Imagine walking outside to head off to work or drop the kids at school and your car wasn’t parked where you left it the day before – not a great feeling is it?

Not just the fact that someone has stolen your vehicle but the myriad of inconveniences that follow due to not having a car to go about your daily routine.

We have compiled a few tips to help hopefully protect yourself against ever having the misfortune of being a victim of car theft.

Secure Your Keys at All Times:

How many of us walk in the front door and throw the car keys on a table in the entry or on the kitchen bench and they stay there until you go to leave the house again? Most of us – that’s who!

As you should with handbags, wallets & purses – remove them out of plain sight of any intruders that may enter your home with ill intent.

Never Leave Your Car Running:

Get in the car and realise that you forgot your phone on the counter?

Turn the car off and take your keys inside to retrieve it. A running unattended car is an open invitation for a car thief.

Lock Your Vehicle:

Whether you are parked for the night or just ducking into a shop quickly, always lock your car. It makes it all the harder for a car thief to get inside your vehicle to get it running and drive away.

Have An Anti-Theft Device Installed:

Not only does an anti-theft device deter a great deal of theft attempts and make a thief’s job more difficult – most of the time you will get a discount on your insurance premium if you have one installed and who doesn’t want to save a few dollars when it comes to that?!

Consider Where You Park Your Vehicle:

Parking your car off the street on your property reduces the risk of not only theft but damage to your vehicle. Where possible use a garage, carport or driveway for parking.

Whilst almost all of us have at one stage had a random dent appear on our vehicles whilst parked in a cramped shopping centre carpark and that tempts us to want to park in the back corner away from the other vehicles – remember that isolated or dimly lit areas are easier for motor theft to occur.

Finally, make sure you have a Hire Vehicle After Theft inclusion on your Motor Insurance policy. Whilst this is not in relation to prevention it is however something that will make your life a lot easier in the time it takes to either recover your stolen vehicle or have a claim paid in order to purchase a new one.

Most policies have allowances to include hire vehicles in the event of a claim but you have to be careful and read your PDS as to the circumstances that a hire vehicle can be obtained.

If you would like some advice in relation to Motor Insurance or have any questions please give us a call on 0452 139 930 or email kate@geminiinsurance.com.au

Kate Koric

Director | Senior Broker

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Image - www.carsales.com.au