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Steps to Prevent Your Car from Getting Stolen

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Published on June 25, 2020. EST READ TIME: 5 MIN

Vehicle theft is probably the fastest growing crime in the Indian sub-continent. To put the numbers into perspective0, in the year 2016, about 2.1 lakh vehicles were stolen from across the country. The largest number of thefts were recorded in Delhi with 38,644 car being stolen from the city. The scary part is that most of these vehicles go untraced because immediately after the theft, the vehicles are dismantled and important parts are sold separately. One of the major reasons for the growing number of car thefts in urban areas is the parking crunch.

While villages still have enough land to have a gated parking space, a lot of houses in urban areas do not. Add to that the fact that an increasing number of families are now opting for two or more cars forcing them to park the vehicles away from home, making it an easy option for the thieves. So, what is the solution?

Well, here are few safety measures you can take to safeguard your car from thieves: –

Keep your car locked

Do it all the time. Even when you are driving. When you park your car anywhere, even for a minute to grab something on the way, lock the car and keep the keys with you. And do not forget to close all the windows and the sunroof.

Never leave your car running and unattended

Doing so is like inviting thieves to take your car away. Some people leave the car running with young kids inside it. It also puts the lives of your kids at risk along with your car

Avoid leaving valuables inside your car

And if you are leaving anything inside the car, make sure you keep it hidden from outside view. Things like cash, laptops, jewelry, etc. often lure thieves to break into your vehicle.

Do not keep the registration certificate inside the car

A thief can easily pass a check-booth by producing the RC certificate in front of the police. If you are keeping it inside the car for your reference, keep it hidden at a location from where only you can find it. For example, a secret seat cover pocket under the driver’s seat or so on.

Install an anti-theft system in the car

It is difficult to break into a secured lock. And if at all your vehicle is stolen, you can track and recover it quickly. Many insurance companies also offer discounts on vehicles with a pre-installed anti-theft system.

Nowadays, you can find many types of anti-theft systems, such as: –

• An anti-theft device that locks onto the steering wheel. Such devices are pretty visible from outside and repel thieves

• Ignition cut-off systems that prevent a car from being started

• An alarm system that activates when someone tries to ignite your car from anything other than the original key

• The tracking system that gives you live location updates of your vehicle

Car Insurance to Deal with Thefts

Let’s admit it. Regardless of the precautions you take, vehicles are being stolen every day. There is no guaranteed way to prevent your vehicle from theft. In such a scenario, it makes sense to get coverage for your vehicle.

A comprehensive car insurance policy provides you with compensation if your car is stolen. The amount you will be paid will be equal to the IDV of the vehicle at that time minus some deductibles.

With people spending so much towards buying a car, it makes sense to spend a little extra to get it secured from thefts and burglary.

Steps to Follow for Claim

In order to make claims for vehicle theft, you will first need to file an FIR. You then need to submit a copy of FIR along with other policy documents to make a claim. Once the documents are verified by the insurance company, the claim will be through.

Conclusion

In today’s time as thieves are becoming hi-tech, it becomes even more difficult to safeguard your vehicle. Having a comprehensive car insurance policy is a wise step that ensures you are 100 percent secured financially, even when your vehicle is not.

This blog has been written by

S. Gopalakrishnan | Motor Insurance Expert | 40+ years of experience in insurance industry

A veteran in insurance industry. S. Gopalakrishnan is a name to reckon with in the field of reinsurance, he has headed the Reinsurance department and has rich experience in other fields of motor insurance. He loves to share his opinion on latest topics in the insurance industry and how he can help people in safeguarding their assets using insurance products.

Mr.S. Gopalakrishnan recommends "HDFC ERGO for your vehicle insurance needs, it has always put customer’s interest at the forefront, with round the clock assistance to deal with emergency breakdown issues and hassle free claims process. You can be assured of complete and reliable guidance through the whole process." 

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