Types of car crime




Apart from opportunist thieves who may smash the window of a parked car if they spot something of value inside, vehicle theft is still a growing problem in the UK.

As 'picking' car door locks and disabling security features becomes more difficult, criminals now employ more cunning methods to steal cars. These often involve organised criminal gangs who concentrate on targeting specific high-value vehicles 'to order'.

What is 'carjacking'?

Stealing cars whilst they are out on the road or 'carjacking' as it is sometimes called is on the increase. Criminal gangs will identify high value cars and fake minor accident in front of the target vehicle as a way of luring the driver out of their car. One of the thieves will then jump in the drivers seat of the vehicle and drive off. The drivers of the 'fake accident' cars will also drive off, leaving the unfortunate driver of the stolen vehicle stranded.

Be wary of anyone who tries to encourage you to leave your vehicle for some reason and never leave the keys in the ignition if you get out of the car.

What is car cloning

Car cloning is where thieves steal a car and then use the identity of a car of identical make, model and colour to produce forged documents, a forged number plate and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) that make the stolen vehicle appear to be a 'clone' of the other vehicle. This means that the stolen vehicle's original identity has now 'disappeared' and been replaced by the identity of a completely legal one.

Anyone who discovers that they have bought a cloned car unwittingly is in a very difficult position. Not only will the police seize their vehicle, but would also have lost all the money that they paid for it.

Car vandalism

Car vandalism affects more than 3.5 million motorists in the UK every year.

The majority of car vandalism involves damage to bodywork like dents or key scratches. Other 'favourites' of vandals tend to be things that they can readily break off like aerials or wing mirrors. The best way of protecting your car from vandalism is to keep it in a garage, or at least park it off the road if you can. If you do have to park your car on the road try to do it near a street lamp, vandals are less likely to operate in well lit areas.



Call us now on 02392 484 244 for free help and advice from one of our experienced claims advisors.


No need to claim on your insurance

Anyone who has been involved in a road accident has the right to choose who repairs their vehicle. If you were responsible for the accident you were involved in, the company that insures your vehicle would normally deal with your accident claim.

However if you were not at-fault for the accident, you can choose to either claim on your own insurance policy or make a claim independently of your insurer. To find out more call 02392 484 244 and we will be happy to help.

We and our partners help thousands of people make independent accident claims. Our service enables motorists to get the help and assistance they need to resolve their accident related issues, with the costs being recovered directly from the at-fault driver on your behalf.

No excess to pay

Unfortunately even if an accident was not your fault, your insurer will almost certainly require you to pay your excess before any repair is started on your car.

This money should of course be recovered by an insurer at a later date, but with our service - you do not have to pay it at all.

By using our independent claims service, you are not making a claim on your insurance policy and so you will have no excess to pay.

Receive a comparable replacement hire vehicle

Not all insurance policies will include a replacement hire-car for you to use if yours is damaged and unroadworthy. In fact it is typically an 'optional extra' on your policy.

Other policies may offer a 'courtesy car' but this is often just a 'basic' saloon or hatchback which may not be suitable for your needs.

Car Call and its partners will provide a comparable replacement vehicle as part of our service. This means we will endeavour to supply a hire-vehicle that similar to your own in terms of its type, make and engine size.

So whether you drive a small hatchback or a prestige sports car, we will look to provide a similar hire-vehicle that suits your needs.

Manufacturer approved vehicle repairs

If you have been involved in a car accident, the last thing you want to have to worry about is the quality of the repairs to your car. We have a UK wide network of partner approved Accident Repair Centres available to all of our customers.

Many of our accident repair centres are have manufacturer approvals for specific brands, so if you require a manufacturer approved repair centre, simply tell your personal claim handler and they will ensure your vehicle goes to an approved repairer.

Want you vehicle repaired by a specific garage? No problem, we can alternatively use a repairer that you specify.

Legal Assistance

Our partner solicitors provide legal assistance as part of our service. They specialise in motor claims related issues, so you can be assured of the best possible advice and assistance.

They issues they can assist you with include:

  • Recovery of the cost of the replacement hire-vehicle
  • Recovery of the cost of uplifting your damaged vehicle
  • Recovery of all repair costs
  • Recovery of the cost of damaged of personal items
  • Seeking financial compensation for an injury