Do driveway bollards reduce car insurance?

Sometimes. It depends on your insurer, your car and where you live. Anyone promising you a fixed percentage off is guessing.

Here's what we know, and how to find out for your own policy.

Why insurers care

Insurers price your policy on the risk of the car being stolen. A bollard locked in front of it physically stops it being driven away, even if a thief gets in.

For cars that are common theft targets, especially keyless models, that can matter to an underwriter. For a car that's rarely stolen, it might not move the price at all.

What insurers look for

A tested product. Insurers recognise independent security ratings. The main one for bollards in the UK is Sold Secure, run by the Master Locksmiths Association. Ask whoever fits your bollard for the certificate.

Professional fitting. Some insurers want evidence it was installed properly, not just bought.

That you actually use it. If your insurer gives you a discount for the bollard, they may make using it a condition of your cover. Check the policy wording, and get into the habit of locking it every night.

How to ask your insurer

Ring them, or ask at your next renewal. Have this ready:

• The make and model of the bollard
• Its security rating and certificate, if it has one
• The date it was fitted and who fitted it
• A photo of it installed in front of your car

Then ask two questions: does it change my premium, and does it change any security conditions on my policy?

Our honest advice

Don't buy a bollard just for the insurance discount. If it saves you money on your premium, good. The real reason to fit one is that your car is still there in the morning.

A stolen car costs you the excess, a claim on your record, weeks without a car and usually a higher premium afterwards. A bollard is a one-off cost that stops all of that.

Questions people ask

Will a bollard void my insurance if I forget to use it? Not usually, unless your insurer made using it a condition of your policy. Either way, it can't help you if it's down when the car's taken.

Do fold-down posts count? Less likely. Insurers tend to look for posts that are rated and anchored in concrete.

Can you give me the paperwork for my insurer? Yes. We give you the product details, the security rating where the post has one, and a fitting record.

Get a fixed price for your drive