Protecting your fleet against vehicle theft
As a fleet manager, protecting your vehicles against theft can help prevent the costs of an unwanted and frustrating overhead from piling up. There are a number of steps you can take to minimise the risk of your vehicles being stolen, which include taking the time to understand which vehicles thieves are likely to target and what you can do to deter them.
In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the vehicles that are most frequently targeted by thieves, some top tips to prevent this from happening and how Zego works together with ABAX to protect your fleet.
Which vehicles do thieves target?
In March 2021, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by Rapid Car Check to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) revealed the most commonly stolen vehicle makes and models in 2019 and 2020.
For the most frequently stolen vehicle makes and models, only 37% of all vehicle thefts were able to be recovered in 2020. Another alarming statistic is that the top 3 vehicles most targeted by thieves were all vans (Mercedez-Benz Sprinter 313 CDI, Mercedez-Benz Sprinter 314 CDI & Ford Transit 350, source: Commercial Fleet), which are popular choices for fleet managers.
What steps can you take to deter thieves?
One of the best ways to minimise your fleet’s risk of vehicle theft is to educate your drivers about how they can help. Ensuring that your vehicles are always locked and kept in a secure location when they’re not in use will help to deter opportunistic thieves.
If your vehicles carry any expensive goods or if your drivers have any valuables on them, always keep them out of sight so as not to attract thieves. Perhaps most importantly, your vehicles should never be left running when unattended.
How can Zego help?
At Zego, we design insurance solutions to help fleets save time and money on their cover. We are partnered with ABAX, who help to power our usage-based policies by gathering data on the usage of your vehicles.
When the ABAX device is installed in your vehicles, you can keep track of how long your vehicles are on the road and how much distance they cover. We then use this information to calculate the ‘flexible’ part of your premium.
But the benefits of installing the ABAX solution in your vehicles don’t stop there, especially when it comes to preventing vehicle theft and recovering stolen vehicles.
ABAX’s GPS-based vehicle tracking unit is suitable for all vehicle types and fleet sizes. It helps you to keep track of when and where your vehicles are being driven, with real-time tracking available 24/7. That way, you can stay on top of your vehicles at all times.
For more information about our products, have a look at our Fleet insurance page. If you’re interested in getting a quote, you can fill in your details and a member of our team will be in touch.