New Year's Eve & Day see more car thefts compared with other holidays

Through the first three quarters of 2022, more than 745,000 vehicles were stolen in the U.S., according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), which reported the estimated worth of stolen vehicles, as of Sept. 2022, was $6.6 billion.

The number of vehicles stolen in the U.S. this year is expected to surpass 1 million, according to the NICB.

When it comes to car thieves and seasonal celebrations, New Year’s Eve and Day are the holidays when they are most active. As such, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) is urging policyholders to take extra precautions as the holiday approaches. The insurance trade group offers the following tips to help policyholders protect their vehicles:

1. If you want insurance to help replace a stolen vehicle, you should consider purchasing comprehensive coverage. Additionally, many insurers offer discounts for drivers who have anti-theft devices.
2. If your vehicle is stolen, report the theft to the police and contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible. Keep a record of your license plate number, and vehicle identification number and a copy of your registration to help identify and locate your car after a theft. Generally, you will not be held responsible for damages caused by your stolen vehicle.
3. Depending on your coverage, your insurance may cover rental car charges while you are looking to replace your stolen vehicle.
4. If your stolen vehicle is recovered, insurance may cover the impounding and towing fees. But beware of abusive vehicle towing and storage practices that are designed to make it difficult to gain access to the vehicle so that higher fees may be charged.
5. Avoid making your car a target for break-ins by parking in well-lit areas and, when possible, park in areas staffed by security. Keep shopping, bags, cell phones, tablets, purses, backpacks and other personal property out of sight. If personal property is stolen from your car, it may be covered under your homeowners or renters policy.
6. Make sure thieves don’t have easy access to your vehicle by ensuring that your windows are all the way up, doors are locked, the vehicle is not left running unattended, and always take the keys or fob when you leave a vehicle.
7. There are several anti-theft devices on the market for vehicles ranging from steering wheel locks, alarms, and car wheel clamps, which keep wheels from rolling.

“While car thefts generally make up a small portion of the overall losses that insurance pays for, anything that increases costs like car thefts makes insurance cost more. By taking precautions that will make thieves think twice about attempting to take your vehicle, they may leave the area and your vehicle untouched,” Bob Passmore, department vice president, personal lines, for APCIA, said in a release.

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