It has recently been estimated that approximately 2,650 cars are stolen every day in the United States, which ends up equaling about one car every 33 seconds. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the list of most stolen vehicles in 2008 is as follows:
- 1994 Honda Accord
- 1995 Honda Civic
- 1989 Toyota Camry
- 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup
- 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
- 2000 Dodge Caravan
- 1996 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
- 1994 Acura Integra
- 1999 Ford Taurus
- 2002 Ford Explorer
Older vehicles such as these are targeted for two primary reasons. The first and most obvious being that these cars typically do not have an alarm system or any type of anti theft systems installed, making them easy to steal. Secondly, the parts acquired from these cars still have a very high market value. According to the FBI, $7–8 billion are lost each year due to auto theft, and only 58% of these stolen vehicles are recovered. Thankfully however, due to new technology such as fuel cut-offs, smart keys, and audible devices auto theft rates are on the decline
There are several very simple steps that you can take in order to better ensure that your car does not become stolen. Namely, use your common sense: lock your car (regardless of the location), avoid leaving valuables in your car, especially in plain sight, and also avoid parking in unsafe areas. Secondly, there are a lot of products on today’s market that are specifically designed in order to prevent auto theft, such as an anti-theft device. Not only would an anti-theft device help to protect your car, it may also qualify you for a discount on your auto insurance. Tracking devices are also available and are a great way to prevent a thief from getting far away from you. Finally, make sure that your vehicle is properly insured, so that way you will have the coverage in the event of a loss/theft. To find out more about car insurance rates, please call our office or fill out a free New York Car Insurance Quote online.
Owning an automobile in New York City can be a very expensive proposition, due to expenses such as registration costs and the fees involved in monthly parking. These costs are so high that many residents choose to go without an automobile altogether and instead rely on the famous New York public transit system. If you do decide to purchase an automobile in New York, however, and have managed to find a place to park your car, you’ll still need to purchase insurance. New York, like many large metropolitan cities, has their own unique car insurance requirements, as does the state of New York.