Do Bollards Reduce Car Insurance?

Over the past decade, we’ve seen more and more bollards appearing on driveways and forecourts for security purposes. They can certainly help to prevent vehicle theft - but do bollards reduce car insurance?

In this post, we’ll answer that question and find out how security bollards can save you money in the long run.

Use these links to find the section you need.

What’s happening with vehicle insurance?

Where do insurers stand on bollards?

So, how can bollards help?

Key considerations for deploying bollards

Final thoughts

What’s happening with vehicle insurance?

Although average vehicle insurance prices have decreased since the record highs of 2023, that doesn’t mean they’re cheap. According to the confused.com price index, 39% of drivers who received a renewal quote over the past 3 months saw their price rise by £68 on average.

Certain vehicles cost more to insure, either because they’re very valuable or because the model is a particular target for thieves. High-end cars aren’t the only targets - in 2025, the two most frequently-stolen vehicles were the Ford Fiesta and the Volkswagen Golf.

Insurance also costs more in areas with a high risk of vehicle-related crime. But even if you don’t personally experience it, the high rate of car theft in England and Wales means we’re all paying more than we’d like.

Where do insurers stand on bollards?

Some insurance companies are willing to offer reduced premiums if the vehicle owner takes certain steps to guard against crime. You’ll have to search specifically to find these providers, and they often specialise in classic or very valuable cars.

But even non-specialist insurers do take some security measures into account. When you apply for vehicle insurance, the provider usually asks questions about security - such as where you keep your car overnight, and whether or not it has an alarm system. 

Although driveway bollards don’t typically feature in this checklist, it’s definitely worth asking any potential insurer about them.

So, how can bollards help?

We can’t say for sure whether your insurer will offer you a lower premium for installing security bollards at your premises. But bollards can still help you to save money.

Here’s the thing. If you’re unlucky enough to have your vehicle stolen, you’ll need to make a claim on your insurance. This means your premium is likely to go up in the future. You can avoid this turn of events by taking preventative measures to stop the crime from happening in the first place.

Bollards are a great way to protect your vehicles against theft. As a physical barrier on your driveway or forecourt, they can prevent thieves from driving vehicles away, even if they’ve managed to break in. They also form a strong visual deterrent. Here’s a closer look at how bollards prevent vehicle theft.

Plus, bollards are becoming more popular as a deterrent. In the future, if there’s clear evidence of them reducing theft, more insurers may be willing to consider lower premiums for those who install them.

Key considerations for deploying bollards

These tips will help you to use security bollards successfully.

Bollard design

If you find an insurer who offers incentives for installing bollards, it’s likely that they’ll specify a highly-robust design. This is good practice anyway, as strong bollards will do a better job of deterring thieves.

Fixed posts aren’t suitable for driveways, but telescopic or retractable posts offer a good combination of security and flexibility. These bollards slide down into the ground when not in use. They’re lockable in the upright position, and you can concrete them in for extra strength.

For car dealerships, you might consider anti-ram bollards as a perimeter around the entire premises. These are fixed in place and have a strong steel core to prevent ram-raid attempts on the forecourt or showroom.

Installation

For your bollards to do their job, it’s essential that you install them correctly. There are different ways of casting a post into the ground, and the process can also vary depending on the type of surface.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and ask for help if you need it. If you’re not DIY-inclined, get a professional to do the installation on your behalf. You can also give the Start Safety sales team a call before buying bollards.

Optimum positioning is also important - for example, close enough to vehicles that thieves can’t build up enough momentum to knock the posts down, but far enough from the vehicle that a crane can’t lift it away.

Additional security

To have the best chance of protecting your vehicles, you can combine bollards with other security measures. For instance, you can install security lights and cameras at your premises and make sure your car’s alarm is functional.

You can also use a ghost immobiliser (which means the engine won’t start without your unique PIN) and store your car keys in a signal-blocking Faraday pouch to deter keyless relay attacks.

Closing thoughts

Bollards form a physical barrier around your vehicle, making it less likely to be stolen. Will this reduce your insurance cost? It depends on the provider - but whether or not you manage to negotiate a lower premium, you will have peace of mind that your vehicle is protected.

If you need any further information about bollards, give our friendly sales team a call!