to keyless start/stop; the lack of the necessity for a key means it is easier for driver to forget to lock the car.
Thieves can also use signal jammers to prevent the signal between the key and the vehicle working, meaning the vehicle remains open. The best advice would always be to double check that the vehicle is locked, especially when parking it in higher risk areas like low-lit places or unsecured car parks.
Vehicle Theft: Technology solutions
There are lots of new tech solutions available, most of which have merit. Ghost and NoGo systems act as more complex immobilisers. Manufacturers also offer mobile applications with trackers installed and security modes available. With mobile apps, it is always vital that you have downloaded the most up to date version (as this will possess the best security features), as well as updating the vehicle’s software itself when made available.
Criminals that focus on vehicle thefts in an organised manner work hard to break new technology. Vehicles that are specifically targeted by organised crime, such as Range Rovers, are most likely to fall victim to theft even though these technology solutions are in place. That being said, there is certainly merit in these innovative solutions.
When buying a new vehicle, it is important to make sure the dealership walks you through all the technology, especially when it comes to vehicle thefts, and their security. It is worth relaying this information to your insurer as this may help you obtain better cover or a reduced premium. The details can really make a difference; for example, does the frequency of the key work on a standard bandwidth or a more advanced ultra-wide band? Does the vehicle have an automatic locking feature if the key moves a certain distance away?
Tech is always a hot topic and there is a lot of money invested in this area every year to make improvements to vehicle security. However, sometimes the best prevention can be the older style physical protections such as steering locks, home bollards, or simply turning the keyless entry off and using the key.
McClarrons Affinity are here to help
We would always encourage you to contact us at McClarrons Affinity to talk about the security on your vehicle. Insuring theft attractive vehicles is becoming more complex, and it is always better to go into a vehicle purchase with a good picture of what insurer requirements are likely to be. Contact us on 01653 697055 or at affinity@mcclarrroninsurance.com to discuss your motor insurance.
