Getting to grips with car theft

Even so, applying a few basic principles might just make a world of difference in preventing this from ever happening to you.

Top 10 tips on preventing car theft

1. Always lock all doors and park in a well-lit area.

2. Wherever possible, opt for secure, monitored parking as opposed to free parking on a side street.

3. Avoid parking close to the exit of the parking lot. Instead, park as close as possible to the entrance to the mall or in an area where there will be a constant flow of people walking past.

4. Never leave your keys in the ignition, even if you just quickly drop off something at the video store or withdraw cash at the ATM.

5. Never hide your keys or spare keys in an obvious location (in the wheel well or under the car).

6. Never leave any valuables (e.g. jackets, sunglasses, laptop) in plain sight – it’s always best to take these with you or if you have no other choice, to lock these in the boot, this will also prevent smash and grab. The same goes if you have a radio with a removeable faceplate.

7. Once you’ve parked your vehicle, leave your car in gear with the handbrake on and turn your front wheels to the curb.

8. Always lock your car doors, even when your car is parked outside in the driveway.

9. When you’re at home, try to keep your car keys in a safe, not-so-obvious location (i.e. not on the key rack next to the front door).

10. Invest in a proper alarm system or fit an electronic immobiliser if you have not done so already.

• At OUTsurance, we never apply any mandatory waiting periods before we’ll settle your car insurance claim. Many other insurance companies will have you wait for a minimum of four weeks before they’ll process your claim.
• You’ll only need to pay the basic, fixed excess amount. If you’re insured anywhere else, chances are that you’ll pay a proportionate excess, which can mean anything between 5-10% of the total value of your claim.
• Remember, if you selected our car hire option, you’ll have access to a rental vehicle for a maximum period of 30 days which is sure to make your life a great deal easier.

Step 1: Contact the police immediately to report the incident. You’ll need to provide them with your registration number, VIN number, and a description of the vehicle.

Step 2: If you have a tracker installed, call your tracking company and activate the tracker.

Step 3: Call OUTsurance on 08 600 70 000 to submit your claim. If you’ve selected our car hire option, we’ll get the ball rolling so that you’ll be provided with a rental car as soon as possible.