Auto Insurance Articles

Car Theft and Auto Insurance in Phoenix

By: Kade Phillips, contributing writer at kanetix.com.

It may interest you to know that Arizona suffers with a considerably higher rate of auto theft than most other states in the United States. Phoenix, being the largest city in the state of Arizona, is certainly having to deal with this crime that affects all drivers, in the form of higher auto insurance rates, and numerous local and state initiatives have been implemented to try to deal with the problem.

Car theft in Phoenix is often a crime of opportunity performed by low hoodlums looking for thrills, but there is also a side to it that is big business, and sophisticated criminal operations are constantly figuring out schemes to smuggle vehicles out of the country for resale or disassemble them for the parts to be sold to unsuspecting buyers.

Automobile insurance companies keep detailed statistics on car theft and the locations in which it occurs, and unfortunately, this problem is one of the factors contributing to the fact that residents of Phoenix, Arizona, are paying on average, some of the highest car insurance rates in the country.

Phoenix has achieved phenomenal population growth over the last several years, and the increasing density of vehicles and people in Phoenix has also kept a steady upward pressure on auto insurance rates. But the focus of this article is on what you can do to reduce the effect that car theft has on the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance if you live in the Phoenix area.

If you don’t already know, comprehensive is the part of your car insurance that covers you if your vehicle is vandalized, stolen, or needs glass repair or replacement, as well as if your car is fire damaged or damaged by wind, hail or collisions with animals.

You could choose to have little or no comprehensive car insurance, but this only makes sense if you have an older vehicle which isn’t worth much, and is likely not an option if you have borrowed to purchase your vehicle. If you own a newer automobile, it also may not make sense to have little or no comprehensive car insurance.

Here are some things that Phoenix area drivers and auto owners can do, to not only lessen the chance that your beloved automobile is the target of thieves, and may also qualify you for a reduction in the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance bill. Remember though, the best we can do is to make our vehicle as difficult and unattractive as possible to the vast majority of car thieves, because an experienced and determined auto thief is hard to stop.

Anti auto theft devices that may help lower your auto insurance rates:

Fuel Line Kill Switch & Ignition Kill Switch – These devices if cleverly hidden can prevent a thief from starting your car. Remember, it will do you no good if the thief can find these devices without much difficulty.

Steering Wheel Lock – Still one of the better devices for deterring amateur troublemakers who might be thinking about your car for their next joy ride.

Tire Lock - This may be a bit impractical for your average daily driver as it needs to be disengaged and reengaged each time you use your car, but it can be very useful for a trailer or any wheeled vehicle which is parked a lot of the time.

Brake pedal, Gas Pedal and Gearshift locks – These are clever devices that prevent shifting of the transmission or pressing the of the gas or brake pedal.

Car Alarm – This is always a good option, but make sure that you have a backup source of power for these and other power using anti-theft devices. Having an auto alarm that could be disabled because a thief simply disconnected the power supply to the battery would be really foolish.

Hood and Trunk Locks – These additional locks will make it a lot harder for your battery and other essentials to be tampered with.

Steering Column Collars – The steering column if properly secured will prevent the vehicle from being easily moved. Different versions of these devices exist, ranging from permanent installation to devices that have to be removed each time you use your car. Although some implementations can be tedious, this is a very effective deterrent whichever option you decide to use.

Vehicle Tracker – These often expensive but ingenious devices will allow the tracking of your vehicle by the police if it is ever stolen.

As you can see, there are several options for devices that will make car thieves in Phoenix, Arizona, think twice. If there is some outward indication that your car is protected (such as a sticker), it may also be helpful.

Other ways to discourage and prevent your auto from being stolen, include parking in locked garages, parking in high traffic areas and parking in well lit areas at night. Also, etching your vehicle identification number (VIN) on the windows is another way to advertise that your car has anti-theft measures in place.

Don’t encourage “smash and grab” opportunists by leaving loose change, cigarettes or piles of “stuff” lying around inside your car. Thieves may think that there are other items of value inside that may be worth their while. Store these items in your trunk where they are out of sight. Also, never leave your car open when you leave it, and never leave your keys in the ignition.

After you’ve implemented some of these measures, have a chat with the car insurance provider that you deal with in the Phoenix area. Tell them that you’ve implemented ant-theft measures for your car, and, depending on what you’ve done, you should find that you qualify for a reduction in your auto insurance premium.





Kade Phillips is a contributing writer at kanetix.com.
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