Leaving your car running unattended could invalidate your insurance

As another cold snap approaches, swiftcover.com warns that more than 2,000 car thefts happen each year as a result of motorists walking away from their cars while they warm up on cold mornings - equating to £12.7 million in losses. The online insurer went on to reveal that of swiftcover.com policyholders alone, cars totalling more than £170,000 were stolen in just one cold snap in December 2010.

swiftcover.com's research shows that almost half (47 per cent) of UK motorists would return to their house to collect something, whilst leaving their car unlocked with the engine running to warm the car up. However, this is a practice that many motorists (80 per cent) accept could void their car insurance if the vehicle was to be stolen. Furthermore, a staggering 27,000 cars have been left alone to warm up for as long as ten minutes in the winter.

Robin Reames, claims director at swiftcover.com said: "Leaving a car with keys in the ignition provides a perfect opportunity for thieves, and we as motorists are especially likely to do this at this time of year. People have an ‘it won't happen to me' attitude and think that it's fine to quickly nip into the house. However in reality, it can and does happen anywhere in the UK."

Analysis of swiftcover.com's historic data showed that in recent years, the first quarter (January to March) provides the most claims relating to stolen vehicles which have been left to warm up. 

"The first quarter of every year unfortunately sees a dramatic rise in this type of crime, and it happens even in the most prestigious neighbourhoods. It's likely that insurers will not cover a car left with the keys in the ignition; however, we do look at these types of claims on a case-by-case basis. That said, almost five million motorists are unaware that their insurance policy does not cover them if their car is stolen while unattended with the engine running." 

swiftcover.com is warning motorists that insurers may invalidate their car insurance if a policyholder was to walk away from their car while the keys are left in the ignition. It urges motorists to factor in extra time on cold mornings to sit in their vehicle while they wait for the engine to warm up. This will dramatically reduce the potential threat of theft while maintaining eligibility for cover.