Discounts for Anti-Theft Devices
According to recent statistics, in the United States a car is stolen every 25 seconds, which adds up to over a million stolen vehicles each year. One way to prevent your car from being among them - and to save some money on auto insurance - is to make sure you've installed an anti-theft device.
Types of Devices
Anti-theft devices range from mechanical implements to electronic recovery systems. One classic form of protection is The Club - a device that literally locks the steering wheel so the car can't be driven. In fact, the original version of The Club, which was designed with a universal fit on everything from a sub-compact car to a full-sized SUV, is still so popular and so reliable, that the company itself includes a $1,000 guarantee with purchase.
More modern anti-theft devices include electronic alarms and immobilizers. Alarms emit loud sounds, calling attention to a potential thief's behavior, and often alerting the police, while immobilizers render a car temporarily non-functional by shutting off parts of the electrical or fuel system. These devices may be activated remotely, via a small radio device, or through an on-board interface.
The final type of anti-theft device for automobiles is the "stolen vehicle recovery system," and while they don't prevent a thief from taking your car, they do make it easier to find it after it's been stolen. Such systems include LoJack, which uses a radio transceiver linked to the VIN of your car, and to the police computer system. More than 90% of vehicles equipped with LoJack are recovered.
Car Insurance Discounts for Anti-Theft Devices
Most auto insurers offer some kind of discounts to policyholders with anti-theft equipped vehicles, but the exact discount varies from company to company. A general guideline, however, is that the more automated the device, the larger the discount will be.
Most insurers also recommend more than one device - so consider combining an immobilizer or alarm with LoJack. You won't get a double discount, but you will get extra protection for your car.
