Haris Ashley
If your car is stolen, you should contact your insurance company to start the claims process. However, it is important to first call the police and file a report, as this will be required by your insurance company.
The outcome of your claim will depend on whether your stolen car is recovered and the type of insurance coverage you have. If your car is not recovered, your insurance company will likely declare it a total loss and pay you its actual cash value. Comprehensive coverage is the only type of car insurance that covers damaged or stolen vehicles, so it is important to review your policy to see if you are covered.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What to do if your car is stolen | First, contact the police to file a report. Next, contact your insurance company to start the claims process. |
| What happens when your car gets stolen? | Your car insurance will cover a stolen car if you carry comprehensive insurance, but you will have to pay the deductible. |
| What happens if your car is not recovered | If your car is not recovered within 30 days, the insurance company will declare it a total loss and pay you its actual cash value. |
| What happens if your car is recovered | If your stolen vehicle is found, immediately notify your insurer. If the policy has already paid out and you bought a new car, your old car now belongs to the insurance company. |
| What happens if your car is stolen and you have full coverage | Comprehensive coverage will pay to replace your vehicle or repair it if it's found damaged. You will have to pay the deductible amount. |
| How to reduce the chances of your car being stolen | Keep your car locked at all times, never leave your keys in the vehicle, make sure valuables are not visible in the car, do not leave the title in the vehicle, park in well-lit and well-known areas, install an anti-theft system in the vehicle, have the VIN etched in the vehicle's glass, and track your car with a GPS tracking device. |
| What happens when your car is stolen and you still owe money | You are still obligated to make payments on it. If your insurance claim payout is approved, you can use the claims check to pay against any amount owed. |
| What happens if I reject my stolen recovered car | Generally, you cannot avoid accepting the vehicle without a significant fee unless there is significant damage. |
| What happens when your car is stolen without insurance | You’ll need to look at your options for buying a replacement vehicle. |
What You'll Learn
Contact the police to file a report
If you discover that your car has been stolen, do your best to stay calm. Before filing a report, try to determine whether your car might have been towed or repossessed. If you’re pretty sure the car was stolen, gather information such as the car’s VIN, your license plate number, and proof of registration. Additionally, make a list of any valuable items that might have been in the car when it was stolen. When you’re ready, call your local police and report the theft, making sure to provide as much information as possible.
Contact the Local Police:
In most cases, use a non-emergency police number to report a car stolen. The emergency number should only be used if the theft is in progress or if you are stranded and feel you are in immediate danger. Tell the officer that your car has been stolen and provide the location where the car was last seen. Let the officer know of any efforts you've made to ensure the car was not towed or repossessed. Provide as much information as you can about your car, including any distinguishing characteristics such as bumper stickers, tinted windows, or aftermarket rims. If you have a GPS tracking system or other anti-theft device in your car, be sure to inform the officer.
Get a Copy of the Written Police Report:
Your written report may not be immediately available, especially if you filed your report over the phone. The officer who took your report will let you know when and where to get a written copy, and they will also provide you with a case number. Take your case number and photo ID with you when you go to pick up your police report. You may need to go to a local precinct or a central records office to obtain it.
Follow Up with Additional Information:
If you learn anything about your car while the police are investigating, be sure to inform the detective assigned to your case as soon as possible. For example, if a friend tells you they spotted your car somewhere, find out the exact location and call the police right away. Do not attempt to recover your car on your own, as it may be dangerous.
Contact the Detective for Updates:
If your car is recovered, the detective will typically contact you and let you know where you can pick it up. However, don't expect routine status updates. It's best to check in once or twice a week to see if there are any updates on the case. Be polite and patient when communicating with the detective.
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Notify your insurance company to start the claims process
After confirming that your car has been stolen, the next step is to notify your insurance company to start the claims process. This step is especially important if you have comprehensive coverage, as it is the only form of car insurance that covers damaged or stolen vehicles.
When you file a claim, your insurance company will typically need the following information:
- Your auto insurance policy number
- The police report number
- Your certificate of title
- Details such as mileage, service records, and any upgrades installed in the car
- A description of what happened, including the estimated date and time of the theft and any photos you have of the location of the theft
Your insurance provider may also require additional information, such as the location of all the vehicle's keys and contact information for anyone who had access to your car. They may also ask about personal items that were inside the car at the time, as these may be covered under your homeowners or renters insurance policy.
