The NICB recently released its Hot Wheels report for 2010. Hot Wheels identifies the 10 most stolen vehicles in the nation and in each state using data provided by law enforcement and contained in the FBI's National Crime Information Center.
As the report clearly shows, the most stolen vehicles are not always the sparkling-new "glamobiles" piloted by paparazzi-dodging celebrities. Make no mistake, their class of ride gets jacked too, but not nearly in the numbers experienced by older Hondas, Toyotas and domestic brands.
So what's up with that?
Year after year, Hondas and Toyotas have dominated our Hot Wheels report. In a way, that's a backhanded compliment. These are very popular vehicles and there are
millions of them on the road—a testament to their durability and their owners' satisfaction.
So what if they get banged up in an accident?
Insurance may cover the repair costs within your policy limits. You take it to a few places and get estimates then leave it with the shop that is mutually agreeable to you and your insurance company. But some repair facilities are shady and obtain replacement parts from older or stolen vehicles.
That's fraud and that drives up the cost of insurance for all of us.
How can you protect yourself from these kinds of scams? Use reputable business owners. Most repair shops are staffed with decent, hard-working and honest employees. But some are not. If you are uncomfortable with a repair facility, look for another.