The California Highway Patrol announced Wednesday that for the fourth year in a row vehicle thefts declined. In 2009 there were 169,058 which is a 15.4 percent difference than in 2008. The CHP says that it is the largest decrease in decades.

In the press release the CHP said that of the vehicles stolen last year more than 88 percent were recovered.

The California Highway Patrol attributes the decrease to joint task force operations, education, technology, the use of bait cars and license plate recognition systems.

Vehicle thefts cost California residents $1 billion dollars according to officials and around 50 percent of the thefts last year were in San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego Counties. According to CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow, on average, a vehicle is stolen every 3 minutes.

One of the best ways to protect yourself from vehicle thefts is to purchase auto insurance. California requires motorists to have liability protection but this only covers the cost to repair a vehicle that you hit and also injuries to pedestrians or another vehicle that you run into. Comprehensive coverage is what will cover your vehicle in the event that it is stolen.

Imagine if your vehicle was stolen and you did not have the proper coverage to replace your vehicle. Would you be able to afford to buy a similar one? If not, you should definitely consider buying additional protection. One thing that drives people away from doing so is the cost associated with insuring their car against theft. The best way to find low cost auto insurance in California is to compare as many rates from as many companies as possible. By doing so you can find the lowest price available for you and avoid overpaying.

2autoinsurance.com offers free quote comparisons for auto insurance in California on our site. Simply enter your zip code at the top of this page to get started. If you have any questions you can always speak to one of our knowledgeable agents by calling 1-888-557-6529.