Imagine how worried you would feel if you walked to where you parked your vehicle and it wasn't there? Unfortunately, auto theft is an all too common occurrence in California and all over the U.S.
Esurance offers some tips for Californians to follow so they can prevent themselves from becoming another auto theft statistic:
- Always lock your car's doors.
- Don't tempt a thief. Never leave anything visible in your vehicle that could be appealing to a thief. This could be CDs, clothes, wrapped gifts, or a nice stereo system.
- Buy antitheft equipment. If you're buying a new vehicle, have an antitheft system installed — it could earn you a discount on your auto insurance premium and may save your car from theft.
- Park your vehicle in well-lit places.
- Be aware of your risk. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau www.nicb.org, the most commonly stolen vehicles in California include models from Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, Nissan, Ford, Acura, Saturn, Jeep, and Oldsmobile. This list doesn't mean you should avoid buying one of these vehicles, but hopefully it makes you aware of what thieves are after.
Unfortunately, everyone pays for auto theft with higher auto insurance premiums. When vehicles are stolen, auto insurance companies have to pay for the loss and then charge higher premiums to all drivers so they can offset the costs of the thousands of vehicles that are stolen every year.
Visit the Esurance Learning Center for more information about auto theft, safe driving pointers, and ways you can save on auto insurance. And while you're here, get a quote for reliable coverage you can count on from Esurance.