DOES YOUR RIDE NEED EXTRA PROTECTION AT CAR SHOWS?
Steering wheel lock, check. Valuables shoved under the seat, double check. I’m right there with you—sometimes I wonder if the only real “security system” I need is the fact that my ‘76 Dart doesn’t even have power windows. Who’s gonna bother, right?
That said, ever had a moment where you’re walking back to your car after a show and you spot someone just a bit too interested in your ride? Happened to me once at a swap meet. Guy was practically crawling around the passenger side window, and for a second I thought he was taking notes on my paint job (which would’ve been flattering... if it wasn’t for the fact he was staring straight at my glovebox). Turns out he just wanted to ask about my dash pad restoration, but man, my heart rate hit redline.
I get the whole “insurance wants to see you tried” angle. But does anybody actually know what counts as “trying”? Is a wheel lock enough? Or should I be taping up little notes that say “smile, you’re on camera,” even though my only camera is the one on my phone (and it’s usually pointing at my lunch)?
I keep seeing those GPS tracker ads everywhere, but honestly, if someone’s determined enough to haul off my old Plymouth, are they really going to be stopped by a $30 Amazon gadget? Sometimes I think half of car show security is just looking like you care enough to make it annoying for thieves.
Ever notice how the cars with all the high-tech alarms tend to be the ones everyone walks around anyway? My buddy’s got one of those systems that yells “step away from the vehicle” in this robotic voice—scared more kids than crooks so far.
Anyway, maybe it comes down to luck and not making your ride look like an easy target. Or maybe we’re all just one step away from putting cardboard cutouts of ourselves in the driver’s seat to freak out would-be thieves.
Honestly, I’ve always figured if someone wants it bad enough, they’ll find a way—no matter what gadgets you slap on. But then again, I’ve seen a simple club on the wheel make a thief walk right by. Ever had insurance actually ask for proof you “tried,” or is that just a rumor?
Ever had insurance actually ask for proof you “tried,” or is that just a rumor?
That’s not a rumor. Some insurance companies do want to see you took “reasonable precautions” if you file a claim, especially for classic or high-value cars. Here’s how it usually shakes out:
1. They’ll ask what anti-theft devices you had—alarm, club, kill switch, whatever. If you said you had a steering lock, they might want a receipt or photo.
2. If you’re at a show and your car gets swiped, they’ll check if it was in a secure area, or if you left the keys in it (don’t laugh, it happens).
3. Some policies straight up require certain devices for coverage, and if you don’t have them, they’ll deny the claim.
I get what you’re saying about “if they want it bad enough, they’ll take it.” But a club or visible deterrent can make your ride less appealing than the next guy’s. I’ve seen a thief skip a car with a club and go for the one without. Not foolproof, but it helps.
Bottom line: keep receipts, snap a pic of your setup, and don’t make it easy for the insurance folks to wiggle out of paying.
Bottom line: keep receipts, snap a pic of your setup, and don’t make it easy for the insurance folks to wiggle out of paying.
That’s solid advice. I’ve seen claims get delayed just because someone couldn’t prove they had a steering lock. Insurance isn’t trying to be a pain, but they do want to see you made an effort. Ever had to dig through old emails for a receipt? Not fun.
Couldn’t agree more about the receipts. I’ve actually started keeping a folder on my phone just for car stuff—photos of locks, alarms, even the serial numbers. It’s a pain to set up, but way easier than scrambling later. Insurance folks aren’t out to get us, but they’ll use any excuse if you’re missing proof. Honestly, I wish more policies just spelled out exactly what they want... would save a lot of headaches.