Vehicle Security Tips For Travelers and Expats Driving Overseas

Travelers and expats must be aware of vehicle security tips while driving overseas.

One reason is because of the high number of highway crashes that occur abroad.

Travel Safety Statistic: Did you know that during the month of January 2008, there were more than 700 vehicles stolen in the city of Quito, Ecuador?

Here's some vehicle security information that can help you safe abroad.

Expats are often targeted for vehicle crimes because they tend to have newer cars. These new, expensive, and foreign cars attract the attention of car thieves. Try blending in and driving vehicles similiar to what the locals drive.

You should tint the windows of the vehicles, permitting local law enforcement allow you to. Here in Quito you must first seek a permit from the police and pay $40 USD per year.

If the windows are tinted this prevents criminals from seeing what you have inside. It also makes them think twice about carjacking your car because they are not sure if you are alone or have a car full of people.

Can you imagine a thief’s surprise when he, alone, attempts to carjack you when there are 2 or 3 of your friends in the car with you?

Purchase vehicle security systems and use them! I’m amazed at the number of people who pay lots of money to have vehicle security alarms installed and never use them.

Most locals have alarms on the vehicles. Here in Quito insurance companies will not insure the vehicle useless it has an alarm. So, if most of the locals have the alarms and you don’t, then the car thieves will recognize this and target your car.

Vehicle Security Tip: Make sure to lock the doors and roll up the windows when driving.

In many countries there are street vendors and performers at every stoplight. Unfortunately, some of these people are also criminals.

A common scam used here in Quito is when a woman in her vehicle stops at a red light a street performer will walk by and see that she has her purse in the passenger seat. He will then call his accomplice and the next stoplight giving him the vehicle description and license plate number. When the vehicle stops at the red light, the accomplice will quickly smash the window, take the purse, and flee the area.

Don’t leave valuables out in plain sight when you leave the vehicle unattended. Instead place these items in the truck. This prevents thieves from walking pass the car, looking in to check for valuables, and breaking into the vehicle they are seen.

Avoid choke points when driving abroad.

If you’ve left the vehicle unattended, make sure to look in the back seat to make sure that the car is empty. A criminal may decide to break into the vehicle, hide until you arrive to you home, and burglarize your home or worse terrorize your family.

Security for your vehicle is important so remember to use these vehicle security suggestions.

When driving be sure to stop a ½ car length to a car length behind the vehicle in front of you when approaching traffic signals. This way you have room to maneuver the vehicle around other cars and escape the area.

One tactic used by criminals is to box your vehicle and rob you while stopped at a red light.

If you observe that you are being followed by another vehicle do not go home. You should drive to a police station or public area.

Vehicle Security Tip: Use your mirrors to look around when stopped.

Develop a search pattern: left mirror, rear view mirror, right mirror, and repeat. Never get fixated on changing the radio, talking on the cell phone, or go into a dazed while stopped. Your head should be on a swivel scanning the area around you.

Finding a lot of this information hard to remember? No problem. I have a created a FREE Vehicle Security Checklist that you can you as a quick reference guide to help you remember.

Be sure to keep a copy in your car that you can refer to while out in town.

Also, remember that drinking and driving does not mix in any country you are in. Not only is it illegal in most countries but it is dangerous. You could possibly injure or kill yourself or other people. Just don't do it.

Picking up hitchhikers is another bad idea. This can be dangerous because you do not know the person that you may trying to help, but they may be planning to harm you.

Be sure to have auto safety kits in your vehicle. This kit should contain, at a minimum flares, a flashlight, and jumper cables. You never know when you will have mechanical problems.

Now this can be an expensive option but some expats living abroad in dangerous places choose to purchase a armored security vehicle to protect themselves. This is actually quiet common for foreigners living in Mexico. Often these are followed closely by a security vehicle with armed bodyguards inside. That's how bad crime is in Mexico.

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