Whether you park your classic car in a garage, storage facility, or a grocery store lot while you’re out for a weekend drive, it’s important to protect your prized possession. Classic and collector cars don’t usually come with the anti-theft features that most modern cars offer, so it’s up to you to take steps to guard your vehicle. Luckily, there are some simple precautions to keep in mind.

3 Ways to Prevent Collector Cars From Being Stolen

1. Keep It Out of Sight

When parking your car in a garage or any covered storage at home, try to conceal it from prying eyes as much as possible. This makes it less of a target for anyone who may be perusing your neighborhood for valuables. If it’s in a garage, cover the windows, lock the doors, and use a car cover to both obscure it and protect the paint job.

Additionally, try to avoid signs or decorations that make it really obvious what kind of car you have in the garage, though it’s fine to include these inside the garage if the windows are covered.

2. Hide the Keys

While it’s true that some thieves can hotwire a car in order to drive it away without the keys, this process can be complicated and time-consuming. Not everyone knows how to do it, and those that do still might not take the risk.

In most cases, people prefer an easy target, so make sure to lock your doors no matter where your vehicle is parked, and avoid leaving the keys in the ignition or on a hook located near your vehicle.

3. Use Visible Anti-Theft Devices

When you’re out and about, you don’t usually have the option to keep your car out of sight. However, you can make it really obvious to people that you take security seriously. Install a locking device over the steering wheel or clamp locks over the wheels. These items can theoretically be disabled, but most thieves won’t want to spend the extra time on them since it increases the chances that they’ll be caught.

Whether you’re a classic car owner or generally interested in collector cars, you’ll love the selection at Charlotte AutoFair. The Mecklenburg County, NC, auto show features more than 10,000 car collectors, buyers, and sellers. Hosted biannually, the four-day event has been a staple in the region for more than 30 years. Find the parts and accessories you’ve been looking for or take the opportunity to sell one of your collector cars or add one to your collection. Visit the car show’s website to learn more about upcoming events. Call (704) 841-1990 to ask about becoming a vendor.