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Anti-Theft Systems E-mail This Article

Is the Price Worth It?

Vehicle thefts cost Americans a tremendous amount of money. According to the FBI, the total estimated value of motor vehicles stolen in 2001 was nearly $8.2 billion, a figure that grows higher every year as cars and trucks become more expensive. Thefts also cost consumers in the form of higher insurance premiums. The average price for comprehensive coverage, the portion of your insurance that encompasses vehicle thefts, rose 6.6 percent from 1996 to 2000, the most recent data available from the Insurance Information Institute. Lowering auto thefts pays dividends for all vehicle owners.

Theft-deterrent systems not only provide drivers with immeasurable peace of mind but may also lower their insurance premium by 15 to 30 percent. A dozen states — Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington — require insurers to give car owners discounts as high as 30 percent on their comprehensive insurance for anti-theft devices. Passive devices such as ignition cutoffs, some types of alarms and electronic auto recovery systems may qualify for up to a 30 percent discount off of the entire premium. Massachusetts residents are eligible for a minimum 25 percent premium discount if they have both an anti-theft device and an auto recovery system. Insurance commissioners in New Jersey and Georgia encourage insurers to provide discounts. Insurance companies in states that do not mandate discounts have also encouraged car owners to install anti-theft devices by offering lower rates.

Besides the potential insurance discounts, the systems themselves are becoming more affordable and are appearing on a wider range of vehicles. Engine immobilizers, for instance, were first introduced on luxury automobiles but are now offered on numerous vehicles, including compacts like the Honda Civic. If they are not offered as a standard choice, buyers can order them as an option for between $100 and $300. They can also purchase them from aftermarket suppliers. Check with your local automotive electronics store. That makes them well worth it because the average insurance deductible is $250 if a vehicle is stolen, according the Highway Loss Data Institute.

Automakers also consider personal security as part of the package when they develop theft-deterrent and safety systems on their vehicles. Increasingly, they offer panic buttons on the key fobs of remote keyless entry systems. When pushed, these panic buttons sound the horn and/or flash the lights. GM’s OnStar communication system has a panic button to call for emergency help. A human at the call center in Michigan or North Carolina can provide help, security and peace of mind. For 2003, OnStar has been expanded to appear as a standard or optional feature on most GM vehicles. The OnStar option costs $695 that includes a year of service. A “Safe & Sound” package — which features airbag deployment notification, stolen vehicle tracking and emergency dispatch — costs $16.95 per month.
OEM or Aftermarket

Engine immobilizing devices installed by the vehicle manufacturer are the most effective form of theft deterrence, according to experts who have studied them.

“We looked at specific vehicles as the immobilizers were installed in them compared to the same model without them. We found that, while the nuances of the systems vary slightly from one manufacturer to the other, they typically reduce insurance losses by 50 percent,” said Kim Hazelbaker, senior vice president of the Highway Loss Data Institute.