Don’t let major damage become a major headache.

Bidvest Insurance keeps you covered 

Major damage could become a major headache, even if your stolen car is recovered. 

The big relief: having your stolen car recovered. The worry? It may not be in good enough shape for you to drive. Major damage is a common concern when recovering stolen or hijacked vehicles. 

TheftBuster Plus from Bidvest Insurance can help. It’s our way of making sure that a moment of relief does not become a stressful one.

The safe return of your vehicle is definitely the most desired outcome. The truth, however, is that vehicle recovery does not always go smoothly. Your vehicle might be returned to you needing repairs for major damage. 

What cars are at high risk of theft and hijacking in South Africa?

Unfortunately, as our technology improves and our cars evolve, so do our criminals. Remote-jamming incidents have become an everyday occurrence in our country. Our cars are no longer safe in shopping mall parking lots or street parking spaces. Nowadays, you can’t just press the button on your remote and expect your car to lock. You actually have to make sure it’s locked by pulling on the door handle.

Below is a list of some of the most high risk cars to own in South Africa:

  • VW Polo sedan
  • VW Polo hatchback
  • Toyota Fortuner
  • Toyota Etios
  • Toyota Yaris
  • Toyota Hilux
  • Ford Ranger

Tips to protect your car from thieves 

Be vigilant when parking – Thieves prefer to work in the dark. Always try to park in a secure, well lit area, especially if you’re parking somewhere unfamiliar. When parking at home, always park your car in a garage, if possible. Parking your car inside your garage ensures that inquisitive, opportunistic thieves cannot easily see your car.

Make sure your doors are locked – Thieves are pretty clever nowadays, and they’re teaming up with technology. They have specialised remote-jamming devices that can block your remote from locking your car doors without you even realising. You should always physically check that your doors are locked when parking in public spaces like shopping malls and other roadside parking.

Fit a gear lock or steering lock – While gear or steering locks are not foolproof, they can discourage thieves from trying to steal your car. A gear or steering lock will make it more difficult to seal your car. The quicker a thief can steal your car, the more attractive it is. 

Install a tracking device – If you don’t already have a tracking device installed in your car, it is a worthwhile investment. A thief will be more reluctant to steal a car if they know it could be recovered quickly. 

Be sure to check out our other article outlining the top 10 things you should know to reduce your risk of being hijacked, click here.

What to do if you’re being hijacked

A car is replaceable. A life is not. Don’t do anything heroic to try and escape the situation. Here are some things you should do if you are ever hijacked:

Stay calm and cooperate

First thing you need to do is stay calm and collective. The last thing you want to do is antagonise your hijackers, especially if they are armed. Your life is worth more than your car. You want to cooperate with your hijackers and to exactly what they say. Don’t try to be the hero.

Raise both hands

You must always lift both hands in the air with your fingers spread apart. This will not only show your hijacker that you’re not holding anything in your hands, but it will also show them that you are not a threat.

Slowly remove your seatbelt

In these sorts of situations, one wrong move could potentially end your life. With your fingers still spread apart, slowly unbuckle your seatbelt and remove it from your shoulder. We can’t emphasise enough that this needs to be done slowly.

Pull the handbrake and put your car into park or neutral gear

The next step is to put your handbrake up and put your car into park or neutral. You must ensure that your right hand stays raised while you do this.

Unlock the door

Now that you’ve removed your seatbelt, pulled up the handbrake and put your car into neutral, you need to unlock the door. With your right hand still raised, use your left hand to unlock the door.

Get out of the car

Slowly open the car door and step out. It’s important that you keep your hands raised while keeping your head down. This makes the hijacker feel that they are in control of the situation.

In the case that you have a child in the car, you should always inform your hijacker of this. You could either reach through between the seats to pick up your child or you could exit your car first and then open the door behind you to retrieve your child. When doing this, always step into the car with your right leg. This way, if the hijackers were to drive away, you’ll quickly be able to get into the car.

Where do most hijackings happen?

Hijackings happen to unsuspecting victims every day. Most hijackers prefer to target vehicles when they are moving slowly or are stationary. Hijackers are very specific about the spots they choose. Ideally, a hijacker will choose a spot where there is an easy escape route. Some of the top hotspots for hijackings include:

  • Residential driveways
  • Traffic lights
  • Intersections
  • Stopstreets 
  • Schools
  • Filling stations 
  • Parking areas

What is TheftBuster Plus?

At Bidvest Insurance, the true measure of our value lies in the value our products bring to you and your car. This is why our vehicle insurance policies cover your car to the maximum, especially in South Africa. *TheftBuster Plus makes it easy. TheftBuster Plus protects you against a wide range of losses and expenses you might face when your car is stolen, hijacked, or involved in a smash-and-grab incident.

How does TheftBuster Stolen and Recovered (Major damage) cover work?

In the fortunate event that your stolen or hijacked vehicle is recovered, TheftBuster Plus covers your insurance excess for up to R15 000. Your Bidvest Insurance TheftBuster Plus policy covers you for a range of different body and vehicle repair work.

How much does TheftBuster Plus cost?

TheftBuster Plus from Bidvest Insurance costs you just R99 a month.

What are the benefits of TheftBuster Plus?

Your stolen or hijacked car might be recovered without the personal belongings that were in it. Losing important documents, keys, and other personal items is a big inconvenience. Bidvest Insurance TheftBuster Plus covers you for: 

  • Car Hire: Get up to R3500 car hire to make sure that life doesn’t stop when your car is being repaired. 
  • Trauma counselling: Everyone deals with trauma in their own ways. TheftBuster Plus will cover you for up to R2000 for you to get the help that you need.
  • Personal Documents: The unexpected costs that come with losing your licence, identity document, and other important documents can cause a lot of stress. We give you up to R1000 to replace any personal documents lost.
  • Keys and Remotes: Being stuck outside of your house or office is frustrating. Bidvest Insurance covers you for up to R2000 to replace any keys and remotes lost when your vehicle has been recovered.
  • Cell phones: It’s not just insurance excess we cover. In the event that your cell phone is not recovered with your vehicle, TheftBuster Plus covers you for up to R5000 so you never go without a phone.
  • Personal electronic devices: TheftBuster Plus covers you for  up to R5000,to replace any other personal electronic devices that might be lost as a result of a hijacking or a smash and grab incident.
  • Handbag cover: Get up to R2000 cover for any lost handbags should they not be returned with your vehicle.

Why is Theftbuster Plus insurance unique?

While we can’t prevent crime, Theftbuster Plus is a one of its kind product that alleviates the additional expenses and impact faced when you are a victim of crime. Theftbuster Plus provides cover against certain losses, costs, and expenses that are likely to be incurred when a vehicle is stolen, hijacked, or involved in a smash-and-grab incident. We have looked at the expenses associated with these events and have created a suite of benefits that alleviate these costs.

Getting your stolen or hijacked vehicle back takes a lot of work. Making sure it comes back in one piece is sometimes near impossible. We can’t avoid the unexpected, but we can prepare for it. 

TheftBuster Plus from Bidvest Insurance has both you and your car covered. For more information about TheftBuster Plus, click here.

Bidvest Theftbuster Don't Let Major Damage Become A Major Headache

Cover for you and for your car.

Bidvest Insurance offers a wide range of insurance products to meet both your personal and vehicular needs.

  • Legal Angel
  • Scratch and Dent
  • Tyre Angel
  • Theftbuster Plus
  • Warranty

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