£9.1bn at risk of being stolen this summer as Brits leave valuables in their cars while on holiday
The average family car contains two mobiles, two tablets, two wallets and three suitcases when on vacation
WHETHER on a staycation or road trip this summer, make sure you do not leave your luggage unattended in your car.
One in six Brits consider their motor a safe place to lock up their valuables, while 58 per cent of people admit to doing so when on holiday.
Last year, 929,000 thefts of items from vehicles were recorded by the ONS (Office for National Statistics). That is a 17 per cent increase from 2016.
The number of stolen cars in England and Wales rose by a whopping 56 per cent in 2017, fuelled by keyless-car technology.
New research by price comparison site uSwitch now reveals that £840 per person is left in a car, despite the average insurance policy only covering £250 worth of possessions.
That leaves £590 left uninsured, and when multiplied by the 15,438,952 drivers who leave valuables in their car on holiday, equals £9.1bn at risk.
With the school summer holidays approaching, Brits are being warned not to keep valuables in their motors.
This especially concerns overnight when 80 per cent of thefts take place, however, 43 per cent say they are comfortable leaving valuables in their car at this time.
Brits are also encouraged to check their insurance cover before taking a road trip, as nearly two thirds are unsure of the maximum amount they can claim for stolen possessions.
Rod Jones, uSwitch Insurance Expert, said: “It’s vital to insure your luggage and personal items when driving in the UK.
“This is particularly true if you are going to be taking lots of expensive gadgets with you – so it pays to know how exactly much you are covered for and ensure you aren’t caught out should you need to claim.
“Some insurance policies won’t tell you the level of cover you’ll receive for your personal possessions upfront.
“This will leave you in the dark to how much cover you are actually entitled to until after you’ve taken out your policy.
“Furthermore, most policies cap the level of cover to around £250 – which in some cases is less than the excess consumers will have taken out.”