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Insurance warning over car defrosting

26/12/07

Car owners are being advised to remain with their vehicles while they are defrosting in the morning.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (Biba) said that theft claims tend to rise during the winter as drivers leave their cars unattended with the keys in the ignition.

Biba said that car insurance customers could fall victim to opportunists or thieves who know the time when someone goes to work.

"People go outside, switch their car on, go back inside and have a cup of coffee and when they go outside, they've got no car," said Graeme Trudgill, technical and corporate affairs executive at Biba.

He said that even if a car only takes a couple of minutes to defrost, it is advisable to stay with the vehicle.

"Unfortunately, gone are the days when you can leave your door open and the same goes with your car. You do need to take security measures there."

Apart from the personal loss of a stolen car, theft claims could be contentious as car insurance firms may argue that due care was not taken by the driver.

"If you go to your car insurance broker, who will hopefully sell you the best policy you can get, you do need to still take reasonable precautions," he added.

Sainsbury's Bank has estimated that between 2000 and 2005, up to 121,730 households fell victim to this type of theft.

And according to Greater Manchester Police, 150 vehicles were stolen across the Manchester region during icy weather in January and February, when drivers left their cars unattended with the engines running.

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