Locking wheel nuts

Soldato
Joined
17 Jun 2005
Posts
3,333
Location
Cambridge, UK
Hi guys,

Long story short, woke up on Monday morning to find that our Ford Focus had 2 wheels nicked overnight – one thing that you don’t hear about in Cambridge, ho hum. So insurance is taking care of the wheels but I have been recommended to put locking wheel nuts in the wheels of the car when I get it back. I have had a quick google around and I am lost to be honest as there doesn’t seem to be a standard set for wheels so I come to you guys. My car is an 06 Ford Focus 1.6 LX with standard wheels (no alloys). What do I need?

Cheers,
Gabriel
 
Just to confirm that you have had two steel wheels stolen?

Regardless, Halfords do a selection and they will be able to tell you which you need.
 
Yeah pop down to Halfords and they'll have the information booklet you can use to find your car and corresponding locking nut. I had to buy a set for my Mondeo after my key got lost inside the cars ventilation system (lol). Get a sales assistant to confirm it's the right one, then if it doesn't quite sit right it's easier to get an exchange (the bolts differ in size across cars).
 
Just to confirm that you have had two steel wheels stolen?

Regardless, Halfords do a selection and they will be able to tell you which you need.

yes, two wheels stolen, they lifted the car with a jack and took them during the night, they left the hub caps and nuts on the floor. :mad:

Thanks, seems like going to Halfords is the best thing to do.
 
Did you have decent rubber on or something? That just seems madness to steal two steelies.....
Exactly what I was thinking... Very odd indeed.

yes, two wheels stolen, they lifted the car with a jack and took them during the night, they left the hub caps and nuts on the floor. :mad:

Thanks, seems like going to Halfords is the best thing to do.

Surely this is going to cost you more through your insurance than just getting two steel wheels from somewhere else off your own back?
 
Not saying it's the case here but I've seen loads of rep mobiles rocking about on winter rubber with steelies with no locking wheel nuts. Easy pickings....
 
Exactly what I was thinking... Very odd indeed.



Surely this is going to cost you more through your insurance than just getting two steel wheels from somewhere else off your own back?

The tyres were decent but by no means expensive. Uniroyal RainExperts (£70 a pop)

No claims discount is protected (its my wife) and just had the new quote delivered for her on Saturday before the event, so we are good for another year. If next year they put it up we can always swap insurance provider.

Only have to pay the excess (£100) and can't really do with the hassle if I am honest. Too busy and stressed lately.

Thanks for the comments - good to hear people think it is stupid and unlucky. Probably just a one off. I will be getting the locking nuts though just in case from Halfords.
 
No claims discount is protected (its my wife) and just had the new quote delivered for her on Saturday before the event, so we are good for another year. If next year they put it up we can always swap insurance provider.

NCB is protected yes, but because of the claim you or your wife will no be deemed a bigger risk, so the NCB will account for less technically.

Also your renewal (I'm assuming it's a renewal notice) if it was delivered before the incident isn't valid now. So you technically should ring up about it.

I think it's stupid claiming for 2 steel wheels personally, I wouldn't even claim if my alloys were pinched.
 
Madness to use insurance for this.

£100 excess for £180 worth of theft? You'll be paying more than the insurance company!
 
Absolutely bonkers to claim on insurance for two steel wheels. The NCB might be protected but you now have a fault claim on your file for at least the next 3 years! You might as well have smashed the car into a wall as it'll have the same effect on your premium :(
 
[TW]Fox;20634256 said:
Absolutely bonkers to claim on insurance for two steel wheels. The NCB might be protected but you now have a fault claim on your file for at least the next 3 years! You might as well have smashed the car into a wall as it'll have the same effect on your premium :(

It is really not that bad. We have called already and they have told us that the quote they sent us still remains the same even with this claim. There was also some damage to the underneath of the car, and to the brake at the front. They need to be replaced. They had also scratched one of the sides so they are fixing that up.

I have now seen the receipt for the fixes and they amount to £553.

In any case, if next year the insurance premium goes up we will just go to another insurer. my wife's claim file is not going to look much different with 6 points in her license and 2 accidents (not her fault) in the past 2 years anyway.
 
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presumably they dropped the car onto the brake discs or something then - £553 for two steelies and £140 of tyres is insanity.
 
[TW]Fox;20634256 said:
The NCB might be protected but you now have a fault claim on your file for at least the next 3 years!
Is it 3 years or 5 years? Insurance quote sites ask about anything within the last 5 years :(

Stupid hot chocolate.
 
In any case, if next year the insurance premium goes up we will just go to another insurer.

Who will also adjust your premium upwards for a fault claim.

my wife's claim file is not going to look much different with 6 points in her license and 2 accidents (not her fault) in the past 2 years anyway.

1 fault accident has much more of an influence than 2 non fault ones.
 
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