Looking for a new car? Ensure its secure!

Naturally, when comparing cars, we tend to look at how much they cost, how much equipment is included and what the aftersales services is like. But before you sign on the dotted line, have you thought about security?

Ensuring your car is secure as possible is especially important on older cars, where security is of course not quite as sophiscated as it is nowadays. In fact, the majority of car thefts today are done by stealing the car key in the first place, as its pratically impossible to get in and start the car without it. On older cars though, it can be worryingly easy to get in and drive away.

Fortunately, UK buyers have a helping hand thanks to Thatcham. This company essentially breaks into cars for a living, thereby testing the security features of cars. Cars are then ranked using a star system. They test:

• The car immobilser
• The car locks
• The vehicle identification
• The car alarm
• The car's window glazing

To use the Thatcham car search, where you can find the security level of most cars sold in the country, just visit:
http://www.thatcham.org/nvsr/index.jsp?page=200