There's an interesting article in Wired magazine about how reluctant -- to put it kindly -- US insurers are to pay out on auto theft claims when the stolen car in question has a transponder-equipped key system, as our cars do. Basically the insurers have become convinced that cars so equipped are unstealable (unless towed) and as a result, if your car is actually stolen, shows no signs of having been towed, and you have all your keys, they are likely to accuse you of fraud and deny your claim. I was particularly fascinated by the discussion of back doors in most of these cars, which give you a way to start the car even with a dead key. The notion of a back door isn't that surprising, just how it may be implemented. In the case of the author's Honda Civic, a series of handbrake pulls before twisting the key allows the car to start even with the transponder disabled. Bonus points to anyone who finds out the Volvo back door!
I'm not aware of anyone here who has had the misfortune of having their S40/V50 nicked, but I guess the moral is to approach your insurer carefully if you ever do.
I'm not aware of anyone here who has had the misfortune of having their S40/V50 nicked, but I guess the moral is to approach your insurer carefully if you ever do.
