Protecting Your Vehicle

A vehicle is usually the second most expensive asset that we own, the first being our home.

Too many vehicle owners pay too little thought to the security both of their vehicle, and their personal security and safety, while using their vehicle. Driving and owning a vehicle should be a pleasure, it is no pleasure at all to have your automobile stolen. You owe it to yourself to do all that you can to prevent that from happening. You should have insurance (if you drive your vehicle on public roads, you are required by law to insure it), but there is always some ‘out of pocket’ expense not covered by insurance when replacing a car—not to mention the time consuming hassles of having to identify, report & replace what has been lost. By following these vehicle security tips you can greatly reduce the chances of an auto thief stealing or breaking into your car. Keep safe, keep secure.

Vehicle Security When Parked or Parking
It’s so simple, but it needs to be said—when you park your vehicle take the key from out of the ignition, close the windows all the way and make sure all the doors are locked. Only parking for a minute? Do it anyway, it only takes a second for the opportunist thief to slip into the driver’s seat and your vehicle is gone. And you? You’re standing there looking at the space where your car was and feeling nothing less than foolish! If you leave it, lock it.

Do not leave valuables in plain view in your vehicle, even if it is locked. Put them somewhere out of sight or take them with you. Left your wallet on the dash? It only had a few bucks in it...but then there were the credit cards and the rest of your identity! On top of that there is the cost to repair the damage that the thief did to get at your wallet.

Even inexpensive items should not be left in plain view in your vehicle. “That coat? Oh, it looks expensive but really, it’s a copy, if it gets stolen what does it matter? I can replace it easily.” The coat may be cheap, but will the thief know that when he sees it inside your car? There will be nothing cheap about the cost of repairs to your vehicle! Hide the coat away.

Never leave anything on show in your car that could attract the attention of a criminal. If it could interest a thief, put it out of sight or take it with you—it’s basic vehicle security.

Be choosy where you leave your vehicle. think security.

Whenever possible park somewhere that has traffic, either pedestrian or vehicle traffic. Park somewhere that has good lighting even if it is daylight when you park, you may not get back to your vehicle before nightfall. If you park somewhere quiet and dark you are making the auto thief’s job much too easy.

When using an attended parking lot, leave only the keys that you need to leave and never leave keys that are marked with a key code. Don’t leave all your keys, why risk leaving your house keys? When you return to your vehicle, look around, make sure it is safe to approach your car. Check out the back seat for intruders before getting into your car, think of your personal security.

More tips can be found in Protecting Your Vehicle—Quick Tips below...

Available PDF Documents Click on a thumbnail to download.
		Statistically the chances of becoming a victim of carjacking are on the low side, but it does happen. Follow the advice in this booklet and you can reduce the chances further. Carjacking is a violent crime that has been on a dramatic increase. It is a crime in which a car is taken from a person by force—at gunpoint or knifepoint, for instance. Carjacking is extremely dangerous for the victim as carjackers have been known to seriously injure or even kill their victims.
		Tips About Preventing The Theft Of and From Your Vehicle Follow these tips to reduce your chances of being the victim of auto theft.
		A vehicle is usually the second most expensive asset that we own, the first being our home. Too many vehicle owners pay too little thought to the security both of their vehicle, and their personal security and safety, while using their vehicle. Driving and owning a vehicle should be a pleasure, it is no pleasure at all to have your automobile stolen. You owe it to yourself to do all that you can to prevent that from happening. By following these vehicle security tips you can greatly reduce the chances of an auto thief stealing or breaking into your car. Keep safe, keep secure.
		Most Canadians have some understanding that impaired driving is a criminal offence and that it carries significant penalties. It is probably safe to say that far fewer Canadians appreciate the insurance consequences of impaired driving. This is hardly surprising, considering the complexity of the provincial and territorial automobile insurance laws. While the primary purpose of this pamphlet is to explain the insurance consequences of impaired driving, it also discusses the related problem of unauthorized driving. Our thanks to MADD Canada for permission to use this document. While it specifically deals with issues in Ontario, it should be of interest to people across Canada.