There seems to be a direct-proportional relation between Auto Insurance rate and Auto Theft incidents as authorities say decreasing records of automobiles being stolen cause the Auto insurance rate to lessen.
For the past six years, incidents of auto theft have been decreasing in the whole-wide USA, based on reports by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
NICB, an organization which takes charge in investigating incidents of auto insurance fraud and theft, has been working hard to decrease, if not totally eliminate, the incidents of car stealing across the country. NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle said the collaborative efforts of legislators, law enforcers, prosecutors and the NICB member companies and personnel resulted in such reduction of the number of auto theft incident.
On the other hand, Ohio Insurance Institute(OII) also reported that in the Middletown-Cincinnati area, a 6.7% decline in 2009 was recorded. On a nationwide scale, the institute estimated an 18% decline in auto theft incidents. These positive reports, according the OII, make the trimming down of auto insurance rates possible.
But auto onwers must not get their hopes high. Still, one needs to take extra precautions in order to avoid being victimized by unscrupulous car thieves. In this light, NICB offers fews tips:
- Always lock your car and make sure you bring your keys with you
- Avail of a warning device. Whether this be the one that is visible or audible, this device is highly vital as it gives the impression to the thieves that your car is guarded.
- Invest on a tracking device for your car. If it happens that your car is stolen, this device installed to your auto is able to give a signal to authorities. This device helps the police and investigators in tracking you stolen car and, of course, those nasty thieves. Some tracking devices even utilize the technology of GPS and wireless connections to effectively guard your auto. Called as “telematics,” these kinds of tracking device alerts you when your car is being taken away.
While the crime rates regarding auto stealing decline, some automobile owners might feel overly safe and think of cancelling their car insurance to cut expenses. But insurance experts say this might not be a good idea. Aside from the fact that auto insurance is now required by the law in some states, having one’s car insured also means being safe from any untoward auto-related incident that may arise. Of course, this includes not only auto theft, but all the other unforeseen instances like vehicular accidents that may just be lurking around the streets. So while being grateful about the positive news regarding the decline in auto thefts, one must still choose to have his car insured, rather than go happy-go-lucky and drive around uninsured. That’s practicality and security rolled into one.
