In a departure from the usual auto loan themes, we’re going to cover protecting your investment rather than preparing for it.
Here are some practical tips you can use to prevent car theft.
Keep Your Car Locked
It may seem like a no-brainer but locking your car can go a long way to protecting it. We are continually surprised at how many people we see who park their car and go to the store or to get coffee without locking their car.
77% of people make sure their car is locked – this number is still too low!
It only takes a second and can mean the difference between having the car and not. Were it to be proven that your car was not locked when it was stolen, your insurer may not pay your claim.
Then you’ll be paying an auto loan without a car to show for it!
Don’t Keep Your Car Keys Near The Front Door
If you have a key bowl or hanger, make sure it’s nowhere near the front door or in sight of it. Thieves have some ingenious ways of getting them, including using wire coat hangers as a hook.
If a thief can see the keys, they are more likely to try to break in to get them. Hiding them is as much a psychological barrier as a physical one.
Also, don’t leave your keys in your garage because they are much easier and likely to get broken into!
Don’t Leave Valuables on Display in The Car
Damage to your car can be as annoying as losing it. That’s why we always recommend putting valuables in the trunk or not leaving them in the car at all. If you must store phones, laptops or other valuables in your car, put them out of sight.
Place them under the seat, in the glovebox, in the trunk or anywhere they cannot be seen from outside the car.
Park in Well Lit Areas
Wherever possible, we always recommend parking in well lit areas. That’s for your own safety as much as your car and can help prevent theft or damage to your car.
There’s a good reason why shopping malls and popular car parks are well lit. It’s not only to make life easier when you’re trying to find your car but also to make it more difficult for thieves to steal from them.
Don’t Leave Roof Boxes or Bike Tacks on The Car
It might not be just your car that’s up for grabs. Some thieves will remove roof boxes, tailgate racks, bike racks and other external accessories. They are worth money to someone so might be stolen if you’re not careful.
These accessories also reduce your gas mileage so we would recommend only using them when you need them anyway.
That’s it! There’s only so much you can do to prevent car theft. But taking these simple precautionary steps might just go a long way. If you have any more questions, please contact us here.
Thanks for reading!