A personal lesson learned
We recently spoke with one of our own RACT team members, who shared a powerful and personal experience about the importance of car security and insurance. Her story is a reminder that no one is immune to the risk of theft, no matter where you live.
One morning, after a long shift in my previous job, I came home to an empty driveway. I thought it was strange as we had three cars, so there was always one left at home, but thought nothing more of it and assumed my partner had let someone borrow it. It wasn't until my partner came home later that day and asked where the Mitsubishi was, that the realisation hit us both. Our car had been stolen. Living in a quiet, rural area, I’d always thought we were safe. Just days before, I’d joked, “No one’s going to steal anything all the way out here.” How wrong I was.
The immediate impact
The shock was overwhelming. We had recently discussed security, and I’d dismissed the need to lock everything up. Theft felt impossible. We also had no insurance on this car. Growing up insurance wasn’t something we talked about, and it wasn’t until I started working at RACT that I realised just how crucial it is.
The emotional and financial toll
Beyond the hassle of losing a reliable car, the emotional impact was profound. I felt vulnerable and anxious—every noise at night made me fear our home might be next. My partner's ute was unreliable, which is why we had this Mitsubishi. We didn't know what we'd do or how we'd both get to work if something were to happen to the ute. We were lucky the car was found weeks later, undamaged, but the entire experience taught me a hard lesson.
Key lessons learned
Lock your car: It’s the simplest yet most effective defence, no matter where you live.
Use your garage: If you have one, use it. Keeping your car out of sight offers added protection.
Get insurance: The emotional toll would have been much less had we been insured, and of course the potential for this to have affected us hugely financially. Insurance is more than just protection, it’s peace of mind.
Don’t wait for something bad to happen before securing your car. I learned the hard way that theft can happen anywhere, and it’s worth taking simple steps like locking your car, using your garage, and getting the right insurance coverage to protect your assets. The peace of mind it brings is priceless.
Before buying insurance issued by RACT Insurance Pty Ltd (ABN 96 068 167 804, AFS licence 229 076) you should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) which you can find along with the Target Market Determination (TMD) on our Insurance Documents page.