A £20 ‘cheap hack’ can make a vehicle less likely to be stolen, according to Halfords. Car or window ‘etching’ costs just £20, but puts off would-be thieves stealing the vehicle as it makes it far harder to clone and sell on.
According to security marking firm Retainagroup, in 2023, vehicles protected by the system were 26% less likely to be stolen and 10% more likely to be recovered than vehicles not protected by the system.
But research from Halfords found a third (33%) of motorists have never even heard of window etching.
The motoring retailer said the quick, five-minute process could be the perfect solution to make motorists’ vehicles less likely to be stolen.
However, car etching won’t mean cheaper insurance, as insurance companies don’t currently offer any discount for this. This is despite the research from Halfords revealing that 83% of motorists think insurers should reduce premiums for those who make their vehicle more secure and less likely to be stolen.
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VIN stands for vehicle identification number and is a 17-character alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies a vehicle. To find your VIN, check the dashboard near the windshield on the driver’s side, doorframe on the driver’s side, or your vehicle registration certificate (V5C).
Halfords’ security window etching service consists of visibly etching all the windows of a vehicle with the logo of the International Security Register (ISR) and the VIN. The unique code is linked to a fully certified and secure database used by all UK police forces.
Graham Stapleton, Halfords’ CEO, said: “Today, we’re calling on the insurance industry to reward responsible motorists who do their part to make their car more secure. Thefts have skyrocketed and, partly as a result of this, insurance premiums for most motorists are soaring.
“Those who invest their own money in making their car more secure should see this reflected in their premiums. As well as window etching, many motorists also invest in further measures such as diamond standard wheel locks and dashcams – yet these are still not part of the standard insurance forms for insurers.”
