Insurance companies and leaving your keys in the ignition

**Shaun Harris** · 14th December 2007, 15:59

I have posted this in the wrong forum, according to my PM message Box, as well as I have made a huge mistake, because of mis communication, and my very aggressive concerned genuine nature

**EJK** · 14th December 2007, 16:07

Yes, I barely read that* on the "Insurance Form".
And yes, they are in small writings.... Very small...

*Stolen when the key was in the ignition

Man.... I feel so sorry for your friend...

**yungatart** · 14th December 2007, 16:10

I must be a dumb bunny, cos I always take the keys out of the ignition when I'm at the servo....

**vifferman** · 14th December 2007, 16:17

Originally Posted by yungatart

I must be a dumb bunny, cos I always take the keys out of the ignition when I'm at the servo....

Me too, unless there's a passenger in the car.

**Shaun** · 14th December 2007, 16:19

Originally Posted by yungatart

I must be a dumb bunny, cos I always take the keys out of the ignition when I'm at the servo....

No mate, you are obviously a wise bugger, but for an insurance company to inforce this rule, is a total crock of shit

**AllanB** · 14th December 2007, 16:39

If this happens the insurance company is legally correct as you have not filled your part of the agreement and taken all care to secure the vehicle.

Pretty simple stuff - I'd never leave my keys in the car at a service station or anywhere and my observations say most people do not.

Of interest is bike workshops - everyone I've been to has the bikes sitting out the back (usually in a fairly public area) with the keys in them. Gives me the shits

**KoroJ** · 14th December 2007, 17:02

Not the first time a car has been 'borrowed' from a forecourt.

I would think it's fair enough for the insurance companies to expect us to take 'Due Care' and I must remember to take my keys out next time.

**skidMark** · 14th December 2007, 17:05

Originally Posted by vifferman

Me too, unless there's a passenger in the car.

i always take them out but even more so if passengers in the car....these cage passengers, can't trust any of em.

**Shaun** · 14th December 2007, 19:38

Originally Posted by AllanB

If this happens the insurance company is legally correct as you have not filled your part of the agreement and taken all care to secure the vehicle.

Pretty simple stuff - I'd never leave my keys in the car at a service station or anywhere and my observations say most people do not.

Of interest is bike workshops - everyone I've been to has the bikes sitting out the back (usually in a fairly public area) with the keys in them. Gives me the shits

Guess I must be stupid then.

But since I am a man of principal and do what I say I will do, I will not do any more work for this paticullar company again.

**shafty** · 14th December 2007, 19:38

It's a no brainer, I take the keys with me and lock the car when paying for gas. In seconds someone could whip my Radar, GPS, digi camera etc.

Few years ago - OK, 12 years ago, someone was lurking around the Te Atatu Post Office waiting for some sucker to stop and post mail while leaving the engine running................they did, and the car was gone in seconds................so I doubt it's any safer nowadays

**Shaun** · 14th December 2007, 19:42

Originally Posted by KoroJ

Not the first time a car has been 'borrowed' from a forecourt.

I would think it's fair enough for the insurance companies to expect us to take 'Due Care' and I must remember to take my keys out next time.

Due care yes, but how about the power of the human mind, ie, mistakes happen, and some people are quite blind to how the world works ie thieves etc
\

Apart from all that, surely the people who sold the policy, must be legally responsible to explain what the details of the insurance contract are? they do have the persons money for his policy after all

**sunhuntin** · 14th December 2007, 19:59

lots of customers leave their keys in... lots others dont. i find it highly amusing when theres only one customer and myself, and they still take the keys... course, they dont know that i cant drive, lmfao.

i usually take the keys after filling either bike, but i have forgot them in town a few times. once i was a 30 min wander around the warehouse. wasnt till i came out and they werent in my helmet that i realised, lol.

**Matt_TG** · 14th December 2007, 20:28

It's all about taking due care and all reasonable steps to secure property / minimise loss.
Leaving your keys in an unlocked vehicle is inviting trouble really. We know we "shouldn't" have to worry about these things but times have changed from the days you could leave your house / car unlocked all day and no one would touch it.

Don't blame insurance companies, blame society.

**sAsLEX** · 14th December 2007, 20:55

Originally Posted by Matt_TG

It's all about taking due care and all reasonable steps to secure property / minimise loss.
Leaving your keys in an unlocked vehicle is inviting trouble really. We know we "shouldn't" have to worry about these things but times have changed from the days you could leave your house / car unlocked all day and no one would touch it.

Don't blame insurance companies, blame society.

But should you lock the front door of your house if your in the lounge in the summer lest someone walk in and steal something?

There is due care and there is practicalities. Should you also remove all your tank bags etc before heading inside to the counter lest someone walks off with them?

Being 15 feet away from your unlocked vehicle with it in sight is due care in my view.