The Best High-Tech, Anti-Theft Devices for Your Vehicle
These days, you don’t need a guard dog or a security service to keep yourself and your property safe. Technology has revolutionized the ways you can protect yourself and deter vandalism and theft.
We’ve narrowed down the automobile anti-theft devices to the best of the best. Here are the top five high-tech anti-theft and anti-crime gadgets and tools that can give you protection, peace of mind, and even savings on your insurance rates.
Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Vehicle
When you invest in real estate, you understand the need to safeguard that investment from theft. Investing in a vehicle should also cause you to start researching how to keep it safe.
Many anti-theft products are on the market today, but they don’t always live up to their claims. These devices protect your car as promised.
#1 – OnStar
OnStar offers many convenience features like hands-free calling options, navigation, and vehicle diagnostics. It’s more than just a tool to simplify your life. It’s also the best way to protect your vehicle.
If your vehicle is stolen, you’ll be able to identify its location, which will help law enforcement recover your vehicle more quickly. OnStar agents can even disable your vehicle remotely if it’s been stolen.
The most significant downside to OnStar is that it’s only available on General Motors (GM) vehicles.
#2 – LoJack
LoJack is the best anti-theft device for vehicles other than GM. In fact, they boast a 98% recovery rate for stolen vehicles equipped with their technology. With GPS tracking, you can get real-time updates on your vehicle’s location.
GPS tracking is convenient if you let your teenager borrow your car, but it’s critical to recovery if your vehicle is stolen. It’s the only system that’s integrated with law enforcement to bring you faster response times.
#3 – Fuel Line Kill Switch
This handy device can be hidden anywhere in your car. To ensure the proper fuel flow, all you have to do is press the switch when you start your car. The problem for thieves, though, is that they don’t know you have a kill switch, much less where it is.
With no fuel running to the engine, the car won’t start, and the would-be thief will move on to an easier target.
#4 – GPS Tracker
GPS tracking is just one part of what OnStar and LoJack offer, but it’s less expensive than paying for those services, and it still lets you track the vehicle, so you’ll know where it is if it’s stolen.
You can use your smartphone to track your car and provide law enforcement with its location.
#5 – Alarm System
It may not be the most technologically advanced feature available, but an audible alarm is still effective.
Typically, would-be thieves try to stay under the radar and lift a car under cover of darkness and in silence. An alarm system is not something a thief wants to encounter. Vehicle alarms draw attention and serve as a powerful theft deterrent.
Anti-Theft Devices and Insurance Savings
Not all insurance policies protect against theft. If you’re looking for theft coverage, you’ll need a comprehensive car insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage is sometimes called “other than collision” coverage because it covers damage and theft unrelated to crashes.
Car insurance companies reward their customers when their risk of paying a claim is reduced. If you install an anti-theft device in your vehicle, there’s a far lower chance that your car insurer will have to pay a theft-related claim.
As a result, most car insurance companies offer a discount for anti-theft features. Be sure to compare different auto insurance companies, as they will have different criteria and savings. You could save up to 25% on comprehensive coverage for advanced anti-theft systems like OnStar and LoJack. An audible alarm may save you around 7 percent.
Melanie Musson writes and researches for the car insurance comparison site, CarInsurance.org. She loves helping others understand their insurance needs and find a provider and plan that’s a perfect fit for their unique situation.