Car insurance guide

Car security and your 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 oh 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 then 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.

Here is a list of common tracking devices:

• 24Hr Mon/Guard/Recovery
• Aegis RoadEye
• Asset Phantom (LCV)
• Asset Phantom (PC)
• BT Red BT Trackit
• Bugs Univer Carbug
• Carbug
• Cobra 2111
• Cobra 2112
• Cobra Connex ICP10
• Cobra Trak Q
• Dan Track DT100
• Eagle Eye Tracking
• ETS M-Track
• Eye Track GSM GPS
• Falcon Protector
• Global Telematics
• Glopos Voice Unit
• Hid Tech Armada XC
• IRIS 600 SVT
• KFT Spa Family (1)
• Lasertrax NCG
• Matrix 5
• Meta GPA800
• NavTrack ADR (C5)
• NavTrak 4000
• NavTrak 4000 Proactive
• NavTrak Proact ADR
• NavTrak Proactive
• NavTrak Standard
• No Tracker
• Phantom Car & Van
• Porsche VTS
• RAC Trackstar
• RAC Trackstar 2 Car
• RAC Trackstar 2 LCV
• RAC Trackstar 5
• RAC Tracstar Guardian
• RDM AT101-15
• RDM AT101-1R
• RDM AT101-25
• RDM Auto-TXT
• Ross Auto Ltd LEO
• Ross Auto Strikeback
• RTM AT101-2R
• Scorpion 5
• Securicor Trakbak
• Siemens Datatrak
• T Trac
• Tag Guard Locator
• Telematrix E-Guard
• Thales Cat 5
• Thales DX50 Car + Van
• Thales DX-50 LCV
• Thales Orchi VX100
• Tiger Tele TT105
• Track + Trace Cars
• Track + Trace LCV
• Tracker
• Tracker 24Hr Monitor
• Tracker 24Hr Monitor + Guard
• Tracker Data Unit
• Tracker Echo
• Tracker Echo II
• Tracker Guard
• Tracker Guard + Recovery
• Tracker Horizon
• Tracker Monitor
• Tracker Response
• Tracker Retrieve
• TrakM8 T2002

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