Scourge  |   Theft of automobiles and property  |   Purchasing used vehicles
Winter Tires  |   Insurance Fraud

Vehicle theft: a scourge to be eradicated

Did you know that, in Québec, a vehicle is stolen every 14 minutes? More than 38,500 vehicles were stolen in 2005 in Québec. Is yours a choice target for thieves?

• Before buying a vehicle, ask your insurer if the model is particularly popular with thieves. If it is, it might cost you more to insure it. Some insurers may even impose their own conditions, such as requiring you to install an antitheft device or a particular tracking system. If your budget is tight, it is better to find out about this before buying.
• Did you know that, in order to cover the costs incurred by car theft, the insurers spend about 10% of the insurance premiums paid by those they insure as claims for automobile theft, whether they have been the victims of theft or not. In 2005, in Québec, the insurers paid approximately $300 million in claims to those they insured who had been the victims of car theft.
• Approximately 20% of the vehicles stolen and recovered can be attributed to driver negligence. Here are a few tips to avoid finding yourself on foot.
  • Always close your car windows and lock the doors. Never leave your keys in the vehicle.
  • Never leave your vehicle running unattended, even for a few seconds!
  • Turn the wheels of your vehicle when you park and apply the hand brake. This makes it more difficult for the thieves to tow it.
  • Thieves know the favourite places for hiding keys. Never hide a spare key in a small magnetic box. All thieves know this little trick.
  • Finally, the best means for protecting your vehicle is to equip it with a protection system.
• Top 10: Most commonly stolen vehicules in Canada