Car Theft: Why Keyless Cars are Making you a Target - and How to Protect Yourself
Car theft in the UK isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days of smashed windows and forced entry, today’s thieves don’t even need to touch your keys.
In recent years, over 340,000 cars have been stolen in the UK and the reality? The majority of them are never seen again.
So why is this happening? And more importantly, how can you stop it?
A Worrying Rise in Car Thefts
Think having your car stolen is a rare situation to be in? Perhaps a super unlucky day? Well, that ‘unlucky’ day is becoming the reality for many motorists.
Car theft is becoming increasingly common, with over 130,000 cars being stolen each year in the UK. The concerning part? The majority of these vehicles are never recovered and the theft rates are sharply increasing. This means that if your car is stolen, it’s likely gone for good.
Today’s thieves are often part of organised criminal networks. Stolen vehicles can be quickly moved, resold and even shipped overseas within a matter of hours – making recovery virtually impossible.
And for those affected, it’s not just the inconvenience of losing a car, it’s the wider financial loss that follows close behind.
Why Keyless Cars are Easier To Steal (and How it Happens)
As modern cars continue to adapt to high tech systems, this convenience has created a window for thieves.
Keyless entry and stop/start systems allow you to unlock and drive a vehicle without even taking the keys out of your pocket. However, this ease has been exploited due to relay attacks.
Here’s how it works:
- The thieves work in pairs. One standing next to your home by the front door (often where keys are kept), the other stands by your car.
- Using specialist devices, they capture the signal from your keys and transmit this to the car.
- Your car is tricked into thinking the key is present and is able to be unlocked and started.
This invisible attack can take less than a minutes and the worst part? Owners don’t even know their car is stolen until the next day.
The Simplest Way to Protect your Car: Faraday Pouches
One simple and affordable way to reduce your risk is by using a Faraday pouch.
Faraday pouches are designed to block any signals from your key fob, preventing thieves from getting access. Once your key is placed inside, your car can no longer detect its signal, making relay attacks much more difficult.
In a world where car thefts are increasingly high tech, it’s a surprisingly simple solution, as the pouches are affordable, easy to use and work well.
While having a Faraday pouch can’t 100% guarantee your car won’t get stolen, having one significantly reduces your risk.
What Happens if Your Car is Stolen?
In the unfortunate event your car is stolen and never recovered, the financial impact can be immense. Most standard car insurance policies only tend to pay out your car’s current market value at the time of claim. As cars depreciate in value over time, this often leaves a financial gap between your insurer’s payout and what you originally paid – or still owe on finance or lease repayments.
Let’s say:
You buy a car for £20,000
A year later it’s stolen and your insurer only values it at £15,000
That’s a £5000 gap and you still need to buy a new car.
This is unfortunately becoming the reality for many drivers.
Why GAP Insurance Matters More Than Ever
With car theft on the rise and vehicles depreciating so quickly, GAP Insurance is becoming increasingly essential.
GAP Insurance is specifically designed to cover the difference between what your insurer pays out and either, what you originally paid for the vehicle or what you still owe on finance.
In the event of theft – this ensures you’re not left out of pocket.
Prevention and Protection: The Smartest Approach
When it comes to car theft, a combination of prevention and protection is your best chance at staying stable.
Prevention:
- Use a Faraday pouch
- Be mindful where you store your keys
Protection:
- Have GAP Insurance in place to protect your finances
MotorEasy has a range of different GAP Insurance options that are tailored to each vehicle type. If your car is new or used, bought from a private seller or dealership, we can cover you. We can’t reduce the chances of your vehicle being targeted or stolen but we can provide that extra reassurance throughout.
