Vehicle Recovery Car Insurance Discounts [2024]

If you look at the data reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a car is stolen once every 44 seconds. Each and every time the minute hand moves on your clock, a car thief has struck and severely impacted someone’s life.

According to data reported by the FBI, theft costs the nation about $4.9 billion per year with an average cost of $7,001 per theft.

While there are technologies that deter thieves, seasoned criminals are getting more and savvier. It’s never been more important to have a system that tracks your vehicle to help recover it. You can also take advantage of things like the LoJack car insurance rate discount and other anti-theft insurance discounts.

If there’s a vehicle theft reported, and you have auto insurance, the insurer has the burden of paying for the vehicle’s value.

Since auto theft claims cost an average of $11,934 to settle and are the hardest to investigate, auto insurers offer discounts to their policyholders when they mitigate loss, deter thefts, and make vehicle recovery easier.

Enter your ZIP code into our FREE rate comparison tool above to find the insurance company that offers you the best price for the car insurance coverage you need.

Will your insurance policy cover vehicle theft claims?

Auto insurance is mandatory almost anywhere when you live in the United States. While carrying auto insurance is the law, buying protection for your car is never required by the state.

The only form of coverage that you must carry by law is coverage that pays for property owned by others and for medical bills.

There’s no requirement that says you have to have physical damage coverage on the car that you’re insuring, but you always have the option to add protection to your policy. You will only have coverage for a theft claim if you carry at least comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance is defined as low-cost coverage that pays for damage claims filed after the following:

• A fire
• Theft
• An act of vandalism
• A flood
• or a related type of claim

Free Car Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What is the average cost of comprehensive coverage?

Out of all the different coverage options that you can carry on your auto policy, comprehensive coverage is the least expensive. 

While your rates are strongly influenced by where you live, the type of car you own, and whether you’ve filed comprehensive claims in the past, the average amount that a policyholder pays for other-than-collision coverage is $143.45 per year nationwide.

If you compare the averages for other premiums, that number is very low. For example, policyholders pay an average of $308.32 for their collision coverage and another $530.51 per year for their liability protection.

These numbers all fluctuate based on where you live and your driving history, but you’re going to always pay less for your comprehensive protection.

Where is there a high risk of my car being stolen?

Where you live is very important. In some areas, the rate of stolen cars is so high that comprehensive prices skyrocket when drivers live in those zip codes. Theft is always reported mostly in metropolitan areas.

It is essential to invest in alarm systems and also tracking systems to recover stolen vehicles when you live in the following cities with the highest auto theft rates:

• Modesto, CA
• Albuquerque, NM
• Bakersfield, CA
• Salinas, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Stockton, CA
• Pueblo, CO
• Merced, CA
• Riverside, CA
• Vallejo, CA
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Odessa, TX
• Fresno, CA
• San Jose, CA
• Redding, CA
• Chico, CA
• Milwaukee, WI
• Las Vegas, NV

What is a vehicle recovery system?

A vehicle recovery system is not necessarily an anti-theft or recovery device, but it is a tracking system designed to help auto owners get their cars back after they have been stolen.

Anti-theft devices are installed with the intention of stopping theft from happening. A tracking system designed to recover helps police track where a car is so that it can quickly be recovered.

There are multiple types of systems, including vehicle recovery systems, to recover stolen cars that are available on the market. Some of the systems are installed by the automaker in the factory and others are aftermarket devices that can be installed after the car is purchased.

Some of the most popular systems you can get a discount for include:

• OnStar
• BMW Assist
• Toyota Safety Connect
• Lexus Enform
• Mercedes-Benz Teleaid
• Mobile IQ
• Zoombak
• LoJack

If you have proof that you have an active system above installed in your car, you’ll qualify for a Vehicle Recovery Discount through your insurer.

The discount can be applied as a standalone saving, or it can be combined with other anti-theft discounts for your actions or your passive alarm devices.

