How to prevent car theft
The best way to prevent car theft is to make your vehicle a challenging target so that thieves will look for an easier one. Regardless of the sophisticated security technology available, thieves are finding increasingly inventive ways to steal cars. We've got car theft prevention tips such as making sure your vehicle is locked, parking in a safe area or better yet a locked garage, and ideas for gadgets like tracking devices and vehicle immobilizers.
Explore Progressive Answers' auto editorial guidelines to find out why you can trust the car insurance information you find here.
Car theft prevention tips
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), more than 1 million vehicles were stolen in 2023, up one percent from the previous year. However, in 2022, vehicle thefts jumped nearly 7% over the previous year, with full-size pickups being the most popular target, according to Consumer Affairs. Whether the car itself or the items inside, these car theft prevention tips help make your car an undesirable or difficult target. Thieves will move on and look for a better target if it's too much work or too risky.
Most car theft prevention advice applies to all scenarios, vehicles and drivers. These basic strategies are your first line of defense and include common-sense approaches and less obvious car theft prevention tips. Strategies include:
Securing doors and windows
The best way to prevent car theft is to lock your doors and roll windows up when you leave the car. Leaving the windows open, even a small crack, can be enough to let a crook slip in a tool to open the door. This is especially true for car doors with T-shaped lock mechanisms, which wire tools and similar devices can grab.
Removing identifying documents
Many people keep their title and registration in the car for easy access if law enforcement stops them. However, these documents usually contain personal information that a thief can use — like a home address. The information in those documents can even help the thief sell or dispose of the car once they've got it.
Removing valuables from the car
If a thief can see something worth stealing — a cell phone, computer, musical instrument, or other valuable objects — they have more incentive to try and break in. If you must leave something in the car, cover it with a blanket. Thieves are less likely to risk being caught if they don't know what they might find.
Parking in a safe area
Parking in a well-lit area with good sightlines, especially at night, can protect your car from theft by discouraging thieves, who avoid places that are easy to see.
Don't leave your car running unattended
You might be surprised to learn that thieves stole 287,024 cars because the owner had left the keys inside the vehicle. That's a stunning 11% of the total number of cars stolen between 2019 and 2021, according to the NICB. The practice is called "puffing" when you leave your car running unattended, whether to warm it up on a frigid morning or run into the corner coffee shop to grab your morning brew.
If you have a garage, use it — and lock the garage and the car door. If you don't have a garage, park in your driveway with the drive wheels away from the street — making it harder for thieves to tow a car away. If you park on the street, turn the wheels toward the curb, making it more difficult for the thief to maneuver the car quickly or tow.
If you're worried about catalytic converter theft, try to park with your exhaust pipe near a wall, making it difficult to access with tools.
What devices might protect your car from theft?
If you worry that basic car theft prevention tips won't be sufficient, products and services are available for every budget for increased protection.
- Vehicle security stickers: Consider adding stickers to the window that say the car is protected by an alarm or security service -- whether your car has an alarm or not.
- Tracking device: A GPS tracker can help you find the car if someone steals it — add a decal or sticker alerting thieves to the device.
- Etch the windows: Thieves often need to scrub the vehicle's identifying information before selling it to a chop shop. Etching the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the windows makes this more difficult and time-consuming.
- Install an alarm or anti-theft device: More advanced alarm systems can be integrated into the car's wiring, triggering your car's horn to honk, etc.
- Install a dashcam: Look for a dash camera with a parking mode. These cameras can activate and start recording if the car is disturbed. Learn more about the insurance benefits of dash cameras.
- Vehicle immobilizer: A device that prevents the engine from starting when the correct ignition key is not used. An immobilizer is automatic and comes standard in most vehicles built after 1998. You'll find details in your owner's manual.
- Get comprehensive coverage: Adding comprehensive car insurance coverage can help you get back on track if someone steals your car. Learn more about how car insurance covers theft.
What to do if your car is stolen
Here are the steps to follow when you think someone has stolen your car:
Call the police
Report that your car has been stolen as soon as you discover it to maximize your chance of the police finding it. The NICB reports that law enforcement recovered 85% of passenger vehicles stolen in 2022, with 34% of those recovered within a day of being reported stolen.
Give the police the make, model, year, color and license plate number and any unique features of your vehicle. Also, give them the time and location where the car went missing, and whether it was equipped with a GPS tracker.
Inform your insurance company
Let your insurance company know about the theft. They will ask you for the police report, your vehicle's VIN, the time, and location of the theft, and if there were any valuables in the vehicle.
Notify the DMV
Report your vehicle's theft to the DMV so they will not register it to another person in error.
Inquire about security footage
If you parked the vehicle in a public place, ask local businesses if they have video of the location to help identify the thief, or see in which direction your car was headed.
Secure your personal information
If you had a copy of your vehicle registration containing your home address, consider taking steps to secure your identity, such as putting a temporary freeze on your credit records to prevent identity theft.
Quote car insurance online or give us a call
Learn more about car insurance policies.
