Car security tips

The problem of car crime in the UK has fallen quite dramatically in the last ten years, with statistics showing that there has been a 51% drop in reported incidents since 1997. However, this does not mean that we can afford to become complacent, as there were still more than 1.7 million car-related thefts recorded in 2005/2006.

Most people get car insurance quotes for policies which offer comprehensive or third party fire and theft cover. This means that they would be able to turn to their car insurance provider for compensation should their car be targeted by thieves. However, it is best never to reach this point, as even a single claim for something which wasn't your fault, like theft, will usually mean much higher car insurance quotes in the future.

It is thus sensible to take all possible precautions to protect your car from thieves. To help you do this, the team at duck2water have put together some ideas for simple ways of securing your vehicle and preventing a costly car insurance claim.

There are three areas which you need to consider. Security gadgets, parking and car contents.

Security gadgets
Security gadgets can work in two ways: acting as a deterrent to being broken into in the first place and physically stopping your car being driven away. Some perform just one of these functions, whilst others are able to offer a combination of the two.

One of the best deterrents is an alarm. It is worth making sure that it is well-publicised with stickers on your windows as this will put some thieves off altogether. Even the more persistent thieves who still try to break into your car despite the presence of an alarm may well give up as soon as they trigger it.

However, some criminals are quite adept in disabling manufacturer-installed alarms as they know the tricks of how to silence them in seconds. This means getting an aftermarket system from a company such as Thatcham can be much more effective, as thieves will have to risk arrest by spending longer working out how to stop the alarm. Also, Thatcham alarms are recognised as being very effective by motor insurance companies, so get one fitted and you may be able to get cheaper car insurance quotes.

Some of the gadgets which are designed for physical theft prevention include steering wheel locks, electronic engine immobilisers and locking wheel nuts. Many cars already have engine immobilisers fitted as standard so it will only be necessary to fit one if your car was manufactured before 1989. It is also worth getting a lockable petrol cap, as this will prevent people siphoning out your fuel.

Parking
A surprising number of car thefts happen when cars are taken from right under the owner's nose, such as when left parked on the street outside their house. If practical, the best thing you can do to prevent theft while you are at home is to park your car in a garage. As with Thatcham alarms, you will also find that doing so will have a positive effect on your car insurance quotes.

If you don't have a garage, the next best option is to leave your car in your driveway with a locked gate across the entrance to it. If you don't have a driveway either, get a parking spot under a street light.

While you are out and about, it is well worth thinking about where you are going to park rather than heading for the most convenient spot. If you are tempted, just think about how convenient it would be to come back laden with shopping to find that your car has been stolen. It is sensible to make a bee-line for car parks which have received the ParkMark award. You can check which of your local town's car parks have received the award by going to http://www.saferparking.com.

If you don't have any ParkMark car parks in your town or they are full, try to park somewhere that is covered by CCTV and is well lit. These areas tend to have a lower crime rate so it will be safer for you, as well as your car.

Car contents
Some thieves are not interested in stealing your car - just stealing what is in it. An MP3 player, a stereo, a bag, clothing or even just a bit of loose change can be just the temptation a thief needs to break into your car. The best advice here is the most obvious - don't leave anything in plain sight when you leave your car.

If you can, remove the front of your stereo and take it with you or lock it away in your glovebox. The first places that a thief will look for a stereo front are under a seat, in cubbies and in an unlocked glovebox so don't feel that these are safe alternatives.

One of the most common places that thefts from cars take place is at petrol stations. Thieves know that many motorists leave their cars unlocked for a few moments whilst going to pay at the kiosk and use these minutes to nab anything you have left on the passenger seat or in the footwell. Avoid this by making sure that you lock up your car whenever you leave it, even just briefly to pay for fuel or a parking ticket.

The cheapest car insurance quotes around
While taking these steps will dramatically reduce the chance of thieves targeting your car, there is nothing you can do that will give you an absolute guarantee that you will be protected from car crime.

Should the worst happen, you need a motor insurance policy that will allow you to recover your financial losses. That is where car insurance from duck2water comes in.

When you get a car insurance quote from us, you may well be surprised at just how cheap it is. Despite the amazingly low prices, we don't cut corners on any aspects of your policy and you can be sure of excellent cover should you need to claim.

The other thing that may surprise you about our car insurance quotes is just how quick and easy the process is. We have developed our online quotation system to be incredibly straightforward so it will only take a matter of seconds for you to be presented with your cheap car insurance quote.

Save up to 25% on your car cover - get a car insurance quote from duck2water now.

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