As many people in the Motor claims sector know the Range Rover in particular and the Land Rover Defender and Discovery models have been targeted by pro thieves for some years now. The problem seems to have grown in recent years, as keyless entry systems are becoming the norm. The value of rare metals inside catalysers has also sparked some extra interest from criminals, both organised and opportunists.
There is, of course, no link between the open borders policy of the UK and EU governments, allowing young men who choose to self ID to arrive in a country of their choosing and the huge spike in vehicle thefts, chop shops and export of stolen luxury cars to Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. None at all.
It is a serious problem for insurers and some brands have been walking away from the JLR problem, or simply increasing the premium to reflect the extra theft risk. It’s caused plenty of complaints on social media and even the mainstream media has covered the issue. So JLR now have a new in-house insurance offer, which they hope will alleviate the problem. The JLR brand is also retro-fitting some extra security to its older models as well.
Here’s the JLR press info;
Range Rover clients in the UK can now benefit from a new insurance solution through Land Rover Insurance. The new solution is designed for clients who may be facing challenges with increasing insurance premiums, which are affecting the industry. (Highway and LV= are doing the underwriting by the way – Ed)
Land Rover Insurance will improve the buying and ownership experience for Range Rover clients. Eligible clients can now obtain a quote online and manage their monthly rolling subscription and policy cover in a flexible way, at any time.
The fully comprehensive insurance ensures any repairs are completed by a JLR authorised bodyshop, using only genuine parts. The policy is completely flexible, with no deposits or interest charges, and clients are able to amend or cancel their cover with no fee. The price is also guaranteed for 12 months, for added assurance and peace of mind.
Also available to clients looking to insure Defender and Discovery vehicles, as well as Jaguar clients through Jaguar Insurance, the service has provided quotes to more than 4,000 clients since October, with an average monthly premium of less than £200. JLR has also proactively shared with leading insurance providers its latest data – reflecting the robustness of security in new and older models – to help increase the range of insurance options on the open market.
NEW ANTI THEFT TECH
The latest vehicles are proving highly resilient to thefts: UK police data shows that since January 2022, only 9 of the 12,200 new Range Rovers on the road have been stolen (0.07 per cent), while only 13 of the 13,400 new Range Rover Sports on the road have been affected (0.1 per cent).
As part of a suite of services to enhance the ownership experience for its clients, JLR announced last month its £10 million investment in vehicle security to help tackle keyless thefts. This included an extensive rollout of security updates benefitting more than 70,000 older vehicles in the UK since the initiative began in 2022, ensuring the same levels of protection against theft as current, new models. This, along with dedicated collaboration with police and partners, is reducing thefts.
IE NOTES
As Insurance Edge reported in the past, Range Rovers are the most stolen vehicle in the UK, based on thefts-per-parc data. That is the ratio or percentage of Range Rovers stolen, compared to the total number registered with the DVLA. Tracker Network data in 2022 revealed the high odds of RR theft.
The 2020 theft data was also depressing reading for RR owners, with the Sport and Autobiography models being targeted in particular. A few months ago JLR announced that new software updates would help improve the chances of RR nad LR owners keeping their vehicles for longer. It isn’t clear how the keyless software has been beefed up to prevent it being scanned remotely from the key fob, so the best advice from owner forums seems to be to keep your card in a Faraday pouch.
That said, some thieves will break into a home to find the keys to any luxury vehicle. It’s fair to assume that the theft of high value cars like the RR will continue so long as there is demand for them amongst crimnals themselves, and their customers overseas. The insurance sector will have to work with both manufacturers and customers to explain why Trackers, more telematics systems and possibly verifying driver ID are all set to become the norm in the future.
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