It’s an amazing fact that 3 out of 4 car owners in the USA have not installed anything on their vehicle to prevent it from being stolen. That fact in itself says a lot about the state of security-mindedness among many vehicle owners.

But what might be more surprising, and in my view it is, is that of those vehicle owners who have installed some kind of anti-theft device, many don’t even bother to actually activate it. This seems crazy.

Consider that car thieves have been around almost as long as there have been cars to steal, and yet the message that alarms and other devices can actually stop much car crime does not seem to have got through to many people. This is strange, since many of these devices are easy and relatively quick to install and not particularly expensive, especially when their overall effectiveness is considered in relation to the job at hand… which is to stop the theft and/or vandalism of the car.

So what are the best ways to stop a car from being stolen?

One of the best things to do, and the first line of defense, is to actually stop thieves from getting into the vehicle in the first place. And this can easily be achieved with a car alarm. These are among the most common of security installations in cars and other vehicles today. It’s a simple device, and many question its usefulness. But a simple siren, and a very loud one at that (120 decibels is common) can do wonders in stopping a would-be thief.

Even better for the car owner is the fact that many modern, high-quality alarms will turn themselves on when the driver leaves the vehicle. This means there is no forgetting to arm the alarm (something which can be a problem, believe it or not).

So when deciding to protect your car, don’t forget the obvious, and check out the great types of alarm available on the market today.

Most know the most glaring auto repair pricing abuses: Service centers overcharging $100’s even $1000’s for repairs, or charging for repairs that were never done at all.

To be sure, this still happens every day. However, there are many other techniques which involve flying just low enough to avoid detection.

The savvy service centers increase the price so as not to set off any alarms. It has become so common that it’s not just an accepted industry practice, but even service customers have accepted paying higher prices.

Knowing how ingrained price-gouging is within the automotive service industry, it’s shocking (although understandable) that even service customers have succumbed to excessive car repair prices. I frequently hear service customers’ state:

“Yeah, I know I was ripped off, but my car’s fixed now.” Or, “I know they charge too much, but they’re convenient.”

This is insane! To accept auto repair price-gouging is to allow its continuation. The difficult part, of course, is how to stop it. Given that the automotive service industry is so big and powerful (and so frightfully necessary) how does one battle such a force?

Perhaps the first thing to understand is the degree to which this type of stealth-like price-gouging occurs. A two-decade undercover investigation has revealed that 98% of all repair shops (dealerships, local shops, and franchises) are price-gouging their customers in one form or another.

The following exchange, between a service manager and service advisor, provides an idea of the “scope of scamming” below the radar.

A service advisor asked his manager how to bill more hours per month, which is another way of asking how the advisor can make more money. The service manager casually stated:

“Simply add an additional two tenths to every ticket you write.”

In other words, every customer this service advisor “helps,” he was instructed by a superior to add a “little” extra. So if the labor rate is $100 per hour two tenths would equal $20. Rather than pay $100 per hour, the service customer would actually pay $120.

$20 doesn’t sound like much compared to the gross injustices we all know. However, whether it’s an overcharge of two cents or $20, it’s too much.

If you visit a shop practicing this strategy alone (there are hundreds of strategies, many applied simultaneously), you may end up paying over a $100 or more by year’s end.

What’s really shocking is that being ripped off $100 over a year’s time is actually minor!

Try $500-$5000

When you get car insurance quote online from an insurance company, always keep in mind to compare it with quotes issued by other companies with the same car insurance policy features. However, since this is a challenging task, with results often being prone to mistakes and miscalculations, here are some tips that can help you simplify the process.

The first thing you need to do when you get car insurance quote online is to assess your current auto insurance policy, and consider every feature it incorporates, such as limits for property, bodily injury, uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist; what the deductibles are; if you’re willing to pay for towing and rental care reimbursement; and if you have comprehensive coverage or just collision.

Determine if you are still going to need those features in your car insurance, and make note of any changes. For example, there’s no point opting for comprehensive coverage on an old car that has severely decreased in value. Therefore, getting only collision coverage might be able to save you a few hundred dollars on your car insurance premium.

Your second, particularly important step when you get car insurance quote online is to gather specific information about your cars, and the people who drive them. Be prepared to list down information regarding:

1. Drivers license and Social Security Numbers for each driver 2. Year, make and model of each vehicle to be insured 3. Average mileage for each day, and whether it’s used for business or pleasure 4. Safety features such as Anti-lock Brakes (ABS), alarms, air bags etc for each vehicle

Always make an effort to get at least three or more car insurance online quotes for your auto insurance from various sources, because rates are liable to differ between car insurance companies. Put down each online quote on the same sheet of paper, along with comments for each company you’ve listed.

