How to Protect Your Car

Grand theft auto rises every year in the U.S. at the rate of about 1%, or 14,000 cars. This translates into a theft rate of more than 1.25 million vehicles every year, or one car every 25 seconds. That means that you are more likely to have your car stolen than to be audited by the IRS.

Keeping your car safe from thieves will not only keep you from becoming a statistic but will also help you lower your car insurance rates and qualify for discounts. Individual discounts vary with every insurance company, so ask your potential insurance agent about the policies that you are interested in and what you can do to protect your car and decrease your auto insurance premiums.

Your goal in installing car security devices, aside from lowering your insurance rates, is to deter a potential car thief from stealing your car. When given a choice, all of us will take the most lucrative and easily achievable path when it comes to making a few bucks. Car thieves are no different. If you install one or more of the following anti-theft items and you are parked next to another car whose owner has only locked their doors, your car will most likely be passed by. Consider the following options:

• Car Alarms
• Stickers and Decals
• Locking Bars
• Steering Wheel Collars
• Tire Locks
• Smart Keys
• Starter, Ignition, and Fuel Disablers
• Tracking Devices
• VIN Etching

In addition, car thieves target certain vehicle makes and models. These may be high-profile vehicles, or ones whose parts are in high demand. The following vehicles make the top of the list. Are you driving one of these models?

• Cadillac Escalade EXT
• Nissan Maxima
• Cadillac Escalade
• Dodge Stratus/Chrysler Sebring
• Dodge Intrepid

No matter what car you drive or devices you choose to install, nothing will protect your car if you do not use your common sense. More than 50% of cars stolen in the United States were left unlocked. Another 20% left the keys in the car. Avoiding these obvious mistakes in combination with a few well-placed devices will not only keep your car safe, but will most likely protect you from those outrageous car insurance rates as well.

Get a FREE car insurance quote today >>