Community Forums

vincee · 04-10-2015, 12:13 PM

Gee guys, after reading through 70 posts, 5 pages, you stole my thunder about the insurance industry view on keys in the ignition. Oh well! Anyways, when DW and I are just overnighting at a rest stop or cg, never have done Wal-Mart, I always leave the key in the ignition. While the rig is home keys are always in the house in our key basket. Set up at a camp site we either have them hanging on a key hook hard to see inside the door or a key basket where we always have the toad keys above the passenger seat. RV'ing I like to be a creature of habit that I learned in my boating days because if you forget something out in the middle of Lake Erie you are up the creek, not lake.

jeryan59 · 04-10-2015, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVforMyRV

As an agent and broker, I've read a lot more insurance language than I even like. I've never seen mention of "keys" in any standard consumer oriented policy. Perhaps in a custom commercial type policy, the insurance company could use a manuscript endorsement to put such a stipulation for a unique hazard, but that's not even a one in a million chance.

Fraud, and forgetfully leaving your keys in the ignition are two totally different things. It's a great thing for us that insurance policies don't exclude "stupid"!

I likewise sell Commercial and Personal lines insurance, I have never seen an exclusion for keys in the ignition. Apparently someone knows something I have missed in my 33 year career?

I can tell you many factual circumstances of vehicles, including a recent tractor trailer stolen while making a delivery with the driver in the trailer attempting to make a delivery. Fortunately the employed driver wasn't injured during the ride with the unauthorized driver!

As a sidenote, I don't leave my key in the ignition out of paranoia, it is so I don't lose the key.

Funhaus · 04-10-2015, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeryan59

I likewise sell Commercial and Personal lines insurance, I have never seen an exclusion for keys in the ignition. Apparently someone knows something I have missed in my 33 year career?

I can tell you many factual circumstances of vehicles, including a recent tractor trailer stolen while making a delivery with the driver in the trailer attempting to make a delivery. Fortunately the employed driver wasn't injured during the ride with the unauthorized driver!

As a sidenote, I don't leave my key in the ignition out of paranoia, it is so I don't lose the key.

Thank you. I've asked my insurance man this question before, he said same thing, show me where it says that in the policy.
I chalk it up to internet legend, or the I have a friend who had a friend that had or happen to them.

vincee · 04-11-2015, 09:41 AM

My input regarding insurance reg's was from work. We have company cars that we use on grounds and at one time the keys were just left in the ignition. A few years back that changed to putting the keys up on the visor. We were told that should a car be stolen with the keys in the ignition our insurance would not cover the loss.

Lobstah · 04-12-2015, 06:27 AM

I can see a situation where a company might tell it's employees that.
Figure you have 20 cars. One gets stolen. As a business, your commercial insurance rates go up due to the claim. Said insurance company says if you have ANOTHER claim, your rates will go up again, and/or you may get dropped. So owner of the company says Hey...the LEAST we can do is take the keys out of the ignition...so that establish that policy and blame it on the insurance company.
And...all that is fine, BUT...
If your car is parked in the driveway, key in the ignition and running, with the doors wide open, and someone jumps in and steals your car...THEY STOLE YOUR PROPERTY. THAT'S ILLEGAL.
So if your car gets hijacked?...insurance doesn't pay?...because the key was in the ignition?
Not happening.

Triker56 · 04-12-2015, 07:02 AM

Keys have been in the ignition 24/7 since bought in 2002.
Use another set for outside compartments and fuel door.

If I overnight at any place other then a campground. Steps are locked in and it would take probably a 7' plus person to see in the window for the keys in ignition.
And then much longer to get the dead bolt unlocked or break a window while I am inside with protection.

Dr4Film · 04-12-2015, 07:03 AM

The coach keys (which is R HOME) are always in the ignition. The only other two keys on the ring are for the front door and deadbolt.

I have a set of extra door keys hidden that can be accessed from outside if needed. I have an extra ignition key located in the bedroom cabinet if needed.

When towing my car only and not my rolling garage, I have a single ignition key which stays in the ignition UNTIL I unhook the car from the tow bar. If someone attempted to steal the car they would first have to remove two LOCKING pins from the tow bar and THEN remove the pins which can be a feat in itself since if the car is not level then most of the time the pins will not come out easily. Next, they would have to locate my hidden ignition disable switch which is required on this Saturn Vue to eliminate running the battery down. Plus when I lock the car just before taking off I use the security key fob to lock all of the doors. Then if a window were to be broken and the car entered through any door regardless of what the intruder intended to do the Saturn security system prevents the engine from starting through an engine disabling feature.

After reading through this entire thread I think there is WAY too much paranoia here but hey, to each their own! It's your coach and your property you can do as you please.

It would be a very boring world if we were all clones, Eh!

Dr4Film ----- Richard

jason1029 · 04-23-2015, 07:40 PM

Our key is on the same ring as the rest of the keys for the rig so they are out of the ignition and hanging on a hook next to the paper towels.. Easy to grab when going by and if we need them in a hurry.

SteveLevin · 04-23-2015, 08:07 PM

We keep our keys on a loop that has a carabiner on the other end and generally snap the carabiner to the handle of the drawer over the door, that way we can keep track of them.

If get somewhere that seems to be sketchy, unless we are broken, we just keep on going.

Steve

jeryan59 · 04-29-2015, 07:59 AM

I'm not advocating leaving your keys in the ignition, but the National Insurance Bureau data is stunning.

Guess Who's Making It Easier For Car Thieves — You - NBC News

ArmandV · 04-29-2015, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tytlfamily

Keys in the ignition....9MM on night stand....

Ditto here!

Fl_Richard · 04-30-2015, 04:35 PM

X2

^^^^ Only a 45

Gordon Dewald · 04-30-2015, 04:40 PM

LOL - I just can't get the picture out of my mind of a LeMans start. With the MH driver making a mad dash to the drivers seat, gun tucked in shorts waistband and leaping into the seat. Posing perhaps for a photo op posed with hand on hip and gun.

While the situation has a possibility of occuring IMO the situations where you have to make a fast getaway from a life threatening situation will be miniscule.

Are you taking in your slides before you leave or do you pull them in prior to settling down for the night?

I am sorry - I just cannot get the picture out of my mind!

flaggship1 · 04-30-2015, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

LOL - I just can't get the picture out of my mind of a LeMans start. With the MH driver making a mad dash to the drivers seat, gun tucked in shorts waistband and leaping into the seat. Posing perhaps for a photo op posed with hand on hip and gun.

While the situation has a possibility of occuring IMO the situations where you have to make a fast getaway from a life threatening situation will be miniscule.

Are you taking in your slides before you leave or do you pull them in prior to settling down for the night?

I am sorry - I just cannot get the picture out of my mind!

Jacks down - slides out - locked and ready to roll.