 Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:47 am Post subject: Avoid Car theft to lower the insurance premium |
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It is obvious that everyone, whoever possesses a car must try to avoid the car theft. Auto theft is covered under the comprehensive coverage and it is not mandatory. Theft coverage is applicable for the loss of the vehicle as well as the parts of the car. The premium rate of the auto theft is related to the risk of theft or damage associated to the car and the rate is determined by the type of the car, the living or driving area. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, auto theft costs consumers more than $8 billion annually. And the average comprehensive insurance premium in the U.S. rose to 9.9 percent from 1998 to 2002.
Here are some ways to avoid the auto theft:
Lock your car and take your keys- Close all the windows and lock all doors properly when you park your car and take the keys with you. Thieves need less than 30 seconds to steal most cars. And study says that nearly 20% of all vehicles stolen have the keys in them.
Hide or take out the valuables - Never leave valuables in natural view, even if your car is locked. Thieves will often smash a window just to steal camera, stereo or car phone. If possible you may take out the removable electronic devices when you leave your car.
Leave your car in some car park or in well lighted area- Park in the best-lighted area possible. Avoid leaving your car, truck, or motorcycle in unattended parking lots for long periods of time.
Take care of the ticket- If you park in a fee garage, take the pay-ticket with you. It's the thief's ticket out of the garage, too. If you use valet parking, leave just the ignition key with the attendant. Make sure no identifying information is attached to the key. Do the same when you take your car for repairs.
Take your wallet or purse with you- Carry your drivers' license, registration, and insurance card with you. Don't leave personal identification documents or credit cards in your vehicle. Thieves could learn your address and later burglarize your home or impersonate you.
Etch your vehicle identification number (VIN)- Etch your vehicle identification number to the windows and the major parts of your car so that it will be harder to resell the car in the black market for the thieves.
Install and activate an anti-theft device- A thief is less inclined to steal your car when it has visible and audible warning devices like a wheel lock or alarm system. Immobilizers - which include smart keys, kill switches and fuel cut-off devices - offer another means of protection. These will help deter some thieves. Check with your insurance company for information about the types of anti-theft devices which qualify for a discount on the comprehensive coverage of your policy.
Copy your license plate number- Copy your license plate and vehicle identification (VIN) numbers on a card and keep them on you with your driver's license. If your vehicle is stolen, police will need this information readily.
Obtain a CAT- Combat Auto Theft sticker/application from BCAA or your local police. CAT stickers authorize police to question anyone driving your vehicle between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Evan. |
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evan
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