(Information compiled is based on the most recent research available via the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC - http://www.naic.org/), the Insurance Information Institute (III - http://www.iii.org/), the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - http://www.hwysafety.org/, and CCC Information Services - http://www.cccis.com/.)

Insurance for vehicle theft is included in the comprehensive part of an auto insurance policy. (This coverage, which is not mandatory, also covers fire, vandalism and weather-related damage.) Premiums are affected by the number of insured cars stolen and their cost. The U.S. average comprehensive insurance premium rose 9.0 percent from 1995 to 1999.

Insurer Discounts: Twelve states (Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington) require insurers to give car owners discounts on their comprehensive insurance for antitheft devices.

Passive devices such as ignition cutoffs, some types of alarms, and electronic auto recovery systems which are automatically activated when the car is locked and do not depend on the driver to remember to activate them may qualify for up to a 30 percent discount. Massachusetts’s residents are eligible for a minimum 25 percent discount if they have both an antitheft device (such as an alarm) and an electronic recovery system, such as MobileGuardian™.

Insurance companies in states that do not mandate discounts have also encouraged car owners to install antitheft devices by providing discounts at their discretion.

Discount percentages apply to comprehensive coverages and standard features for your car. These discounts may vary by state and province. Some discounts override others, therefore you may not qualify for all discounts. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten, and not all applicants qualify.

Depending on state & insurance provider, insurance premium discounts vary from 0-30%. Some discounts override others, therefore you may not qualify for all discounts. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten, and not all applicants qualify. If you have any questions about insurance premium discounts, contact your current insurance agent or your state comptroller office.