British Insurance Car Security Awards 2008

Introduction
The British Insurance Car Security Awards were established in 2004 to recognise those manufacturers who have produced the most secure cars, and to raise consumer awareness of what is best in vehicle security. They are based on the New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) scheme and the categories, selection criteria and methodology described below, all of which was developed jointly by the Automobile Association, Department for Transport, Home Office and Thatcham, and backed by the British motor insurers and other organisations interested in improving vehicle security.

Methodology
The winning vehicles are chosen by:

• selecting candidates that satisfy the selection criteria as listed below, and
• ranking the candidates using the sum of the NVSR 'theft of' and 'theft from' points scores, taking account of any differences in the British Insurance Industry's New Vehicle Security Assessment (NVSA) Criteria (e.g. Issue 3, 3a, 4 or 4a).

The award for each vehicle category listed below is given to the vehicle in the respective category with the highest combined points score for 'theft of' and 'theft from'. In the event of a tie, vehicles will be placed according to the least number of variants that do not satisfy the awards selection criteria and then by the manufacturers' ranking as determined by the methodology set out for the Manufacturer Award.

The Manufacturer Award is given to the manufacturer with the most model ranges, and so the widest market coverage, over the 12 months to end April, where every variant satisfies the awards selection criteria. Different models with different body styles in the same vehicle category will be treated as one model for the purposes of the Manufacturer Award.

An Innovation Award (from 2007) is given to a design, feature, system or process introduced as standard or as a routine procedure which surpasses the existing scope or points available in security assessments and, in the opinion of the developers of the NVSR scheme, will make a significant ongoing contribution to further reducing vehicle crime. Manufacturers and suppliers are invited to nominate candidates for this award.

Selection Criteria
The cars selected as candidates for the awards are those:

• Submitted for insurance group rating purposes
• Subjected to NVSA testing and rated by NVSR
• Currently on sale with standard original equipment to UK specification
• Available new for delivery in the UK as at end April, with standard original equipment to UK specification
• Having five stars for 'theft of' and four or more stars for 'theft from'
• With double locking on all openings fitted with an interior release
• With an insurance group rating 'E' suffix as decided by the Insurance Group Rating Panel, which denotes that the car exceeds the security requirement for the model variant and the group rating has consequently been reduced
• With an original equipment alarm/immobiliser combination that satisfies the British Insurance Industry's Criteria and is specified in Thatcham's 'Vehicle Security National Listing' available at www.thatcham.org/security.
• The manufacturers selected as candidates for the Manufacturer Award are those having four or more model ranges where every variant satisfies the awards selection criteria.

Vehicle Categories
Chosen so that motorists can compare similar vehicles in the same class, the categories are:

• City Car / Supermini
• Small Family
• Family
• Compact Executive
• Compact MPV
• Large MPV
• Open-top
• Performance
• Compact 4x4
• Large 4x4
• Executive
• Luxury

Security Ratings
The NVSR security ratings take no account of the relative cost of different makes/models or of any differences in perceived or actual attractiveness to car thieves. They are purely design based and take account of the following: For 'theft of'

• Ignition/steering column lock
• Peripheral locks and mechanisms
• Electronic security system (alarm and immobiliser systems)
• Vehicle identification
• Secondary mechanical immobilisation system
• Glazing
• Key/component management
• Additional security features (e.g. locking rear seats and/or storage areas)
• Key duplication, key code information - one star deducted if unsatisfactory

For 'theft from'

• Peripheral locks and mechanisms
• Alarm system
• ICE and in car electronics
• Glazing
• Key/component management
• Additional security features (e.g. locking rear seats and/or storage areas)
• Key duplication, key code information and road wheel and spare security - one star deducted if unsatisfactory

Further information about the awards and the New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) scheme can be found here.

Advice on tackling and preventing vehicle crime can be found at www.crimereduction.gov.uk/toolkits
www.secureyourmotor.gov.uk
and at www.acpo.police.uk/avcis

For information on fighting vehicle crime visit the links at DVLA