Is your car at risk? Crime rates affect car insurance premiums
The reason crime rates affect car insurance is because insurance is all about risk.
A car parked in a neighbourhood with a high car theft rate is at a higher risk of being stolen. That in turn means there is a higher chance the insurance provider will have to pay out at some point. For this reason, they will likely charge a higher premium to customers living in said area.
Car theft rates have been in the news lately, as Australia’s car theft watchdog is set to disband in September. The National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council has been going for 22 years and in that time it has gathered statistics on car theft and campaigned to reduce crime rates across the country.
With the end of the taskforce in sight, some are wondering whether car theft will rise. We thought now would be a good time to look at what affects car theft rates and how they have fared in the last few years.
Stolen car numbers down with a focus on awareness
Since it was established in 1999, the NMVTRC has worked to reduce car theft in Australia. Part of the council’s work has been to run campaigns raising awareness around how thieves operate. That way Australians can avoid having their wheels stolen altogether.
On top of this, the watchdog also produces regular reports on car theft in Australia. This includes its annual ‘Theft Watch’ report, which is released yearly. The report contains insights on car theft rates in different states and territories, motivations for theft and car models most targeted by thieves.
NMVTRC chief executive Geoff Hughes told insuranceNEWS.com.au earlier this year that car theft numbers had fallen 60% since the council was first formed two decades ago.
Although this reduction could be partially due to advances in technology, which leads us on to our next question.
Are modern cars harder to steal?
The simple answer is yes - modern cars are harder to steal. According to the NMVTRC, advances in security technology have made it impossible to hotwire a modern car. This, plus new anti-theft technology such as steering wheel locks, tire locks and even pedal locks play a role.
The proof seems to be in the pudding too, as car thefts seem to have mostly gone down in the past five years. That’s according to the latest Theft Watch report, which shows Australian car thefts went down between June 2020 and June 2021 (with the exception of the ACT and the NT).
Shockingly the NMVTRC’s research shows that 7 in 10 cars are stolen using the actual car keys! To add to this the council says around half of cars are taken from homes, this includes driveways, carports and garages. In a lot of these cases the homeowner is actually present.
The council’s ‘pop, lock, stop’ campaign aims to raise awareness about these ‘sneak thefts.’ The campaign urges Australian car owners to pop keys out of sight and lock all doors and windows to stop sneak thefts. Now that the council is to be disbanded in a month’s time though, many may be wondering what is next for car theft tracking.
More car thefts possible?
It is possible that reduced tracking could lead to more thefts, and therefore premium rises in some locations. Or perhaps modern car technology has progressed far enough to help car owners with this long standing concern.
It’s difficult to say what happens from here, but funding for theft tracking is important. The NMVTRC made the decision to disband after the Insurance Council of Australia announced that it would be cutting funding to the taskforce in June 2021. Previously the ICA’s contribution made up 50% of the NMVTRC’s funding.
We will be sure to keep tabs on how things progress and provide an update on the ICA’s collection of car theft data in the future. In the meantime, head to Mozo’s compare car insurance page for cover options for your own precious wheels.
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Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $400 - $2,500
- Agreed or market value
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Youi like to get to know you from the very first conversation, which provides you with the opportunity to find comprehensive car insurance cover that could better suit your lifestyle and your needs. Because we’re all individuals, so we all use our cars differently from day-to-day. Youi is car insurance that’s a bit more you-shaped. Mozo People's Choice Excellent Customer Service Car Insurance award winner in 2024.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years and a listed driver is the first registered owner
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $50 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- Unlisted and aged 25 and over: $700, Unlisted and aged under 25: $2,000, Listed and aged under 25: $600
- Roadside assistance
- Yes
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Youi Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes
- Choice of repairer
- No
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- $800 Flat Excess Fee
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Comprehensive Car Insurance
ROLLiN’ offers affordable monthly comprehensive car insurance with its favourite extras included. No additional excess for young drivers, lodge a claim 24/7 and zero cancellation fees. Hire car is included up to $80 per day for up to 21 days; cover for one tow to our nearest authorised repairer, following a covered incident. No excess on your first covered windscreen, sunroof, and window glass damage once per insurance period. List multiple cars and drivers under the one policy as long as they fit the underwriting criteria (excludes Safe ’n Save policies).
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 15,000km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 21 days, max $80 per day after a covered event
- Rental car after accident
- Yes - Up to 21 days, max $80 per day after a covered event
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - one claim can be made per Insurance Period, with $0 windscreen excess
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- No additional excess for young drivers. $3,000 for unlisted drivers
- Roadside assistance
- No
- Other benefits
- Optional benefit to boost the Single Car Value by 15%, it will be shown on your Insurance Certificate
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC NT TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
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Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
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- $550 - $1,900 (varies By State)
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- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years or 40,000 kilometres of original registration, whichever comes first
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days, max $1,000 total.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days for at fault accidents.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $40 on every windscreen claim for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for drivers under 21, $500 for drivers under 24, $600 for unlisted drivers, $500 for inexperienced drivers.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Extra
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $2,200
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- Online Discount $75
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Australia Post Comprehensive Car Insurance offers a broad range of coverage and includes cover for anyone who drives your vehicle. It also covers new car replacement if your recently purchased brand new car is written off within the first three years (provided it has travelled less than 60,000km). Get $100 off your first year's premium when you buy Comprehensive Car Insurance online. T&Cs apply.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 3 years and 60,000 km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess ($0 excess for repair only). Option to reduce windscreen replacement excess to $0 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Automatically covered.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for listed drivers under 25, $1,600 for unlisted drivers under 25.
- Roadside assistance
- No
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Australia Post Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $300 - $2,550
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- Online Discount $75
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- New car if written off
- Yes - within 3 years and 60,000 km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess ($0 excess for repair only). Option to reduce windscreen replacement excess to $0 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Automatically covered.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for listed drivers under 25, $1,600 for unlisted drivers under 25.
- Roadside assistance
- No
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC NT TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about QBE Comprehensive Car Insurance
* Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
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