Arizona auto insurance: Is Your Car Likely To Be Stolen?

What is your dream car? Most likely this is a very cool car to drive and be seen in, but if you like this car the chances are that so do a lot of other people including thieves. We don’t think about this but if your car is likely to be stolen it will cost you more in Arizona auto insurance.

Insurance companies calculate risks by past data and if your dream car has been stolen many times the last years your rates will most likely be high. If you really love the car there are some ways to help you in keeping the Arizona auto insurance costs down.

DO THIEVES THINK YOUR VEHICLE IS HOT?

So, you’re riding some really hot wheels (no pun intended), right? That’s really cool and all, but thieves might want to steal your vehicle precisely for that reason.

Curiously, some older models top the list of most stolen vehicles, ahead of newer, flashier vehicles. That’s because older cars have parts that become harder come by over the time, making the pieces more profitable for thieves. This is why the same make and style of vehicles keep on being stolen year after year. Vehicle thieves also follow market trends. They target the most popular vehicles because they provide valuable parts that can easily be sold in their domestic market or even exported to other countries.

Vehicle theft statistics have an Impact on your auto insurance premium. You might be wondering what would be the effect on your car insurance rate. Many insurance companies set their rates according to the industry’s loss history. As a result, vehicles with a high-theft risk are charged with a higher insurance rate. However, many insurance companies offer discounts for automatic anti-theft devices. These little trinkets can help keep your auto insurance rate down.

To help guard your wheels from being stolen, there are some low-cost suggestions you could follow to make your car less attractive to thieves.

First of all, never leave your car unlocked, with the key in the ignition. It is an open invitation to thieves, regardless of which anti-theft device you use. Always lock your car, even if you only intend to be parked for a brief period of time.

Second, install a warning device. Having a visible and/or audible device that alerts thieves (and everyone around) that your vehicle is protected is another good way to ensure that your car remains where you left it.

Third, install an immobilizing device. These devices prevent thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some of these zany gadgets have computer chips in the ignition keys. Others will cut the flow of electricity and/or fuel to the engine until a secret button or switch is activated.

Fourth, install a tracking device. It is simply the most effective safeguard against car thieves. A tracking system emits a signal to your local police station or monitoring station, right after the vehicle has been reported stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles.

And finally, take immediate action. If by any chance your vehicle does get stolen, contact your local police department immediately. And Make sure you have the following information at hand:

* Year, make, model, and color of your car;
* License plate number;
* Approximate time of the theft;
* Location where the car was parked;
* Names of witnesses, if there are any.

And do not forget to contact your auto insurance company. Make sure to have your policy number and details of the incident ready to give to your auto insurance agent. Typically it takes up to 30 days to settle a stolen vehicle claim.