Young motorists across the UK are being warned they could be at risk of losing their right to a cheap car insurance deal if they don't start taking steps to secure their cars from theft.
The words of caution come from consumer watchdog Which?, and hint that even a specialist provider of young driver car insurance may not be able to help find a cheap policy if their advice isn't adhered to.
Which? found that huge numbers of car owners were underestimating vehicle thieves, thinking that their car was safe simply because it was fitted with an alarm, a steering lock or an immobiliser.
But a new generation of professional crooks are turning to new methods of theft. For example, instead of simply breaking in and driving the car away thieves are lifting them onto transporter trucks and vanishing into the night.
A range of other practices are also employed by car thieves and the stolen vehicles are often given a new identity or stripped down and sold for spares.
Which? implores drivers to take extra action to protect their cars and, in turn, their cheap car insurance policy by suggesting that fitting a tracker could go someway towards safeguarding a vehicle.
Mike Page from Hoot Car Insurance Services, the young driver car insurance experts, advised, "Tracking devices can be a bit on the pricey side, but it's definitely well worth the investment.
"Making sure that you don't leave valuables in your car is one way not to attract thieves. Also, always make sure you lock your car when it's unattended, even if you're only nipping in to the garage to pay for your petrol."