am looking at buying my first car. A few of my neighbours, however, have had their cars stolen recently, and I' m worried that the same thing could happen to me. Would my car be covered if it were stolen? What can I do to prevent this from happening?

Dear Worried:

You have good reason to be concerned. In 1999, the latest year for which statistics are available, 161,405 incidents of motor-vehicle theft were reported to police -- an average of 454 vehicles a day! And although your car is insured (unless it is stolen by a member of your household or someone to whom you gave permission to drive it) under "Comprehensive" or "Specified Perils" coverage, theft of vehicles and their components costs Canadian policyholders some $600 million a year in insurance premiums. We all pay the price.

One way to reduce the risk of theft is by buying a model that is less likely to be stolen. Consult the booklet How Cars Measure Up , published by the Vehicle Information Centre of Canada (VICC), to find some worthy candidates. The current edition compares the insurance claim records for 1998 and 1999 models.

Think twice before buying one of these models, the top 10 targets of thieves: Hyundai Tiburon FX; Volkswagen Golf (two-door); Acura Integra (two-door); Jeep TJ (four-wheel drive); Hyundai Accent (two-door); Chevrolet Cavalier Z24; Dodge Durango (four-wheel drive); Dodge Dakota (four-wheel drive); Toyota 4Runner (four-wheel drive); and Dodge Ram 1500 (four-wheel drive). The Toyota 4Runner also has the dubious distinction of topping the list of vehicles with the highest theft claim cost per vehicle, at more than seven times the average cost for 1998 and 1999 models.

Another line of defence against theft is to buy a car with a VICC-approved theft-deterrent device. VICC studies show that passive electronic immobilizers (which require no driver intervention) can cut the incidence of car theft by as much as 70 per cent. An aftermarket system, Autowatch 329ti, supplied by PFK Electronics, also meets VICC standards, if installed according to specifications.

By choosing a car that is less prone to theft, you will not only gain peace of mind, but also put a few more dollars in your pocket. That's because, under a system known as CLEAR (Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating), insurers reward policyholders for buying cars that are less likely to incur insurance losses.

Copies of How Cars Measure Up are available by calling 416-445-5912 or toll-free at 1-800-761-6703; or by visiting the VICC website at www.vicc.com .

Finally, since preventing auto theft is not always possible, it is well worth it to pay a few dollars extra dollars to get "All Perils" coverage. That way you are covered even if someone in your household or your mechanic steal your car.