UK hotspots for car insurance theft claims revealed

Motorists in Chislehurst in Bromley and Wingate in Cleveland are revealed as the most likely in the UK to claim on their motor insurance for theft from their car or theft of their car, according to data from moneysupermarket.com.

The UK's leading price comparison site analysed 3.8 million motor insurance quotes made by consumers on its website over the past year (September 2008 - August 2009), revealing motorists in Chislehurst are three times more likely to make a claim on their insurance for theft compared to the UK average.

Unsurprisingly, the research also revealed big cities are affected, with Manchester, Sheffield and Bradford featuring in the top 20 for those making a claim for theft on their car insurance Other areas appearing as claim hotspots are Romford and Ilford, which feature in the top 20 postcodes three times each.

Steve Sweeney, head of motor insurance at moneysupermarket.com said: "I am not surprised to see metropolitan areas of the country such as Manchester and Sheffield fall in the top 20 postcodes areas. However what the research does reveal is a broad mix of places across the country are at risk, highlighting the issue that no matter where you live, there is always a chance you could become a victim of theft and motorists should take this risk seriously.

"Having items stolen from your car is an unpleasant experience, and with so many vehicles now containing expensive gadgets such as sound systems and Sat Navs (often on show), they have become even more of a target for opportunistic thieves. Securing vehicles properly and always ensuring you have locked up and parked in a safe place are the easiest things motorists can do to safeguard their car and the items within it. Likewise, motorists concerned about becoming victims of theft could install an alarm or use a steering wheel lock as a deterrent to thieves. It goes without saying that leaving your possessions, no matter how small, on display in your car makes you an easy target. Whether it's a Sat Nav or a mobile phone, always make sure you take anything valuable out of your vehicle when you intend to leave it.

"For those living in areas with a higher risk of theft of, or from their vehicle it is even more important to shop around and look for the best deals available for your car insurance, as premiums in such areas are likely to be much higher. Motorists need to be aware of how they can reduce their premiums to get car insurance cover that is the best value for money."

Top Tips for reducing the cost of Car insurance:

Keep you car in a safe place such as a garage or driveway where possible
A younger driver can make great savings by adding an older driver to their policy
Shop around for the best value deal for your circumstances
Increase your voluntary excess from £100 to £500 if you can afford to
Add a partner
Halve your mileage by car-pooling with a colleague