Auto theft is a major crime in the United States, so much so that one vehicle is stolen every 28.8 seconds in this country per the stats released from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniformed Crime Reports. The odds of having a vehicle stolen are 1 in 207, with the odds increasing in urban areas. Over 1 million motor vehicles are stolen each year in the country. The Western states of the country accounted for the largest percentage of stolen vehicles in recent years with 36.8 percent. If your vehicle is stolen, report it to the local authorities immediately and then call in a claim to your automotive insurance company. All-in-all, auto theft is one of the most common crimes committed each year in the United States, with California being the leading state for highest rate of motor vehicle theft.
Drivers have the option of purchasing a separate theft protection plan from their auto insurer if they live or work in an area high in crime. A car insurance quote regarding theft should not be taken lightly because there is a possibility it could go up if your vehicle is actually stolen. The entire vehicle does not need to be stolen for auto theft to occur. Parts of the vehicle can be stolen such as the airbags, the sound system, the wheels and other parts. Some insurance companies will offer their customers a discount on their car insurance coverage if they install anti-theft protection devices in their vehicles.
Some insurance companies will issue a car insurance quote that is higher than others because of where the customer resides or drives to work. Insurance rates might be higher for some drivers just because the area they live in or work in has a high rate of auto theft. If this is so, make sure you shop around for car insurance quotes, so as to acquire the best available price on the market. The price for auto insurance might be more expensive if you drive a vehicle that is prone to auto theft. Those vehicles include the 1994 Honda Accord, 1995 Honda Civic, 1989 Toyota Camry, 1997 Ford F-150 Series Pickup, 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup, 2000 Dodge Caravan, 1996 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee, 1994 Acura Integra, 1999 Ford Taurus and the 2002 Ford Explorer.
If your vehicle or parts of your vehicle are stolen, your car insurance premiums will rise if your policy does not have a theft segment. If you have a theft segment in your policy then you have already been paying for this type of insurance. Your premiums will not permanently stay at a higher rate and should fall back to their normal rate over a period of three years.