HAVING your car stolen is any driver’s worst nightmare, but new tech could make it easier to track it down – if you choose the right insurer.
Some car insurance policies include a device that will help police find your car if it is stolen.
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But you’ll need to choose the right policy if you want this extra cover.
It comes as one driver from Battersea woke one morning to find her Land Rover Discovery had disappeared.
Jo Coombs had left her vehicle in a private car park, which had large gates, locked and controlled by a key code.
After reporting the theft to the police, she remembered her app-based insurance policy had a GPS tracker.
The device tracks the numbers of miles you drive each month, but it also shows you where you’ve been.
Using the app, Jo could see where the thieves had taken her car and was able to track it down.
Jo’s super sleuth work is an unexpected benefit for a particular type of car insurance policy.
Telematics insurance is often called “black box” insurance. It’s where a small device is put into your car to monitor how many miles you do – and how well you drive.
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The insurance policies are particularly popular among younger drivers as it can help cut the cost of their premiums.
New drivers face paying hundreds of pounds more on average to get insured, because they are assumed to be a bigger risk on the roads.
But telematics policies are also popular among drivers who don’t put many miles on the clock, as some let you pay per mile you drive, which can cut insurance costs too.
Others may reward you for careful driving, as they can monitor your speed and how sharply you brake, or for not driving late at night or during peak hours.
But as well as the potential savings, drivers could find another bonus in having a telematics policy.
Mike Powell, car insurance expert at Defaqto, said: “Some ‘telematic’ insurance products include a device that helps you track your car if it is stolen.
“This is typically provided as an additional service which can be activated to help track the location of your car.
“Although this is a real benefit, it does not always guarantee that your car can be located though.
“There could be situations where the service may not work, such as the thief removing the device from your car or being in a location that is out of range of the GPS tracking device.”
Here is a full list of the insurance which offer telematics policies with a theft tracking device option:
- Admiral
- Carrot Insurance
- Churchill
- Co-op Insurance
- Direct Line
- Drive like a girl
- Endsleigh
- General Accident
- Haven Insurance
- Ingenie
- Insurethebox
- Jurny
- Markerstudy Insurance Services
- Mulsanne Insurance
- My Policy
- Privilege
- Pukka Services
- Smartdriverclub Insurance
- WiseDriving
Be aware though, that not all of their policies will include this feature, so if you want the ability to track your car, make sure you’re choosing the right policy before you sign up.
You should also read any terms and conditions before choosing “black box” insurance, as some may charge you extra if you drive too many miles or at certain times of day.
Using comparison sites can be a good way to look at insurance prices and choose the best deal for you.
It’s also worth checking to see if there are any cashback offers that could get you money back on your spend.
Saving money on insurance is more important than ever, as motorists are facing rising prices at the petrol pumps.
Research by Compare the Market recently found the annual cost of driving a petrol car has soared to £1,843.
It said the typical car insurance policy had increased from £598 last year, to £680 now.
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