YOUR CAR
CAN BE STOLEN
in under 60 seconds with no alarm triggered
The real cost of a stolen car, and it is rarely just the car
The vehicle’s value is the number everyone quotes. The actual cost of a theft usually runs well beyond that, in ways a lot of owners only discover after it has already happened.
The no claims bonus you were not thinking about
A theft claim is typically treated as an at-fault claim for no claims bonus purposes, because there is no third party to recover the cost from. That usually means losing two or more years of no claims discount, on top of the higher base premium that follows any theft claim on your record.
The effect on your premium often lasts for years, not months. A single theft can quietly cost more in raised premiums over time than the excess you paid on the original claim.
This is general information, not insurance advice. Check your own policy for the specific terms that apply to your no claims bonus and any protection you may have purchased.
The gap between theft and a replacement car
Courtesy Cars Often Do Not Apply
Standard courtesy car cover frequently only applies to repairs, not to theft, leaving a real gap in mobility while a claim is processed.
Claims Take Time
Between reporting to police, opening a claim, and providing evidence, weeks can pass before a settlement clears, let alone a replacement vehicle arrives.
Work and Life Do Not Pause
Commutes, school runs, and work vehicles all still need to happen, often at the owner’s own cost, while the claim works through the system.
Why recovery is not the same as getting your car back
Recovery rates for stolen vehicles have improved but are still far from certain, and a recovered vehicle is not always the same car you handed the keys to. Vehicles are frequently stripped for parts, damaged in the process, or written off as a total loss even after being found. Recovery reduces the odds of total loss, it does not guarantee getting your actual car back in the condition you last saw it.
A recovered car still means a claim, a gap in mobility, and a lost no claims bonus. A car that was never started in the first place means none of that ever happens. That is the entire case for a CAN bus immobiliser over relying on recovery alone.
LockCar recommended for this page
- Stops the theft that leads to all these downstream costs
- Movement alerts and live camera stream
- Full insurance certificate included
- No mandatory monthly subscription
- A fixed, one-off cost against an unpredictable one
- From £150 fitted, full insurance certificate
Frequently asked questions
Does insurance cover my losses if my car is never recovered?
Comprehensive and Third Party, Fire and Theft policies typically cover the vehicle itself, subject to your policy terms. They do not usually cover the wider costs, such as lost no claims bonus, time without a car, or unrecovered personal items.
Is a lost no claims bonus really that expensive?
It varies by insurer and driving history, but losing two or more years of accumulated discount typically raises premiums for several years afterwards, often adding up to a meaningful sum over time.
Is this page insurance advice?
No. This is general information to help illustrate the wider costs of theft. Always check your own policy wording and speak to your insurer for advice specific to your situation.
A fixed cost now beats an unpredictable one later
LockCar CAN bus immobilisers are fitted UK-wide, with a full insurance certificate included.
