Just read in today's paper that Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has offered to pay for an immobilizer for people with vehicles deemed "most at risk" for theft. See car theft is a rather large problem here in Manitoba, especially Winnipeg. Well above 20 vehicles a day are stolen and MPI has made up a list of the most stolen. My 2000 Neon is on the list with the odds of 1 in 45 of being missing when I come out from work, or the store, or a friends house... well you get the point.So here's the catch. If you have an immobilizer installed and your car does go missing then you aren't covered by MPI for theft. Their reasoning? The car can't be stolen with a correctly installed immobilizer. Of course they forget about such things are tow trucks and flat beds. Another catch is that any damage done to your car from an attempted theft is considered vandalism which I believe adds a premium onto your license renewal (unlike attempted theft which doesn't). I may be wrong on that last count, but not the first.
Mind you, I could probably live with some damage done by an attempted theft than I could with my car being stolen. Having an approved immobilizer installed also gets a $40/year reduction in insurance cost. The approved immobilizers cost $280, so that would be free, plus an additional $40 savings per year. If I do get one installed I will have to pay extra since I also have a remote starter that I'd like to keep.
Suggestions anyone? I'm on the fence here.
3 comments:
|Hi Tony
Hi Dad!
I was in the same place about three months ago. I finally broke down and got the thing installed ($50 extra if you have the starter) at a larger place off McGillivary.
MPI picked up the bill and the car runs fine. when you're selecting an immobilizer there are two different kinds that makes a difference. autowatch and masterguard. I found that autowatch has more benefits in case the car's immobilizer kicks in.
my two cents
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