Criminals who steal cars tend to select “horsepower and HEMIs” rather than fuel efficiency or family cars, according to the results of a study performed by the Highway Loss Data Institute earlier this month.
People filed theft-related insurance claims at the greatest rate for the 2007-2009 models of the Cadillac Escalade luxury SUV, Ford F-250 pickup, and Infiniti G37 luxury car, HLDI says, adding that these vehicles are three to five times more likely than the overall average to be stolen. A quarter of all claims for Escalade theft are for $40,000 or more, according to the agency, which might explain why insurance rates for such vehicles are so high.
On the other end of the spectrum, HLDI says that two-door mini-cars have the lowest dollar amounts of insurance claims per vehicle each year, around $4. This could make it easier to get car insurance for them affordably.
Experts advise consumers to use common sense and take precautions to avoid having to file an auto theft claim, such as parking in well-lit areas and keeping valuables out of sight.