Tips to protect your car from theft and avoid Massachusetts car insurance claims

The greater the rate of car theft in a state, the higher that state’s average car insurance premiums may be. The good news is that car theft seems to be dropping in Massachusetts, which means Massachusetts car insurance premiums may also drop. Disaster Centre figures show that there were 11,453 reported vehicle thefts in Massachusetts in 2010, compared to 91,563 in 1975. Technology has a lot to do with this, but so does the fact that people are wising up to the tricks of car thieves.

We’re not saying that more than 11,000 thefts is a good figure – it’s still far too many – but at least there’s evidence of motorists being more vigilant with car security. Here are some tips to help make your car less attractive to thieves.

Install an effective car alarm. Audible car alarms just aren’t enough of a deterrent. Be honest, do you bat an eyelid when you hear a car alarm? You need more sophisticated alarm systems, not just ones that make loud sounds that everyone ignores.

Install an immobilizer. While these are not absolutely guaranteed to prevent a thief from starting your car, they do make it much more difficult. A thief may well choose to give up trying to steal your car if it becomes clear that it’s going to take longer than expected.

Remove valuables from your car. Phones, laptops, navigation systems – do not make them visible. It can tempt opportunistic thieves to break into your car and don’t forget – personal possessions aren’t automatically covered by your Massachusetts car insurance policy.