How to Keep Your Classic Car Secure in LA

If you live in LA and have a classic car, you know how important it is to keep your beloved vehicle safe from thieves and other types of damage. But how do you do this if your car is an older model? The tips below will help you keep your classic car secure in Los Angeles.

Never leave your car idling

Idling can be expensive and harmful to the environment, so it’s best to avoid it whenever possible. Not only that, but leaving your car running when you step out for a minute gives theives plenty of opportunity to strike. So don’t leave your vehicle as an easy target!

You may also want to consider turning off all unnecessary accessories when parked or waiting—including lights and radios—to save battery power and prevent vandals from spotting an easy target for theft.

Never keep spare keys in the car or unsecured outside your house

We’ve all left our keys under the doormat or in a plant pot at one point or another. This is a major risk factor for theft, as the thief can use your spare key to make a copy and then break into the car, or simply drive off with it. Always keep your spare key somewhere else that’s not connected to your vehicle (e.g., at home in a secure lock box) and make sure not to tell others where you’ve hid them, unless it’s someone who needs access to your car.

Keep your car in a garage when you’re not using it

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/lX2YG5w4_gs

A garage is the best way to keep your classic car safe from the elements, and it’s also a great way to keep it safe from thieves. Thieves might break into your home if they know you have a valuable car, so keeping it in a garage or storage space is important.

If you don’t have a garage or a secure place to leave your car at home, monthly parking in LA is relatively easy to come by.

If you must park outside, consider installing motion-detecting lights around the perimeter of where you park your vehicle. If someone breaks in while your car is parked outside at night, these lights will go on and alert neighbors who can call police for help.

Invest in steering wheel locks

If you’re looking for a cheap and easy way to keep your classic car secure, steering wheel locks are a great choice. They come in many different styles and can be purchased with or without keys. They’re usually very easy to install on your own, but if you need help finding the right one for your car or have trouble installing it, many auto repair shops will help you out for a small fee.

However, steering wheel locks aren’t the perfect solution—they can easily be defeated by thieves who have enough time on their hands. But, they’re better than nothing because they deter would-be thieves from trying to steal your vehicle in the first place – they might look elsewhere for an easier target. And since there’s no real installation required after purchase (you just slide them onto the steering wheel), you can have your car safe and secure in just a minute or two.

Always park your car in well-lit areas

Leaving your car unattended during the day is better than doing so at night, and parking in a well-lit area is better than in a dark area. Also, parking near other cars is better than in an isolated area; there’s safety in numbers and a single car is an easier target than one parked in a busy street in broad daylight.

Don’t leave valuables in your car

Your car itself might be the most valuable thing you own, but don’t forget about the things you have stored inside it too.

Don’t leave anything in your car that’s of obvious value—this includes loose change, jewelry, or even an expensive-looking phone case. Thieves know how valuable these things can be, even if they don’t know what they are. Even if you think nothing will happen to them, it’s always better to play it safe than sorry.

Be sure that all valuables are removed from inside before leaving your car; nothing ruins an afternoon spent wandering around town like finding out after returning home that everything was stolen while we were away!

Keep your registration up-to-date and on hand at all times

If you don’t have your registration on hand, then it will be difficult for the police or tow truck driver to prove that your vehicle belongs to you when they arrive at the scene of an accident or theft situation involving your vehicle.

Keep the vehicle off limits to anyone but the family members who need to drive it

You’ll want your classic car off limits to anyone but family members who need to drive it. If you have a garage, keep the vehicle locked in there when not in use. You can also consider having a hidden switch installed that turns power off when the car is not in use, ensuring that no one can start it up and drive away undetected.

If you don’t have a garage or just don’t feel comfortable keeping your classic car locked up all the time, then at least do yourself another favor by making sure only family members know where the keys are kept so they can get into the vehicle if necessary (and hopefully not for joyrides!).

Conclusion

Whether you simply drive your classic car to work throughout the week or plan on taking it out for an auto show, there are steps that you can take to make sure that your ride is secure when you’re not around. We hope these tips above have helped you find the perfect solution for keeping your classic car secure.