MoneySuperMarket, the UK’s leading price comparison site, reveals which postcodes across the UK are the most and least likely to be susceptible to car theft. MoneySuperMarket analysed 5.9 million car insurance quotes between May 2018 and May 2019 to identify the areas with the highest rate of reported car theft claims within a five-year period. East London’s Ilford and Romford postcodes top the list, with a car theft rate of 16.1 and 15.4 per 1000 quotes respectively. Some of the other top areas who are targeted include Birmingham (13.1), Halifax (10.6) and Liverpool (9.6).
Kirkwall, the largest town in the Orkney Islands in Scotland, is the safest location, with the lowest rate of reported car thefts at 0.3 per 1000 quotes. Fellow Scottish locations the Outer Hebrides (0.5), Inverness (0.6), Galashiels (0.7) and Dumfries (0.8) also feature in the safest locations.
Those aged 40-49 are the most likely to have a claim for a stolen car (6.16), whilst 17-19 year-olds are the least likely (1.53) – possibly due to older generations possessing more desirable, expensive cars.
Here are some tips from MoneySuperMarket to help keep your car safe and secure:
Unsurprisingly, the easiest way to steal a car is by getting hold of the keys, so make sure they’re not easily accessible and avoid leaving them near your front door.
If you’re able to, parking off road or in a garage can make it harder for criminals to steal your vehicle. Putting the car in the garage (if you’ve got one) can also help you save money on your car insurance.
Park in well-lit areas and if your car is on an incline, turn your wheels towards the curb to make it harder for it to be towed by criminals.
A large portion of car thefts are opportunistic, so make sure your car is fitted with an alarm and no valuables are in view.
Getting windows made from security glass or Enhanced Protection Glazing, which are designed to prevent ‘smash and grab’ attacks, can protect your vehicle against damage.
Additional security options, such as tracking devices and steering wheel locks, can act as good deterrents and methods to trace missing vehicles, minimising damage and increasing the chance of recovery.
Rachel Wait, consumer affairs spokesperson at MoneySuperMarket, commented: “When it comes to car thieves, London is clearly the worst area for offences, with postcodes from the capital taking the top two spots – and featuring three times in the top 10.
“Having the right level of insurance is key to minimising any cost, should your car get stolen. However, prevention is always better than cure. There are simple steps – like parking your car off the road and not leaving high value items on display – that can go some way towards preventing theft.
“Protecting your no claims discount will prevent any nasty hikes to your premium. If you do have to make a claim after a theft, make sure you shop around at your next renewal. Moving to a different insurer could save you up to £2452 on your annual bills.”
To find out which car insurance policy is best for you, visit MoneySuperMarket to compare quotes and see how you can save money.