Free Car Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Which companies offer a vehicle recovery discount?

Not all companies offer a discount if you have OnStar, LoJack, tracking equipment, or other recovery devices in your car.

If you install the system with the intention of getting a discount, you should check to see if the discount is even available first. Here’s a list of the top-name insurers currently offering this type of discount:

• 21st Century
• AAA
• Allstate
• American Family
• Ameriprise
• Amica
• Esurance
• Farmers
• Geico
• Liberty Mutual
• MetLife
• Nationwide
• Progressive
• Safe Auto
• Safeco
• State Farm
• The General
• The Hanover
• The Hartford
• Travelers
• USAA

What is the discount applied to?

If you have coverage through a carrier above, you need to verify that you’re getting the discount that you’re eligible for. When the discount is applied, it will lower your comprehensive premiums and no other premiums.

What is nice is that you could save up to 25% off of those premiums, which can lower your rates substantially if you’re in a high-risk zip code.

If you want to see how much you’ll save each term while you have a system to recover your car if it is stolen, you need to pull up quotes online. You could get quotes directly from the carrier, but that will take too much time.

Which is better a VIN etching or a vehicle recovery device?

Whether you regularly park in areas where car theft is a concern or are just looking for an added layer of security, simple measures can protect your vehicle. Any type of stolen vehicle recovery system will provide you, at the car owner, with additional peace of mind. As vehicle theft rates rise, two methods have emerged to give drivers an added layer of security in car recovery situations: VIN etching and GPS technology.

More and more drivers are purchasing vehicle identification number (VIN) etching kits to deter car theft. In fact, some AAA Auto Clubs are even offering it as a free service to members. On the one hand, GPS technology has been instrumental in preventing theft and recovering stolen vehicles without the need for etchings.

So, which method is best for drivers looking for better security? In this article, we’re comparing the pros and cons of each method to assess which places more security in the hands of drivers.

Free Car Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What is a vehicle recovery insurance discount?  The Bottom Line

The GPS-based stolen vehicle recovery system sends a signal to GPS tracking software that can pinpoint the asset’s coordinates. That can help police locate and recover the vehicle.

Even better, you can also get theft recovery systems that use GPS to alert fleet managers that trucks are leaving their geofenced areas. An owner of a commercial vehicle who only has drivers working in Georgia could set up alerts notifying them when their trucks cross state lines.

Preventive measures include installing alarm surveillance systems and ensuring your perimeter, entrances, doorways, and windows are all properly lit. Don’t ignore alarms either.

Use our online comparison system, add the recovery discount, and see what the difference in premiums will be. Enter your ZIP code below to get started.

Case Studies: Vehicle Recovery Car Insurance Discounts

Case Study 1: The Stolen Sedan

John owns a sedan that was stolen from his driveway in a metropolitan area known for high car theft rates. Fortunately, John had installed a vehicle recovery system that helped the police locate and recover his car within hours.

As a result, John’s insurance company applied a vehicle recovery discount to his comprehensive coverage, reducing his monthly insurance premium by $25.

Case Study 2: The GPS Guardian

Sarah, a resident of a high-risk zip code, invested in a comprehensive vehicle recovery system equipped with GPS technology. Her car was stolen while she was shopping, but thanks to the GPS tracking system, the police were able to locate and recover her vehicle quickly.

Sarah’s insurance provider recognized her proactive approach to car theft prevention and rewarded her with a vehicle recovery discount of 20%, reducing her comprehensive coverage premiums by $35.86/month.

Case Study 3: The VIN Etching Deterrent

Michael, a cautious car owner, opted for VIN etching as an added layer of security against theft. Although his car was stolen, the police were able to identify it quickly due to the etched VIN number, resulting in a swift recovery.

Michael’s insurance company acknowledged the effectiveness of VIN etching and applied a vehicle recovery discount, reducing his comprehensive insurance rates by 15%.

Free Car Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption