What security should you invest in for your vehicle

While there have been car alarms for decades, there have also been advances in security for vehicles that do not involve an alarm. There are newer cars on the market that have immobilisers fitted at the point of manufacture, for example, which assist preventing car theft. However, you can also get immobilisers fitted to your vehicle retrospectively that prevent it from starting unless the correct key or code is presented. 

There are also many modern vehicles that are now ‘keyless’ so owners do not even have to get their key out of their bag or pocket to unlock the car. While this is a handy innovation, it does increase the risk of a keyless car theft, as criminals can hijack the signal of the key to unlock the car, and even start the engine and drive away. To prevent this from happening, Faraday pouches have been introduced, which block the signal. 

There are also DIY products you can fit to your car, physical deterrents, such as steering wheel locks and wheel clamps, that will be difficult to get off without the key and therefore deter thieves. There has also been a newer product introduced to the market, an Onboard Diagnostic (OBD) port lock, so that if a thief does get into the vehicle without the key, they cannot access the OBD port where they might bypass the immobiliser or even reprogramme a key, in order to steal the car. 

You can also install a tracker in your car, so if the thieves were to get into it and get away, you can see where they’ve gone and point the police to them. And with a tracker, you may have the chance of your car being recovered, so it’s worth considering investing in one.

While these products are handy to help prevent a theft, there are also simple things to do to prevent your car being a target in the first place, such as never leaving valuables in your car when you’re not in it, always remembering to lock it and parking in well-lit, safe areas.