As the old saying goes ‘prevention is better than cure’. There are several things you can do to deter would be car thieves from making off with your beloved vehicle. Using common sense is definitely your first line of defense. Lock your doors and do not leave your keys in the ignition or in the vehicle. This will already deter opportunistic thieves. Having a car alarm or some other alert system in your vehicle may also chase off thieves when they try breaking in. Most cars with central locking come with an alarm installed. Installing an immobilizing device has proven extremely effective in preventing theft and in recovering stolen or carjacked vehicles. And finally, a tracking device will actually lower your insurance premium due to the increased chances of finding a stolen car with this type of device installed. In fact, some insurance companies insist on their clients installing a tracking device before they will cover them. This devices and safety tips will decrease the probability of your car getting stolen in the first place and could assist in getting your car back in the event of a theft.

Working on the assumption that you already have taken out insurance on your vehicle, there are a number of things to be considered in the event of your vehicle being stolen. Since you already have insurance, you need to gather all the information you will need to file a police report. This will include information like VIN numbers and chassis numbers. You will also have to notify your insurance company for the claims process to begin. Insurance companies will require a case number for the police report, so that will be where you begin. It is essential to be as truthful as possible about the circumstances around the theft as errors in your statement my result in your insurance claim being turned down.

A common trap that most people fall into when buying insurance is simply opting for the cheapest option quoted. That could potentially leave you with very big problems in the event of your car being stolen. Rental coverage, which provides for a rental until your claim is resolved, is often an extra that many people neglect. The added cost is usually minimal and amounts to less than a day’s vehicle rental per year. Add to this the fact that most insurance companies have a waiting period of weeks before processing a claim in the hope that the vehicle is recovered. If your car gets stolen, that could really hurt your budget if you need to rent something until the claim is resolved.

It is also recommended that you go through your insurance policy at least once a year to ensure that you are adequately covered. When going through your policy, also ensure that you have adequate savings to pay for your excess in the event of a claim. The excess is often very high, especially in the event of theft or car-jacking so having a savings account with sufficient funds to cover these expenses is a really good idea.