It is important to provide as much information as possible to your insurance company and ensure that the information you provide matches what you provided to the police. This will help speed up the claims process and increase the chances of recovering your vehicle.
Keep in mind that filing a claim for a stolen car can be a lengthy process, and your insurance company may have a waiting period, typically 30 days, before they consider the car a total loss and provide compensation. During this time, your insurance company will investigate your claim and work with you to agree on the market value or actual cash value (ACV) of the vehicle.
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Provide the insurance company with all the necessary information
After contacting the police, you must notify your insurance company of the theft. This will allow them to start the claims process, which can be lengthy. It is important to provide the insurance company with all the necessary information to ensure a smooth process. Here is a list of information that you should have ready when contacting your insurer:
- Date and time of the theft
- Location of the vehicle and any details of where it was parked
- Location of all keys to the vehicle before and after the theft
- Names and contact information of everyone who had access to the vehicle
- A detailed description of the vehicle, including:
- Make, model, license plate, and vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Mileage, options, service records, and upgrades
- Any distinguishing features such as dents, custom add-ons, or scratches
- Receipts for any upgrades or maintenance
- A list of personal property stolen with the vehicle, including any finance or leasing company contact information and account numbers
- Police report number
It is crucial to provide accurate and consistent information to both the police and the insurance company to avoid any issues in the claims process. Be prepared for thorough questioning, as insurance companies need to be diligent in their efforts to recover the vehicle and avoid fraudulent claims.
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Stay in touch with your insurance adjuster
If your vehicle is recovered, it is important to notify your insurance company's claims adjuster immediately. This will help speed up the resolution of any claim. Be patient, as most insurance companies wait 30 days to finalise the claim, which gives the police time to search for (and hopefully recover) your vehicle. During the process, it is also important to let your lender or leasing company know about the theft and to report it to your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Your insurance company will assign a claims adjuster to your case, who will then contact you to confirm the information you provided, give you a claim number, and ask any other relevant questions. It is important to stay in touch with this person and provide them with any updates or new information that may be relevant to your case.
If your stolen vehicle is found, your insurance company may choose to fix the damage instead of declaring the car totalled, depending on the extent of the damage. If the claim process is complete and your insurance company has paid you, the vehicle becomes their property.
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Contact your lender if your car is financed
If your car has been stolen, you must contact the police and your insurance company. If your car is financed, you should also notify your lender.
Contact Your Lender
If your car is financed, it's important to contact your lender as soon as possible after your car has been stolen. The lender is the financial institution that loaned you the money for your auto loan. In most cases, your lender is not the dealership where you bought the car. Even if you arranged financing through the dealer, the loan usually comes from a bank, credit union, or another type of lender.
Your lender will likely require you to have comprehensive and collision coverage on your insurance. This is because theft doesn't affect what you owe on your loan. Your obligation to the lender remains until the loan is fully repaid, regardless of whether you still have the car or not.
Understanding Your Auto Loan
If you have a new loan, you should have received a welcome letter notifying you of who your lender or servicer is. This letter should also outline other important information, such as:
- Where to send your payments
- What counts as an "on-time" payment
- Late payment fees
- Prepayment penalties
- Who to contact if you are having difficulty making payments
If you have an existing loan, you can find out who to contact by looking at your monthly statement, which should include the lender's name and contact information. If you bought the car through a dealer, you can also contact the Finance and Insurance (F&I) department at the dealership, as they should have a record of your lender or servicer.
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Frequently asked questions
First, confirm that your car has been stolen and not towed or repossessed. Then, call the police to file a report. After that, contact your insurance company to start the claims process.
You will need to provide the date and time of the theft, the location of the vehicle, the location of all the keys to the car, the names and contact information of anyone who had access to the vehicle, a detailed description of the car and its condition when it was stolen, and the police report number.
You will need comprehensive coverage on your policy.
If your stolen vehicle is recovered, inform your insurance company immediately. If the car has sustained damage, your comprehensive coverage can pay for repairs up to any limits and minus your deductible.
If your stolen vehicle is not recovered, your insurance company will likely pay you the current value of the car, minus your deductible.