When looking for a cheap car insurance quote online, you must also bear in mind the importance of good value, such as financial stability, fast claims service and good customer service. When you’ve tracked down the car insurance quote online that meet your requirements, keep it under scrutiny for a couple of days in order to be certain that you’ve got the right insurance coverage for your car.

Don’t hesitate to ask a lot of questions if you’re doing business with an agent or representative, who could probably be able to help you save a decent amount on your insurance. It’s also always a good idea to check if there’s a customer service contact on the insurer’s website when you get car insurance quote online.

I live in Detroit: one of the cities with the highest rates of auto theft in the nation. Here are some tips from an expert on how to avoid getting your car (or any of the contents of your car) stolen.

Be a Smart Parker

Remember to always park your car in well-light areas. Having your car in a high traffic area is also a good idea. You might even consider getting assigned parking at a lot with an attendant if you are concerned about your car.

Car Alarm Fallacies

Car alarms might sound like a great safety feature, but they might just be one more of the bells and whistles. You can put a sticker on your car that says that it has a car alarm without actually including the car alarm. You will save money this way. You will also save yourself (and others) headaches when people accidentally brush against your car.

Lock it Up

Almost half of all car thefts are performed when an owner leaves the car unlocked. This could mean that they forget to lock their car once, or it could also mean that they leave their car running while they just run in to do an errand. Turn your car off, take your keys, and lock your car whenever you leave it. It is also better for the environment if you turn your car off instead of idling it. You should also consider locking your garage door if you are using a garage. This brings me to another point: always park in a garage when possible.

Make it Less Attractive

Take away all of your belongings with you when you leave your car. This means that you should move any bags to the trunk, and make sure that there are no valuable visible from outside the car. If you can remove your car stereo, place it in the glove compartment or a similar out-of-sight place. Even something that seems as harmless as a glasses case could cause a thief to choose your car instead of another car, so be cautious when you leave your car.

Invest in some Safety

Having a steering wheel lock (such as the club) might not make it that much more difficult for a thief to steal your car, but it might also make them think twice. You don’t even have to lock your steering wheel lock if you find it too cumbersome to use.

Vehicle Identification Numbers are numbers that are etched into cars at various places, including on the windows and major parts. Thieves will be know where to look for vehicle identification numbers, and might avoid stealing a car with VIN etching because the parts will be harder to use, and the car will be easier for police to trace.

Ignition-kill switches and fuel-kill switches are other anti-theft devices that you can consider for you car.

Sometimes getting anti-theft devices can lower your insurance premiums, and so will be a good investment for the future. You might even end up saving money and gaining a peace of mind with them!

Think of the tow-away

Sometimes cars are not stolen by hotwiring, but rather, by being towed away. If you park with your tires facing the curb, it will make it more difficult for a thief to tow your car away. Using your emergency brake will also prevent being towed.

Car theft is not a pretty thought. Cars are large investments and you want to protect your investment. Thinking ahead can prevent some unpleasant reactions.

As summer draws to a close, around 10,000 UK bikers start to think about laying up their motor bikes for the winter months. >From the end of October through until Easter, the thought of motor biking is not so appealing and there is little point in taxing and insuring the bike. Bikes are winterised and stored away at the back of the garage awaiting the better weather. Sadly, thieves are aware of this and so some 600 bikes are stolen every month.

Obviously if you have totally cancelled your policy you will be unable to claim for this theft. You can, however, reduce the cover to a minimum for fire and theft and this is worth considering.

If you�re more used to insuring cars than motor bikes, you�ll find some of the features of bike insurance very odd. For instance, it�s not possible to accumulate bonuses over time, as with a car. Occasionally you may find an insurer who will give you some discount if you don�t claim for a certain period with the same insurer, but this is not the norm.

There are various policies. Specified Bike Policy, Specified Rider Policy, Comprehensive and Third Party Insurance. With a specified bike policy you are covering the bike and not the rider. This means you could insure a number of riders on the same bike.

A specified rider policy covers the rider, but not the bike. This means the rider is covered on any motor bike up to the size specified on the policy.

Comprehensive and third party insurance are more familiar terms. Comprehensive is the most expensive. Apart from paying for repairs to the bike in the case of accidental damage, it may offer some extras such as breakdown cover. In the event of a claim, you will only pay the excess as stated on the policy. With third party you simply buy the minimum legal insurance. This means you are covered for any property you may damage or people you might injure. You would not be reimbursed for your bike or anything else and an excess would still be payable. Third party is the cheapest form of insurance.

Younger riders will be charged higher premiums for their policies due to their inexperience and the increased risk of motor cycling. There is a frighteningly high accident rate and statistics tell us they are much more likely to be involved in an accident than more mature riders. Damage caused to themselves is often costly and lifelong.

