Car security and your car insurance

Making sure your car is protected against theft can impact on your insurance premiums. Many insurers offer discounts for cars fitted with alarms and immobilisers, and tracking devices on more expensive vehicles.

Here are some tips on how to keep your car secure:

• Make sure your car has an alarm or immobiliser professionally fitted, immobilisers are seen as the best deterrent to the car thief
• Get some security etchings on your windows and windscreen. Mark them with your registration number
• Mark your belongings such as your satellite navigation and stereo with your registration number. It makes them easier to trace should they be stolen
• If you have alloys, get locking wheel nuts. These make it almost impossible for them to be stolen, and are a cheap way of protecting your car
• If your car doesn't have a security system, use a steering lock each time you leave your car. A car thief will go for the easiest option and a steering lock will often deter them from taking your car
• Park somewhere safe like in a garage or on a driveway. If you have to park on the road, make sure you choose a well lit area
• Choose a secure car park when out shopping rather than parking on the road
• Always make sure your belongings are out of sight when you leave your car. Either put them away in your boot or take them with you

Alarms and immobilisers

Insurance companies will sometimes insist a car has a certain level of security on it before they will offer insurance cover for it. For example, if you drive a Porsche 911 worth over £60,000 you may need to install a tracking device before you can get insurance for it. Even fitting an alarm and immobiliser to a mid priced family car may mean a discount on your insurance as it reduces the risk of the car being stolen.

Newer cars usually come fitted with a factory standard alarm/immobiliser. Older cars are more easily stolen as they have little or no security fitted, so it may be worth upgrading an older security system or fitting an immobiliser to increase security.

To ensure you get the best from your security system, you should fit a Thatcham approved system^†. Thatcham provide the industry standards for safety and quality so insurers will often only recognise Thatcham approved systems.

Tracking devices

A tracker is a device which is fitted to your car which is linked to a control centre. If your car is stolen, the police are advised where it is, so it can be quickly recovered, thus the risk of the insurer having to pay out for your car if it is stolen and not recovered, is greatly reduced.

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