Most Stolen Car Facts

Is your vehicle a target for car thieves? It just might be according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB) Annual Hot Wheels report, listed below. The results are surprising, and the experts at InsureMeOnline.com believe taking a look would be well worth your time. Not only do we offer the most competitive online quotes for cheap car insurance, but we also care about consumer safety and piece of mind.

Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles for 2007:

1994 Honda Civic
1990 Toyota Camry
1991 Honda Accord
1996 Dodge Caravan
1994 Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup
1997 Ford F150 Series
2003 Dodge Ram Pickup
1990 Acura Integra
1988 Toyota Pickup
1991 Nissan Sentra

Curious why older models top the list over newer, flashier vehicles? One official from the National Insurance Crime Bureau explains, "Older cars are often stolen because the parts for these models start to become harder and harder to come by, making the pieces more profitable for thieves. This is why we often see a clustering effect with the same make and style of vehicles being stolen year after year.” Furthermore, one should note that vehicle thieves also follow market trends and target the most popular vehicles because they provide the best market for stolen vehicle parts and illegal export to other countries.

You might be wondering what effect car-theft rates have on the price you pay for car insurance. Because insurance companies set their car insurance rates according to the industry's loss history, vehicles that have a high-theft risk will more than likely be charged a higher car insurance rate. However, many insurance companies offer discounts for automatic anti-theft devices, which can help keep your car insurance rate down. InsureMeOnline.com features online car insurance quotes from many such companies.

To help shield your vehicle from being stolen, our experts encourage everyone to follow the "layered approach" to car theft protection by employing simple, low-cost suggestions to make your car less attractive to thieves. These four layers of protection include:

Layer #1: Common Sense
An unlocked vehicle with the key in the ignition is an open invitation to any thief, regardless of which anti-theft device you use. It is always best to lock your car even if you are only parked for a brief period of time.

Layer #2 - Warning Device
Having a visible or audible device that alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected is another good way to ensure that your car remains where you left it. Popular second layer devices include:

Audible alarms
Steering column collars
Steering wheel/Brake pedal lock
Brake locks
Wheel locks
Tire locks/Tire deflators
Theft deterrent decals
Identification markers in or on vehicle
Window etching

Layer #3 - Immobilizing Device
Another good method is having a device that prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some of these electronic gadgets have computer chips in the ignition keys. Others inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden button or switch is activated. Recommended third layer devices include:

Smart keys
Fuse cut-offs
Kill switches
Starter, ignition, and fuel disablers

Layer # 4 - Tracking Device
The most effective safeguard against car thieves is the vehicle-tracking device. A tracking system emits a signal to your local police station or monitoring station once the vehicle has been reported stolen. Tracking devices, such as OnStar, are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles.

If by chance your vehicle does get stolen, you will want to contact your local police department immediately. Make sure to have the following information on hand:

Year, make, model, and color of your car
Your license plate number
VIN (Make sure to have your VIN number in a file or secure spot.)
Approximate time when the car was stolen
Location where the car was parked
Names of eye witnesses, if any

Next, you will need to contact your car insurance company. To help expedite your claim make sure to have your policy number and details of the incident ready to give your car insurance agent. Typically insurance companies have up to 30 days to settle a stolen vehicle claim.

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