The more hours spent on the road, the higher the risk and riders using their bikes to travel from one location to another as far as their work is involved will be likely to be charged higher premiums. Claims made in recent years for driving-related accidents will have an adverse effect on your premium too.

Other factors that will influence the premium will be the power and make of the bike. There are some very expensive bikes around and obviously this will mean a higher premium will be charged. If you have any penalties for speeding or dangerous driving your premium will rise and if you were to be disqualified for a length of time, insurance would be extremely expensive when your licence was re-instated.

To try and get the cost of premiums down, consider security devices such as immobilisers, alarms and steering locks. It may also be possible to get discounts for any training courses you have completed.

Be completely honest with your insurance company. Failure to disclose something which the company later discovers can invalidate your insurance. Not only would you not receive payment for any claim, but you could be prosecuted for driving without insurance.

An internet broker will be able to offer you plenty of advice when it comes to choosing an insurer. They�ll find a choice of policies to suit your circumstances and their experience will be invaluable. There are internet-only deals and discounts which they�ll be able to offer too.

Keep insured and safe.

Statistics say that 10,000 bikers in the UK cancel their insurance policies over the winter months every year.

Many bike owners will lock away their two wheels but unfortunately, even when locked in a garage, their bikes remain at risk.

Thieves are quite aware that many motorbikes are stored in garages over the winter months and over 600 bikes are stolen every month.

If you have cancelled your policy and your bike is stolen you cannot make a valid claim. However, it should be possible to reduce the cover, save money and still maintain the essential minimum cover against fire and theft over the winter.

An annoying feature of existing motorbike insurance policies is that discount bonuses are not able to be accumulated over time. You may be able to get some form of discount should you remain claim free for a certain period with the same insurer, but this is a rare occurrence.

There are a few types of motorcycle insurance policy, Specified Rider Policy, Specified Bike Policy, Third Party Insurance and Comprehensive Insurance. A specified rider policy will specifically cover the rider and not the bike. The benefit of this policy is that it will allow you to ride any motorcycle up to a specified size.

A specified bike policy is directly the opposite and will only cover the motorbike and not the rider. This would be a suitable policy if you wish to insure a number of riders on the same bike.

Unfortunately for motorbike riders, particularly younger riders, they will have to pay higher premiums for their insurance policies due to the increased risk of their chosen method of transport.

Third Party is the legal minimum type of insurance and the cheapest. The ‘third party’ is any person you might injure or property you might damage. You will not be paid for anything else and you will still have to pay the excess.

Comprehensive Insurance is the most expensive and the one that pays for repairs to your motorcycle if it is damaged in an accident. It also means that if the accident was not your fault you do not need to wait for the other party’s insurance to come through as your insurance will pay anyway. However, you will have to pay the excess but you will get it back when the others party’s insurance reimburse your insurance company. These policies often include extras such as breakdown cover included.

Some of the key factors affecting premiums are age. Young motorcyclists have an alarmingly high accident rate and, according to statistics, are far more likely to be involved in an accident than more mature riders. The damage they can cause to themselves is very often costly and long lasting.

Occupation is also a deciding factor of premiums. Workers who spend many hours on the road travelling from one location to another will be subject to much higher premiums the more hours that are spent on the road the more likely accidents occur.

If you have made any claims in recent years for driving related accidents you should expect this to be reflected by a higher than average premium. Security devices such as immobilisers, alarms, steering locks and other security devices are only useful if they are activated. However their presence will result in a significantly lower premium, particularly in inner city areas.

As with any motor insurance, the more powerful the bike, the higher the premium is likely to be. The make of the bike may influence the premium also. Expensive bikes are also likely to attract higher premiums.

As with cars, most motorbikes will depreciate quite rapidly. In the event of a material damage claim, insurance companies will only pay the current market value of your bike. In these circumstances it may not be worth paying the additional premium for comprehensive cover over third party, fire and theft only.

If you get points on your license for speeding, dangerous driving etc your premium will go up, if you are disqualified for a period you will find insurance is very expensive when you get your license back.

You can sometimes get discounts because of the training you have done, passing an advanced test will usually get you a discount.

All of the above affect your premium, but it will also vary when the insurance companies are trying to balance their risks and you will usually find big differences in prices. Do your research though and don’t just go for the cheapest as sometimes, insurance company’s try to reduce premiums by reducing the cover.

Remember it is illegal to ride without insurance and always remain honest with insurance companies. If they were to discover that you have not told them something that they should have known, you may find that your insurance is invalid. Aside from the fact that they would not pay a claim, this could also leave you to prosecution for driving without insurance.