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6 Ways to Prevent Car Theft

Plus, what to do if it happens to you


spinner image a man scratching his head while looking at an outline of a missing car
Rob Dobi

Car manufacturers add all sorts of bells and whistles to make the driving experience easier and more comfortable (and to get you to buy their brand). But they’ve yet to make a car that crooks can’t nab from the street, a parking lot or your driveway. Car theft has increased by 25 percent over the past few years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). And aside from the stress of dealing with your car being stolen, there are the practical difficulties of being without the transportation you depend on to get to medical appointments, the store and other important places you need to go.

But there are ways to minimize your chances of being a victim of car theft.

1. Don’t ever leave the car running

Even if you just plan to hop into the store for a minute, don’t leave your car on, says Cale Gould, public outreach coordinator for the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority, adding that depending on where you live, it might even be against the law.

“In Colorado, we call these ‘puffers’ because it tends to be more common in chilly winters where the white puff of smoke from the exhaust pipe is like a flashing neon sign to thieves saying, ‘Steal me, steal me. I am running unattended,’” Gould says. 

2. Go old-school with your anti-theft system

States with the greatest uptick in stolen cars from 2022 to 2023

District of Columbia: 64 percent increase

Maryland: 63 percent

Connecticut: 33 percent

Nevada: 18 percent

Massachusetts: 16 percent

Delaware: 15 percent

New York: 15 percent

Pennsylvania: 13 percent

Nebraska 12 percent

Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee: 10 percent

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau

The days of installing a remote-controlled car alarm are mostly gone since many modern vehicles come with one. But when they do sound off, especially in urban areas, it can be easy for those nearby to brush off the noise as a false alarm. 

Low tech might be the way to go, says Kay Wakeman, director of insurance outreach for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). She’s a fan of The Club, a steering wheel lock that was popular in the 80s and 90s. 

Gould, who is also a fan of The Club, says the iconic red device is definitely making a comeback. If you’re a thief, “why would you bother to overcome a manual locking system when there is a car that’s unlocked next door?”

The Club is also good for older cars without a lot of anti-theft tech, says Wakeman, adding that The Club is pretty much the “only physical way to prevent your car from being stolen” if you don’t have an anti-theft system.

Another old-school tip: Fake them out, says Gould. “You could buy stickers on Amazon that say this vehicle has GPS tracking, and that sticker is a huge theft deterrent,” he says.

3. Scratch up your car

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No, not the way you’re thinking. We’re talking about etching the vehicle identification number (VIN) in more places on your car (it usually comes stamped on the driver’s door, near the windshield and on the engine).

Why? It deters thieves who want to steal your car to chop it up for parts or even just steal specific parts, says Gould, adding that “parts marking is a great way to deter theft and recover components, and we recommend it to the extent that it is practical and feasible.”

The Victoria, Texas, police department website suggests adding the VIN on each of the windows as an especially good deterrent; it puts the thief in the position of having to replace and dispose of about 100 pounds of identifiable glass — which is often more than they want to deal with.

You can ask a service shop to etch the car’s VIN onto parts like the catalytic converter, the glass surfaces on the windows, the moonroof and the headlamps.

4. Install a remote kill switch and visual deterrents

You or your mechanic can install a remote kill switch in your car that can cut the power to a few different vital car systems — like the fuel pump — using your key fob.

“The remote-style kill switches are a great product and can serve to prevent a theft, as well as limit the distance a stolen vehicle can travel,” Gould says, adding that some versions of the switch will even shut the car off after a short time if they don’t sense the exact fob that came with the car. 

There’s also a button, which Gould calls the secret switch, that you can install somewhere inside the car, like under the dashboard. You have to press this button before the car will start, even if you have a key. “The secret switch is of course only as good as the hiding place or the thieves’ knowledge of the vehicle,” Gould says. “But for the cost and effectiveness of the secret switch, it’s one of my go-to recommendations for vehicle theft prevention, especially on older vehicles.”

Gould says it would be wise to add a visual deterrent (such as the aforementioned stickers or The Club) along with a kill switch so a thief doesn’t end up damaging doors, windows or steering columns trying to steal the car before they realize it can be immobilized.

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5. Secure your license plates

Car models stolen most often in 2023

Hyundai Elantra: 48,445

Hyundai Sonata: 42,813

Kia Optima: 30,204

Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 23,721

Kia Soul: 21,001

Honda Accord: 20,895

Honda Civic: 19,858

Kia Forte: 16,209

Ford F150 Series Pickup: 15,852

Kia Sportage: 15,749

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau

Thieves often remove the license plates from the cars they take, making identification harder. Thwart them by swapping out the standard Philips or hex head screws with an anti-theft version, which comes packaged with a special screwdriver bit. Chances are crooks won’t be carrying the same special bit around, which makes removing the plates harder and stealing your car less worth their time. 

“Tamper-proof license plate screws of all varieties are great and low-cost,” Gould says. “License plate theft goes hand in hand with auto theft.”

There are many incidents where folks have their plates stolen or switched and don’t even notice for a long period of time until they receive an outrageous toll bill, or an unexpected call from law enforcement saying their plate was recovered, says Gould.

6. Have a commonsense parking plan

It sounds basic, but is worth mentioning: Park in well-lit areas, even if that means walking a bit further. Street lights or parking lot lights make it harder for thieves to work on a car unnoticed.

Gould says it is important to make the car as visible as possible so it’s harder for the thief to steal the car unnoticed.

And if your car does get stolen? Have a plan of action

Report the stolen vehicle immediately. Call the police first, states the National Insurance Crime Bureau website (NICB). Often the insurance company requires a police report. But do call the insurance company soon, says Wakeman, because the quicker you do, the quicker they can start your claim. And there are few key pieces of information you should have ready that will make reporting easier and faster.

Have your car’s identifying info at the ready. You will need the make/model, color, license plate and VIN. The VIN is often on your insurance policy or the proof of insurance card. You can also find the VIN stamped on the car, either where the dashboard meets the windshield (visible from the outside corner on the driver’s side), the driver’s side door or in the car’s app.

Get a vehicle recovery system. This might not prevent someone from stealing your car, but it can help you get it back, according to the NHTSA. There is a wide range of GPS trackers on the market, from simple DIY options that plug into the OBD-II port on a compatible car (typically under the dashboard) to more elaborate ones that might require professional installation. Car and Driver magazine has a list of their best for 2024. GPS tracking is different from an Apple AirTag, which doesn’t have the same range but can still be useful in finding a car if the device is detected by other Apple users. Some police departments, including those in New York City and Washington, D.C., are even handing out Apple AirTags as a means to track stolen vehicles.

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