Will your insurer pay out for remote jamming?

Remote jamming has become common in the past few months. In fact, I experienced this phenomenon first-hand when my car would not lock at a shopping centre in Cape Town not too long ago.

Christelle Colman, CEO of MUA Insurance Acceptance, says motorists who use smart keys to access their vehicles need to be extra vigilant when walking away from their cars.

“Smart keys are generally used in high-end vehicles and allow the driver to keep the key fob in their pocket when locking, unlocking and even starting the vehicle. Criminals can exploit these new smart keys.”

She says consumers should take extra care when locking their vehicles because theft with no sign of forcible entry is often repudiated by insurers.

“However, most insurers will pay out the related insurance claim where there is video proof.”

Because there are so many different insurers and policies, an insurance company’s response to this kind of incident would vary greatly, explains Colman.

“However, for a claim to be successful, the insurer would likely request some form of proof [of the incident] from you, which is particularly tricky, unless you happen to park in view of a security camera and are also able to obtain the footage that supports the version of events,” says Colman.

Warwick Scott-Rodger, head of DialDirect, agreed with this view, and says it is difficult to determine if someone has been a victim of remote jamming.

“Each instance will have different merits when it comes to the investigation. Although not always conclusive, video footage may assist to determine if remote jamming was involved,” he explains.

DialDirect will thoroughly investigate the merits of all claims made and, should the investigation prove that you have been a victim of remote jamming and that you took all the necessary precautions to safeguard your car against theft, your claim will be handled accordingly and in line with the terms and conditions of the specific policy, he says.

Scott-Rodger cautions that you should avoid storing valuable items, house keys and important documents in your car because remote jamming is on an upward trajectory.