"Funny enough, my neighbor went full James Bond and installed security cameras everywhere after his classic got keyed. Insurance loved it, but honestly, it felt a bit overkill to me."
Haha, your neighbor sounds exactly like my uncle—he went all-in on security after someone stole the hood ornament off his vintage Benz. Cameras, alarms, even a motion-activated sprinkler system (no joke). It was hilarious until he forgot to turn it off one morning and soaked the mail carrier... poor guy didn't see it coming.
Anyway, I totally get the frustration with insurers and garages. I had a similar headache when I first insured my old VW camper van. The insurance rep kept insisting on a locked garage, but come on—who has space for that in a city apartment? After some back-and-forth, I ended up doing something similar to you guys: steering wheel lock, immobilizer, and even one of those GPS trackers hidden under the dash. Snapped some quick photos of everything installed and sent them over. Surprisingly enough, they accepted it without much fuss. Saved me from having to rent storage space across town or something equally inconvenient.
Honestly though, motion lights are probably the smartest move here—cheap, easy to install (even for us IKEA-challenged folks), and they genuinely deter casual thieves. Plus, they're handy when you're fumbling around in the dark trying to find your keys after a late-night drive home from a road trip... ask me how I know.
I guess there's always going to be someone who goes full spy-mode with their security setup, but sometimes simpler really is better. Glad you found something practical that works without emptying your wallet or turning your driveway into Fort Knox.
"Honestly though, motion lights are probably the smartest move here—cheap, easy to install (even for us IKEA-challenged folks), and they genuinely deter casual thieves."
Yeah, motion lights are underrated. But have you guys considered dashcams too? I installed one after someone backed into my Mustang at the grocery store and drove off... Insurance loved the footage, and it saved me from a ton of hassle. Cameras everywhere might be overkill, but a simple dashcam setup can really pay off if something happens.
Dashcams are definitely a solid suggestion, especially if you've got a vintage ride you're trying to protect. I had a similar experience—someone clipped my parked car and drove off without leaving a note. Luckily, my dashcam caught the plate number clearly, and insurance handled it smoothly. They're pretty affordable these days too, so it's not a huge investment considering the potential headaches they can save you down the road...
Dashcams do seem like a smart move, especially if you're trying to keep costs down in the long run. Did you find yours easy enough to install yourself, or did you have to get someone else to do it? I've been considering one for my older car too, but I'm not exactly handy with wiring and stuff... Also, do you think insurance companies offer any discounts if you've got one installed? I know some insurers give breaks for anti-theft devices or alarms, so maybe dashcams fall into that category too. Either way, sounds like it saved you a ton of hassle—definitely makes me lean toward getting one sooner rather than later.
Dashcams are handy, but honestly, don't count on them for insurance discounts. Most insurers don't officially recognize dashcams as safety devices yet, unlike alarms or immobilizers. Installation-wise, if you're not comfortable with wiring, it might be worth paying someone to do it right—especially in a vintage car where electrical gremlins can pop up easily. Had a client once who fried his fuse box trying to DIY... ended up costing way more than a pro install would have. Just something to think about.
