Young drivers more likely to be victims of car thieves – AMI data

Wayne Tippet (pictured above), AMI executive general manager of claims, said that young drivers tend to drive cars that are smaller and older, which are more often targeted by opportunistic thieves.

“Compared to the rest of the population, younger drivers are more likely to drive an older, second-hand car that won’t break the budget – an older Mazda Demio or Suzuki Swift are both good examples,” Tippet said. “Unfortunately, that also makes young drivers more susceptible to theft. Many older, imported vehicles lack security features such as car alarms and immobilisers which deter thieves from attempting to steal a car in the first place.”

AMI’s data showed that the five cars most popular with young drivers are the Mazda Axela, Toyota Corolla, Suzuki Swift, Mazda Demio, and Subaru Legacy. Two of those – the Demio and the Legacy – are also part of AMI’s list of the top 10 most stolen cars in New Zealand, released in March.

However, it’s unlikely under-25 drivers have the latest versions of these models, as the average age of cars driven by insured young drivers is 16 years, with most vehicles falling between the years 2005 and 2007.

According to Tippet, AMI wants to play a part in increasing young people’s financial resilience by making it easier for them to take up car insurance.

“With a tighter budget than most, young people won’t always have the spare cash to replace a stolen car, and that can be a major roadblock to simple things like getting to work or study or seeing friends,” he said.

Tippet advised owners of older and frequently stolen cars, such as installing an immobiliser or a steering wheel lock.

“And, of course, car insurance is there to help you absorb the financial hit if the worst happens and help you get back behind the wheel as fast as possible,” Tippet said.

As part of its goal to make car insurance more accessible for young people, AMI has partnered with Fleetcoach to offer an online driver education course that eligible AMI young driver customers can complete to qualify for $250 off their vehicle policy excess.

“We’re hoping this will encourage more young people to take up insurance, and to know that we’re on their side in case things go wrong,” Tippet said.