Classic Car Security Tips

The technological advances of recent years, such as the now ubiquitous engine immobiliser, have made modern cars very difficult to steal. As a result, more and more thieves have taken to stealing valuable classic cars instead, which are comparatively easy to steal due to their primitive security technology. However, if you take some extra precautions to protect your vintage motor from theft, you can still enjoy good insurance deals*.

Most classic car insurance policies are fairly specific about how you are planning to store your car when not in use. Ideally, you would have it parked in an alarmed garage, although you can usually get away with parking it in your driveway as long as you make the insurer aware that you will be doing this. If you are parking it in your driveway, it is a good idea to have some lighting in place to deter thieves, who usually prefer to operate under cover of darkness.

One of the most effective strategies for preventing classic car theft is to place obstacles in the way of the potential thief. A folding or removable security post can be effective, as can a big, noisy gate at the end of your driveway. If you have a modern car, with all the latest security enhancements, try parking that in front of your classic, so that any potential thieves would have to deal with that first before they could drive your other car out of the driveway.

Most classic cars are not very hard to break into, so a car alarm might be a good idea. Steering bars can also provide some protection against theft, although most of them can be taken off with a hacksaw, so you shouldn’t rely on these too heavily.

Engine immobilisers are by far the most effective protection against car theft, but you may find it difficult to fit one to any vehicle that was made before the 1980s. One way in which you can prevent people from driving off with your vehicle is to take the rotor arm out from beneath the distributor cap when your car is not in use, and keep it well hidden. Other methods of immobilising your vehicle include having a battery cut off switch secreted somewhere in your car, installing a quick-removing steering wheel, or having a tap installed on the fuel line.

Don’t forget it is not just your car that may be at risk from thieves. Spare parts and tools can be easy to steal and sell on, so make sure these are locked up securely at all times. Also, whatever you do, don’t leave valuables inside your classic car when it is parked, as these will be very tempting for thieves.

*Visit Kwik Fit Insurance for cheap car insurance deals.

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