Do you have car insurance? Standard liability coverage is mandatory in many jurisdictions, but opting into other types of coverage might be in your best interest. After all, liability doesn’t compensate you if your car is unexpectedly stolen.
It rarely pops into your head that you could be the victim of a carjacking or a simple B&E that leaves your property in ruins. But car thefts and vandalism are common across all of North America, with many models specifically targeted by thieves due to their popularity.
Casualty insurance organizations in the US and Canada recently released lists of the top 10 cars targeted most by thieves. If you own any model from one of the top brands like Honda, Toyota, or Ford you should definitely check the list and ensure your car insurance plan is the right option.
Comprehensive car insurance is one of the best policies to protect you and your car against petty thieves. Comprehensive goes above the parameters of liability insurance by compensating you in the event that your car is stolen, burned, or ruined by extreme weather – basically protection from accidents and other common types of losses.
So why are some cars more likely to be stolen than others? The popularity of the larger car brands is one of the reasons thieves target those models. For example, millions of Honda Civics are on the roads all over North America, and consequently are also a popular model for thieves on both sides of the border.
While some thieves are sophisticated, many of the common thefts are done by petty thugs. These types of criminals are most likely to steal cars parked in dark alleys or open neighbourhoods with fewer witnesses in the area. Any cars with rolled down windows or valuables stashed in the back seat are also more likely to be stolen, or at the very least broken into.
If the opportunity is there, these types of criminals will take it. To protect yourself, always do what you can to limit those risks such as parking in bright spots, as well as keeping any valuables within the car locked and out of sight.
Car theft is a pain and can occur at any random time to any unsuspecting victim. But if you take the right precautions to protect yourself, you can reduce the cost that you pay for a stolen car.
Photo by M 93