Car Tag Tracking for High-Theft Vehicles

Did you know that, in Canada, roughly 60% of stolen vehicles are recovered by police? The remaining number of stolen vehicles are typically scrapped for parts, shipped overseas, or resold to unsuspecting customers. Unfortunately, Canada sees some of the highest rates of auto theft, and it’s costing auto insurance policyholders – big time. Auto theft is a major issue as thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated with their theft attempts, whether by copying key fob signals, towing away parked vehicles, or taking off with vehicles that have keys left inside.

Police do recover many vehicles that are stolen, but often not before they’ve been used for other activities, been involved in collisions, and been dumped. One solution to this issue is Tag’s technology, which tracks stolen vehicles once they have been reported as missing, to help police find your vehicle faster and recover them far easier than through cellular tracking.

Vehicle Theft in Ontario & Canada: Stats and High-Theft Vehicles

According to a news report that was issued by HelloSafe.ca, a car is stolen every 48 minutes in Ontario. That’s considerable when you think about how many vehicles there are in Ontario. Some vehicles are deemed higher theft than others. Exotic vehicles, popular models, luxury models, etc., are popularly stolen, and the list of most stolen vehicles changes each year.

With theft becoming such an issue in Canada and Ontario, Tag has come in to help locate stolen vehicles and recover them quickly, in collaboration with police. This, especially for high-risk vehicles, has become a game-changer in preventing auto theft.

What is Tag?

Tag has been a leading provider of Anti-Theft Recovery Systems in North America. For many years, Tag has been considered a trusted brand in the province of Quebec, with an extremely high success rate in recovering vehicles that have previously been stolen. Since its inception, Tag has expanded to Ontario. Three of Excalibur’s insurance partners, Aviva, Gore, and Intact, are now offering the extra protection of Tag for high-theft vehicles for a partially subsidized installation price.

For additional information regarding Tag, check out Tag’s website at www.tagtracking.ca.

What do I do if my vehicle is stolen with Tag installed?

If you believe your vehicle has been stolen, immediately call your local police and report the theft. You will receive an event number. Afterwards, call Tag and tell them about the theft, along with the police event number and the Tag ID number you would have received upon installation. Tag will then initiate the tracking and recovery. Finally, call your insurer to report that your vehicle was stolen.

If your vehicle is damaged in the event, you can still submit a claim and go through the car insurance claims process to recoup some of the repair costs.

How does the Tag installation process work?

When you consent to a Tag installation, your vehicle will be equipped with several small Tag devices. These are hidden throughout the vehicle in discreet locations and cannot be seen from outside. A Tag logo will be etched on the passenger side and front driver windows, and while these are discreet, they can serve as a deterrent for thieves. The installation takes about an hour, and you will have to sign a certificate. You will be given a Tag plastic wallet card that includes your Tag tracking ID number.

Who is permitted to track my vehicle with Tag?

Your vehicle cannot be tracked until you have reported it as stolen. It can be tracked by Tag upon being reported as stolen, but no other time.

Key takeaways – reducing auto theft, Aviva’s free installation, & more

Reducing auto theft isn’t always 100% possible, but there are ways to go about mitigating your risk. Here are some quick tips to make yourself less of a target:

• When leaving your vehicle, roll up windows all the way and lock up.
• As soon as your vehicle is locked, put your key away in a pocket or pause. Never leave your keys in your vehicle, as “convenience-driven” thefts (i.e., auto theft where a key was left inside of the vehicle) have increased 56% percent since 2015.
• Try to park in a private, closed garage or, if in public, in a well lit, busy area.
• In your glove box, keep a copy of your vehicle registration. The original copy should be kept in a safe place in your home, in case your vehicle is stolen.
• Park with wheels sharply turned and use the emergency brake to prevent a tow thief.
• Never leave valuables or electronics in clear view. Keep them under the seat, in a glove box, in the trunk, or – best of all – take them with you.
• Avoid leaving a parking lot claim stub in your vehicle when you park in a controlled parking area like at an airport parking lot. That way if someone tries to steal your vehicle, they cannot get out of the lot without the parking stub.

For additional tips, check out our blog on preventing auto theft.

As of when this blog was published, Aviva is offering free installation of Tag’s Anti-Theft Recovery System for high-theft vehicles. Aviva is using data to assess which vehicles are deemed high-risk and is currently recommending the protection of Tag for vehicles that are viewed as such. Intact Insurance has also started to make Tag mandatory for select vehicles.

For further questions regarding Tag or vehicle theft and auto insurance, give Excalibur Insurance a call. We’re happy to discuss your protection with you and give you further information as to how Tag’s new offering may help you reduce your exposures.