What You Should Know About Car Theft
Do you drive one of these cars?
- 1991 Honda Accord
- 1995 Honda Civic
- 1989 Toyota Camry
- 1994 Dodge Caravan
- 1994 Nissan Sentra
- 1997 Ford F150 Series
- 1990 Acura Integra
- 1986 Toyota Pickup
- 1993 Saturn SL
- 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
If so, you drive one of the top ten most stolen vehicles in the U.S, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). The NICB estimates that a car is stolen every 25.5 seconds.
People can do more to prevent theft, according to a recent release from the Insurance Information Institute. “All too often, consumer attitudes about preventing vehicle thefts are based on misconceptions, which can lead to expensive consequences for the unprepared victim,” says Institute vice president Carolyn Gorman.
Here are a few of those misconceptions:
- Myth: Most Thefts Occur in Unprotected Areas
- Myth: Stolen Vehicles Are Usually Found
- Myth: Insurance Always Provides a Rental Car
- Myth: Thieves Are Not Interested in Older Vehicles
A former neighbor of mine experienced that last one first hand when his beater truck was stolen. He eventually found it parked a few blocks down the street but it was missing the steering column. “Older vehicles are most often taken for their parts which are no longer manufactured and are too difficult or expensive to obtain,” says NICB president Robert M. Bryant.
What’s worse than getting your car stolen? Realizing you’re underinsured after your car has been stolen. Many owners of clunker cars drop their comprehensive coverage because they think it’s not worth the money. Problem is, comprehensive covers for theft and, in many cases, rental car coverage.
But it doesn’t always. The III advises people to check with their insurer about their rental car policy before they need one.
Read the entire release here.
