Don't let car thieves put a spanner in your Christmas
M&S Bank is urging motorists to check their car insurance policy before they hit the shops this Christmas, with seasonal shopping trips expected to put the value of vehicle contents at around £263 per trip, which could be put at risk if left in an underinsured car.
Consumers are expected to make two main trips to the shops to collect their festive goodies, the combined spend for both trips is set to total £526, which includes £347 on gifts and £179 on food and drink.
The most common day to hit the shops is Saturday December 8th, when shoppers will buy the majority of their Christmas presents. The favoured day for food shopping is Saturday December 22nd.
Neil Rogers, head of insurance at M&S Bank, said: "Choosing and buying Christmas presents is a fun part of the festive build up for many people - seeing the lights and decorations, and finding the perfect gift really gets people in the Christmas spirit.
"Unfortunately this time of year does mean the car boot can become a target for opportunistic thieves, so it's important to make sure you've got adequate vehicle content cover for your Christmas shopping."
In addition to £200 cover for personal belongings, M&S Car Insurance includes an extra £300 cover for shopping purchased in M&S stores, giving shoppers £500 worth of cover, providing extra reassurance particularly over the festive period.
Neil's top tips to keep your shopping safe
Keep shopping bags covered and locked in the car boot - they could be tempting for opportunistic thieves if left visible to passers by
Don't leave expensive electrical items in view - make sure mobile phones and GPS devices are safely locked away or removed from the vehicle
Don't make it easy for thieves - be sure to fully close all windows and roof panels and always lock the vehicle, even if you're just getting a ticket for the car park
Don't leave receipts in shopping bags - so you've got them to hand should the worst happen
Check your car insurance policy - make sure you know what your policy covers