The issue of car theft in the UK has always been a never-ending scourge for car owners, with countless folks across the country falling victim to this crime each year. Despite advancements in car security, thieves continue to develop new methods, which might leave drivers feeling frustrated and vulnerable. Additionally, the financial and emotional toll of car theft can be significant, making it a pressing concern for both car owners and policymakers.
With that in mind, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) recently announced that it’s stepping up its insurance services for car owners, and has partnered with 30 leading insurance companies in the UK. This massive collaboration aims to improve insurance options for Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery owners, and will provide JLR with detailed information about advanced anti-theft features in their vehicles, dating back to models from 2018.
JLR says that it has invested in £15 million towards the upgrade of its security systems in older vehicles, including those outside of warranty. Since 2022, over 150,000 cars from 2018 onwards have received security updates. The company adds that its engineers are developing compatible software for 2016 and 2017 models. JLR encourages all owners to contact their retailer to check for updates and security guidance.
JLR launched its own insurance services back in October 2023, offering competitive quotes to Jaguar and Land Rover owners. The company says that it’s already provided over 37,500 quotes with an average monthly premium below £180. With that said, Land Rover Insurance is offering a special promotion for new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models registered between May 1st and September 30th, 2024. It should be noted that this program provides £150 per month towards insurance costs for up to three years.
Going back to its anti-theft tech, JLR’s backwards-compatible security measures were originally announced by the company back in November of last year, after collaborating with Thatcham Research for almost three decades in order to develop its anti-theft and vehicular security systems. These features include the Body Control Module (BCM) which prevents thieves from driving away a vehicle without a key. JLR also uses ultra-wideband (UWB) systems to prevent “relay attacks” on vehicles, which allows criminals to intercept signals between a vehicle and the owner’s key in order to gain access to the vehicle.
With that being said, the company still advises car owners to be diligent and use every available measure to protect their vehicle; Police data shows the effectiveness of JLR’s security measures, with only 0.2% of new Range Rovers and Sports and only 0.3% of new Defenders having been stolen since January 2022.
