Car owners urged to be vigilant about insurance with thefts on the rise

Car owners should be extra vigilant to ensure their vehicles are secure, with the number of motor-vehicle thefts in Victoria up more than 20 per cent during the year to March 2024 compared to the same period a year earlier.

Thefts or attempted thefts inside vehicles increased more than 18 per cent in Victoria over the same period, says Jeff Ames, the general manager of motoring products at the RACV, citing figures from Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency. “It’s crucial to protect your vehicle, even when it’s parked at home,” he says.

Thefts from cars are often opportunistic, so it’s important to secure your car and leave valuables out of sight.

In NSW, motor vehicle thefts rose almost 13 per cent in the 12 months to March 2024 compared to the preceding 12-month period.

Ames says thefts from vehicles are often opportunistic. Thieves break into cars and take possessions that are easily visible from outside, he says, often using the opportunity to steal the car itself.

“Unfortunately, just because your car is parked at home in a driveway doesn’t mean it’s completely safe, so don’t forget to lock the doors, wind up windows, and ensure nothing valuable is in plain sight,” he says.

Car insurance may cover you in the event of theft from your car, so it is important to make sure your insurance is up-to-date and to check that you are adequately covered by looking through the product disclosure statement, he says.

Sarah Orr, a spokesperson for comparison site Compare the Market, says the effects of motor vehicle theft on premiums will depend on your postcode and whether your car is garaged or not. “It also depends on your insurer, as no two insurers assess risk the same way,” she says.

“While some will give a bigger weighting to theft in your area, others will look at other factors, like your age, for example, which underlines the importance of shopping around.”

Figures from the Insurance Council of Australia show that premiums rose 12.7 per cent nationally from the March 2023 quarter to the March 2024 quarter. That is an average, and it is likely there is a lot of variation across the country.

Orr says you should challenge your insurer on a premium hike in a renewal notice rather than just accepting the increase.

She suggests increasing your excess to get the premium down, and updating your insurer if you’re driving fewer kilometres or if your adult children are no longer driving your car, as both those factors could mean a lower premium.

If your insurer does not play ball, shop around, Orr says.

• Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making financial decisions.

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