The supply chain and inflationary pond ripples caused by Brexit, Covid, and the Ukraine war are continuing to spread throughout the luxury car market, but in Range Rover’s case, the water is becoming particularly choppy. Or to be more accurate, it’s owners looking for Range Rover insurance having to navigate troubled waters.
Being the UK’s second most stolen car, growing numbers of Range Rover owners are finding it increasingly difficult to get insurance, due to a pincer of eye-wateringly high premiums and a stark reduction in the number of willing providers. To make matters worse, as of November 2022, even JLR has withdrawn its own Range Rover insurance.
According to the DVLA, over 5,200 Range Rovers were stolen in 2022, resulting in rising claims and a reduced appetite from the market to cover them. Disconcertingly for their owners, it appears Range Rovers are alone in being quoted very high insurance premiums – or even none at all. Cars such as Porsches and even the Bentley Bentayga don’t appear to be experiencing the same issues.
What’s Driving The Insurance Headache?
The root of the problem is that Range Rovers are a profitable target for thieves as they’re hugely popular both here and abroad. A thief can dispose of one very easily and for a good price, so will invest in the technology needed to steal them.
JLR recommends that owners use all available measures to protect their vehicle, including activating their ‘Remote’ app and its suite of security features including ‘Guardian Mode’, which monitors the vehicle and provides an alert if the car has been unlocked.
Given the significant increase in Range Rover thefts over the last 18 months or so, you have to wonder whether the latest JLR security systems are a step backwards from the measures and reliability of those previously in place. Whether they are or they aren’t is up for debate, but it’s Range Rover owners who are paying the immediate price – or in some cases, aren’t even being given the opportunity to pay the price.
Securing Range Rover Insurance
Given the growing number of providers declining to quote, as an owner, the priority is to secure cover. To improve the chances of obtaining Range Rover insurance, we strongly recommend a dual-prong approach to security – a mix of high and low tech.
Regardless of their factory-fitted security systems, we strongly recommend a Thatcham Category S5 Tracker is also fitted. (The S5 is the name for the previous Thatcham Category 5.) S5 systems can track the location of a stolen vehicle, but also have the ability to immobilise the car remotely by capping certain engine functions. S5 trackers are the highest specification Thatcham-approved vehicle tracking systems available on the market.
The S5 tracker is clearly of benefit should a thief override a vehicle’s security systems and manages to take it, as the chances of recovery are so much higher – that’s the high tech.
Ideally though, you don’t want the vehicle taken at all, which is where the low-tech deterrent comes in. Therefore, in addition to the S5 Tracker, we also strongly recommend using a Thatcham Category 3 immobilisation device. These are mechanical, not electric and are physical devices that disrupt how a car operates, such as a steering wheel or gear lock. Back in the 1990s, these were known collectively as ‘crook locks’ and are making a comeback. It’s not just the 80s that are having a revival.
Thieves operating in the Range Rover market will be prepared for the challenge of overcoming technical obstacles, but possibly less so (and less willing) to try and get past mechanical barriers. Not only would they require physical tools, but there’s a high chance of damaging some aspect of the interior and potentially, the functionality of the vehicle, in attempting a forced removal.
Whilst there’s no guarantee a crook lock will stop a car theft, it may just convince the thief to move on elsewhere. Admittedly, the problem isn’t removed but it may be reduced.
Our Concierge service can arrange for a Thatcham Category S5 tracker to be fitted to any vehicle. Please just contact the Concierge Team in our Private Clients Division to hear how they can take care of all the arrangements for you.
