Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Anti-Theft Measures & Lowering Insurance

Supple Cow · 06-03-2007, 11:24 AM

My parents just fixed up my old 1990 Honda CRX in California and I'm getting ready to ship it out here to DC soon. It was in an accident years ago and because of the low blue-book value it was salvaged. The parents are working on getting it back on the road, but I've been researching insurance and it's pretty pricey because of the salvaged title. I'm also paranoid it will be stolen because the bastards around here will steal anything, even if it's tied down. I worry every night that somebody is going to steal the pedals off of my bike that chained up outside.

I read about VIN etching noticed that Geico lists it as one of those factors that probably lowers the insurance rate, but then I've also thought about getting LoJack because I think it's a good, fool-proof idea. I'd only buy a VIN-etching kit because I don't think it makes that big a difference and I won't pay those ridiculous garage fees for this, but obviously I'd have to shell out for LoJack.

I found these two VIN etching kits and I'm not sure which to go with:

VinGuard

VinEtcher

Anyone have any experience with either of these? VinEtcher is a little cheaper and comes with free registration in NVIP, which is some database I've never heard of, but sounds useful. But then VinGuard is only marginally more expensive and comes with VinPrint, which alters the paint on the body of your car so that the police can shine a UV light on it to reveal the VIN imprint.

On the other hand, is this really necessary if I get LoJack? I mean, I would feel better just to go with one of these systems in addition to LoJack anyway, but is that completely pointless?

Re: LoJack, I can't seem to get pricing on it without talking directly with a dealer. I'll do that soon, but does anyone know the price range for installing the Vehicle Recovery System in a vehicle I already own (I don't know if I can afford the Early Warning System)? I saw something like $600 on carmax.com to put it on new vehicles. Is it more or less than that if you already own the vehicle?

Lastly, any other advice on measures I can take to lower my insurance premiums? The quote I got is a lot higher than I expected and I can only really attribute that to the fact that it's a salvaged vehicle. But it's my high school car and I love it and I don't really want to spend the money on somebody else's used car! Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.

My parents believed car maintenance was not for girls, so I'm still trying to grow up a little when it comes to this and learn about how to maintain the damn thing before I bring it out here.

All I know how to do is drive it and check the oil. Lord help me!

06-03-2007, 11:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
Supple Cow Americow, the Beautiful Location: Washington, D.C.	Anti-Theft Measures & Lowering Insurance My parents just fixed up my old 1990 Honda CRX in California and I'm getting ready to ship it out here to DC soon. It was in an accident years ago and because of the low blue-book value it was salvaged. The parents are working on getting it back on the road, but I've been researching insurance and it's pretty pricey because of the salvaged title. I'm also paranoid it will be stolen because the bastards around here will steal anything, even if it's tied down. I worry every night that somebody is going to steal the pedals off of my bike that chained up outside. I read about VIN etching noticed that Geico lists it as one of those factors that probably lowers the insurance rate, but then I've also thought about getting LoJack because I think it's a good, fool-proof idea. I'd only buy a VIN-etching kit because I don't think it makes that big a difference and I won't pay those ridiculous garage fees for this, but obviously I'd have to shell out for LoJack. I found these two VIN etching kits and I'm not sure which to go with: VinGuard VinEtcher Anyone have any experience with either of these? VinEtcher is a little cheaper and comes with free registration in NVIP, which is some database I've never heard of, but sounds useful. But then VinGuard is only marginally more expensive and comes with VinPrint, which alters the paint on the body of your car so that the police can shine a UV light on it to reveal the VIN imprint. On the other hand, is this really necessary if I get LoJack? I mean, I would feel better just to go with one of these systems in addition to LoJack anyway, but is that completely pointless? Re: LoJack, I can't seem to get pricing on it without talking directly with a dealer. I'll do that soon, but does anyone know the price range for installing the Vehicle Recovery System in a vehicle I already own (I don't know if I can afford the Early Warning System)? I saw something like $600 on carmax.com to put it on new vehicles. Is it more or less than that if you already own the vehicle? Lastly, any other advice on measures I can take to lower my insurance premiums? The quote I got is a lot higher than I expected and I can only really attribute that to the fact that it's a salvaged vehicle. But it's my high school car and I love it and I don't really want to spend the money on somebody else's used car! Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated. My parents believed car maintenance was not for girls, so I'm still trying to grow up a little when it comes to this and learn about how to maintain the damn thing before I bring it out here. All I know how to do is drive it and check the oil. Lord help me!