Car stereos and valuables left on display are no longer the only ‘hot property’ for thieves - now they want your catalytic converters too.

Yes Insurance has reported a large increase in the number of catalytic converter thefts which have led to car insurance claims. According to the insurer, converters are popular with thieves because they are so expensive and contain rare metals such as platinum which have rocketed in value recently. It is believed a new catalytic converter can typically be sold for around £1,000.

Owners of 4×4 vehicles have been warned to be particularly wary. They are considered ‘easy targets’ because it’s straightforward to access the exhaust system and there is no need to use a car jack.

If you fall victim to a catalytic converter theft you’ll need to inform your car insurance provider as soon as possible - but unfortunately making a claim may mean sacrificing your no-claims bonus.

As a result, drivers should take steps to avoid having their converters stolen in the first place. Generally, they are stolen during the night and motorists discover they are missing when they attempt to start the car in the morning. Consequently, the insurer advises drivers to keep their car in a garage overnight - if that’s not possible, at least park in a busy and well-lit area rather than in a secluded and dark back street. Parking in a garage at night should also lower your car insurance premiums.

In addition, added awareness is important to catch criminals in the act. Watch out for anyone doing work under a vehicle to ensure its just innocent repairs and look out for anyone loading converters into a van.

Remember any measures you take to protect your vehicle should help you secure cheap car insurance - so keep your car insurance provider informed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Gregory

If you are searching for car insurance rates but you have no real idea of what they are or how they work, then you could be left feeling more than a little confused! There are hundreds of companies offering car insurance and there are so many different policies to learn about too. So just how do you know whether the rate you receive is right for you?

Understanding Car Insurance Rates

Car insurance rates vary depending upon the following:

• The Company

• Your Personal Details

• Your Car Make and Model

• The Policy you Take Out

Each of the above will make a significant difference to the rate that you are offered. Every individual insurance company will offer a different rate regardless of your personal details. So you could type in the exact same details for two different insurance companies and the rates are likely to be completely different.

Your personal details will make a difference to the rates however. Factors such as your gender, your age and how long you have been driving will dramatically affect the rate that you are offered. If you have only been driving for a short period, your rate will be higher than it would be for somebody who has been driving for ten years. This is because you obviously do not have as much experience and within your first year of driving you are more likely to have an accident.

Your gender also makes a difference as female drivers are thought to be safer drivers than males. Finally your age makes a difference because the younger you are, the higher risk you have of having an accident. So, personal details do play a big part in an insurance quote.

The make and model of your car will also change the car insurance rates that you are offered. If your car is considered to be “sporty” then you will be expected to pay a higher rate. Sporty cars are generally driven faster than other types of cars and so insurance companies reflect this in their quotes. Also classic cars have older parts that can be harder and more expensive to find. So if you were to have an accident in a classic car, the insurance claim would be significantly higher. For that reason your insurance rate will be quite high.

Finally the policy that you choose to take out will also make a difference to the rate you are offered. You need to know that there are a large number of different policies you can benefit from. Most people assume that everything is covered in the insurance and they learn the hard way that certain things do not always come as standard. Fire and theft are two types of insurance that you will need protecting from, but they are not always covered under certain policies.

Overall you need to understand the different factors that determine car insurance rates. Without having a good understanding of what is available and how your details could affect your quote, it is not possible to find the best insurance to suit you.

David Thomson is Chief Executive of BestDealInsurance an independent specialist broker dedicated to giving consumers the best insurance deal. They offer great value home, life and car insurance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_H_Thomson

What is fun, glamorous, exciting and very expensive to insure? Welcome!
Classic cars are in a category of its own. Very expensive to insure as they signify something glamourous, fun and exciting. Those are loud statements for attracting car thieves. What’s more, they are also very expensive to maintain. Classic car insurance policies are generally put into three categories:

* Classic Cars: These cars should be older than fifteen years. Many people feel that anything prior to 1970 is a classic. (We will leave the arguing up to you!)

* Vintage Cars: These cars have a manufacturing date between 1903 and 1933.

* Veteran Cars: These cars are a gem and their manufacturing dates are anything prior to 1903.

So, which category does your vehicle fall under, for obtaining classic car insurance purposes?

Whichever category your vehicle falls within, you should look at classic car insurance. Sadly, many of the large insurance companies do not offer any “classic car insurance” and they will treat your vehicle like a vehicle that just rolled off of a car lot.

Whicever of the three categories your vehicle belongs to, you should be looking for classic car insurance. Unfortunately, many large insurance companies do not even offer this special category of classic car insurance. They may even treat it as a commonly sold second-hand vehicle.

So it’s up to your own device to get the correct classic car insurance. This may take up some research time but with the Internet you should be able to find your classic car insurance more easily than before.

Certain things you should be keeping in mind when buying classic car insurance:

* Value is a relative term for classic cars. When you approach many insurance companies, each of them can quote a different value for your classic car. It’s important that you agree with their valuation before signing up for any policy.

* Make sure that the value of your classic car is “guaranteed” in the insurance policy. Some car insurance companies have refused to pay car owners the full value of their vehicles. If it is not guaranteed in the contract, you may be very angry if your car was damaged beyond repair or stolen.

* Avoid signing up with general insurance companies and seek out insurance companies that deal with these special vehicles. The rates are better and the policies are made to fit your needs. You usually can find them advertising in classic car magazines or by asking another classic car enthusiast.

Just about every car owner wants to save money on car insurance. Ken Charnley helps you do just that on his budget car insurance website where he gives tips on how to save money on car insurance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Charnley