RESEARCH from Quotezone . co . uk , based on over 10,000 insurance policies , shows that more than 20 % of farmers keep working vehicles in unlocked garages overnight and over 15 % are left out on unsecure driveways .

However , there was more encouraging news as locked garages , which are considered the safest place to keep agricultural vehicles , are the most popular storage option and account for nearly half of responses .

The farm vehicle data , which was compiled nationwide from 2019 to 2020 , shows the average tractor costs £ 10,775 . The data includes tractors ( 78.5 % of all vehicles ), diggers ( 9.5 %) and a range of other vehicles including harvesters and quad bikes .

A recent crime survey , published in August 2019 , reported

the cost of farm related theft across the country was £ 54.3m in 2019 . This included £ 9.3m worth of farm vehicles , up from £ 7.4m the year before , and £ 3.1m worth of quad bikes , up from £ 2.6m .

Quotezone . co . uk suggests the following measures could help to increase security , and in turn might also lower some premiums :

• Restricting access to yards , installing sturdy gates fixed in concrete or a metal post

• Painting equipment in distinctive / corporate colours

• Investing in security devices such as Datatag marking or vehicle trackers

• Registering and take photographs of expensive items and equipment , noting serial numbers

• Checking fences , hedges and walls regularly for breaches

• Adding alarms , CCTV and security lights , and keeping gates locked and vehicle keys on your person

• Joining Farm Watch ( Neighbourhood Watch ) schemes

Responding to the findings , Quotezone . co . uk ’ s founder Greg Wilson comments : “ I think many would assume that due to the rural location of farms and the size and complexity of the

machinery in question that theft would be unlikely , but as the statistics show , farms have become a target for specialist thieves .

“ That ’ s one of the reasons why an insurance policy is so important . It not only protects farmers ’ valuable assets and provides financial security – it also supports their livelihood . If items are stolen or damaged it could be very difficult to afford to replace them - causing

knock-on effects to the running of the farm itself until a replacement vehicle is found .

“ If the vehicle in question needs to be on a public road at any stage , it will need at least third-party insurance . It could also save money to insure all vehicles under the same policy – including other transport used on the farm such as quads or 4x4s and even a car which can be classed as business and social use – as long as any vehicle on the road does not use red diesel , as this could invalidate the policy .”

Recommended by 97 % of reviewers , Quotezone . co . uk helps around 3 million users every year , with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products including niche items such as farm vehicle insurance , tractor insurance and harvester insurance .