 |
Did you know that about two car thefts happen every minute? What is even worse, for many of these unfortunate car owners, their insurance doesn’t cover the entire expense of replacing their stolen car or all of the incidental things that wind up costing them money while they are waiting for their insurance company to reach a decision. Theft insurance can be quite expensive, particularly if you happen to own a car that thieves consider desirable. It also may not fully cover you loss if your car gets stolen. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help protect your car from theft, and some of these measures might even help to save you money on your insurance premiums.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you are protected just because your new car comes with theft protection that is factory installed. Your insurance company is also aware that factory installed protection is not really the best form of protection as well. You should go with an after market professionally installed auto anti-theft system to help to deter thieves. You should also let your insurance company know that you have had the system installed. It will make it harder for thieves to steal your car and your insurance company may lower your premiums due to the fact that you have added an extra layer of protection.
Also don’t neglect protecting your old car. Just because your car isn’t a brand new BMW or other shiny new car doesn’t mean that your car won’t be stolen. Older cars are often stolen for their parts because many of the parts are hard to obtain because they aren’t manufactured anymore. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that the most stolen cars in 2005 were model years 1997, 1994, 1989, 1995 and 1991. So you still do need to take the necessary precautions with an older car.
If you discover that your car has been stolen inform the police immediately. The sooner you can report the theft, the better your chances will be that you can recover your car. If possible, call the police from the scene of the crime and wait for them to arrive. You will need to tell the police your car’s make, model and color as well as the vehicle identification number and license plate number. You should keep that information with you in case you should ever need it. Also keep a copy of your insurance car and registration at home so if you ever need the information you can provide it to your insurance agent and the police.
When you take out an auto insurance policy you should add rental coverage. Many people don’t get it, but it is fairly inexpensive. Generally speaking, a whole year’s rental replacement coverage costs less than just a few days of rental car fees, so it is well worth it. If your car gets stolen, there is a good chance that you will have to rent a car or else find some other form of transportation for a few days. If you are not sure if you have rental coverage, check your insurance policy and look for any restrictions. In some cases there are waiting periods before you are able to claim rental expenses.
Roadside assistance is another thing you should have and also make sure you understand all of the details of your coverage. You can buy this through either your insurance company, an outside service or through your auto manufacturer. If your car is disabled from theft or breaks down, your roadside assistance service can have your car towed to a mechanic or send someone out to where you are to make your car drivable.
