Cheap car rental options are cropping up all over South Africa. A service most frequently used by tourists and long-distance commuters, average South Africans now find themselves having to resort to car rental due to a sharp increase in vehicle theft. You know that cold feeling you get when you can't locate your car keys? Imagine the type of physical response you'll have if you walk out of the house one morning and your whole car is gone. Vanished ? a ?la poof! Let's just say it'll be less than pleasant.



According to the National Crime Bureau the vehicles most frequently reported stolen are the following:

1. 1991 Honda Accord

2. 1995 Honda Civic

3. 1989 Toyota Camry

4. 1994 Dodge Caravan

5. 1994 Nissan Sentra

If you own one of the above you might be in for a nasty surprise one of these days. In the unfortunate event of your car being stolen it is always better to be safe than sorry. This means you'll have to be grown-up and be prepared with suitable insurance, as well as the having the correct information which you'll need to contact the police department for filing reports. Make sure that you have a copy of your vehicle registration papers as well as your ID at hand when you contact the police. Once you have a case number you can then notify your insurance company and begin the claims process.

When shopping around for auto insurance keep in mind that some cheap options can end up costing you a lot of money further along the road. Opting for a slightly more expensive insurance package that includes car replacement rental coverage could stand you in good stead. A full year of auto rental coverage will cost you less than even the most cheap South African car rental would do in a day. Also bear in mind that most insurance companies will wait an average of two to four weeks to ensure that the stolen car is not found before giving the go-ahead on the purchase of a new vehicle. This means if you are the victim of crime you could end up paying an arm and a leg to rent a car during the interim ? adding unnecessary insult to already unpleasant injury. Even if you have adequate insurance it is important to review your policy yearly to check if it will cover your needs in the event of your vehicle being stolen or damaged.

Getting worried yet? There are a few standard precautions that could safe-guard you and your car against theft. A ?layered? approach would be the best idea. Try the following steps:

1.Back to Basics: LOCK your car and keep your keys in a safe place. If you have a set of spare keys make sure that they can only be accessed by trustworthy people. If you don't know any of those it is best to keep it somewhere only you would think to look.

2.Warning! Warning!: Install a visible or audible alarm warning device. Anything that makes noise or employs bright flashing lights will go a long way, ensuring your car stays where you left it.

3.Immobilize the Enemy Forces: Install ?kill? switches, fuel cut-offs or use smart keys ? anything that would keep the would-be thief from starting your car.

4.Follow the Tracks: If you feel like pushing out the boat install a high tech tracking device and catch the suckers while they're at it. High-end tracking devices will alert both you and your local law enforcement agency the moment an unauthorized user even as much as breaths on your vehicle.

Other than that the only thing you can really do is hope your residence has safe, off-street parking and keep your fingers crossed. I've also heard of people keeping live snakes in their cars to discourage break-ins. Personally, I'd rather take my chances with the cheap car rental companies.