Millions of drivers are now relying on old-school technology costing just a few pounds to protect their cars from theft. New research from Direct Line Motor insurance reveals that despite the rise of advanced security technologies, 1.2 million luxury car owners are relying on ‘old school’ physical security measures to keep their high-end cars secure.
Measures include steering locks that retail from just £17 or installing bollards that can retail from £50, to try and keep their vehicles worth tens of thousands of pounds safe from thieves. People are investing in additional security because they are so worried about car crime. A quarter of luxury car owners in fact worry multiple times a week about their car being stolen.
Concerns over the vulnerability of modern car technologies is driving motorists to turn to ‘old school’ security measures. Two fifths of owners that park their luxury cars on their drive at home feel they need additional security measures to further protect their car from being stolen.
Over three quarters of those with cars worth £40,000 or more say their vehicle has keyless entry and ignition. Owners are worried that this places their car at risk of relay theft, when criminals use a car’s technology against itself by tricking the keyless entry system into thinking the key fob is within range.
A quarter of owners of cars with keyless entry and ignition use a Faraday device when parked at home, to stop criminals attempting relay theft, no matter if it’s on the drive or parked on the street outside. A further 21 per cent ensure that their car keys are stored a long way from their car when it’s parked on their drive.
Matt Pernet, Head of Motor Insurance at Direct Line said: “Car theft is an everyday concern for luxury car owners in modern Britain. It is clear many drivers don’t wish to rely just on their keyless locking and ignition systems as secure technologies, so are resorting to additional security measures, from Faraday cages and steering wheel locks to further protect their vehicle. Additional security measures not only help to further protect your vehicle when away from it, but can also help to be a deterrent too.”