How to Shop for a Car Alarm System

A car alarm system can be the difference between a drive to work and a call to the police. It can be the integral barrier to keeping a thief out of your car. But which car alarm system is right for you? Follow these simple steps to shop for a car alarm system for your car.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Determine your budget. You can't decide which car alarm system to buy until you know which ones you are able to afford.
2. Determine what you want to protect. If you often have valuables in your car, for instance, you may want to install motion sensors in the cabin.
3. Ask your insurance company whether it offers different rates for a car equipped with an alarm system. Some insurance companies will lower your payments if they believe there’s less chance your car will be stolen.
4. Choose an alarm made by a major company (such as Crutchfield, Alpine or Clifford) due to their reputability and the ease of service and return.
5. Consult car aficionado magazines to get ideas for features and alarm models that you can look around for locally.
6. Ask around. Contact local auto shops, friends with car alarm systems and the local police for advice on which systems are most effective and economical for deterring car theft.
7. Consider a theft-tracking system in addition to your alarm. GPS-based systems are growing in sophistication and dropping in price.

Tips & Warnings

• Put the emphasis on theft prevention rather than theft tracking. That will be money better spent on a system with a higher success rate.
• Use common-sense security measures with your car. Always bring your car keys with you when you leave your car anywhere. Lock the car doors during and after driving. Always store the car in your garage if you have one, and keep the garage door locked.
• Before you invest in a tracking system, make sure it operates in and around your geographic area.