Having your vehicle stolen is one of the most unsettling feelings a car owner could have. In the initial moments of shock and confusion, your mind will be racing and you may feel overwhelmed. From reporting the theft to making an insurance claim, here is what to do if you find yourself in this unfortunate situation.
Get to Safety and Assess the Situation
Having your car stolen is an unsettling experience to say the least. Whether your car is taken from a parking lot or street, you will probably spend a while just trying to figure out what happened. You might retrace your steps thinking you parked somewhere else before eventually coming to the realization that your car was stolen.
The first thing to do is get yourself to safety. Find a well-lit space and a security guard, friend or another trusted person who can remain with you while you contact the police.
Contact the Police
If your car is missing, contact the police to determine whether your car has been towed or stolen. Particularly in major cities, vehicles are towed promptly for parking in the wrong place at the wrong time. In either circumstance, the police will be able to assist you.
Be prepared to provide your license plate number and vehicle identification number as well as the color, model, make and other descriptors. This information will be used to add your missing car to national and state auto theft registries and added to your title record, which helps prevent it from being sold. Additionally, your auto insurance provider will require a copy of the police report that is filed.
Rely on Car Locator Technology
The fastest way to locate a stolen car is through GPS or other location-tracking technology. Tracking systems can pinpoint your vehicle, transforming the way that auto theft is handled. If you have signed up for a vehicle-tracking service, your car can often be tracked in real-time, providing the police with valuable information that allows them to pursue your missing car. While it may be tempting to use this information on your own, this is not advisable as it can be dangerous. Allow the authorities to handle vehicle recovery.
Insurance 101: Auto & Home
At first glance, the basics of insurance coverage might not seem so basic. AAA is here to help. Also available in Spanish!
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Once the auto theft has been reported to the police, contact your insurance provider. In addition to a copy of the police report when it is available, the company will ask for details including the last location of the car, a list of personal property that was in your car, the location of all keys, contacts for anyone who may have been able to access your car and information about your car financing. Be as comprehensive as possible and expect to answer written questionnaires or participate in recorded conversations with an adjuster.
Note that auto insurance usually only covers the vehicle itself, not personal property stolen from or with your car. Personal property may be covered through a homeowners, condo or renters policy.
Do you know if your vehicle is insured for theft? If you have comprehensive auto insurance, also known as other than collision, the answer is yes. This type of coverage protects you in the event that your car is stolen, vandalized or incurs damage from natural causes, animals or other circumstances not covered by liability insurance. While you might be tempted to select the least amount of insurance required by law, the investment in comprehensive coverage pays off if your car is stolen.
Get a Rental
For the in-between period when you do not have a car, you may need a rental. Rental reimbursement coverage will typically cover you for an allotted amount per day. Think about whether you have alternate transportation options to decide if and how long you need to rent a car, and if you do rent, what kind of rental you will need. For example, if you need to drive an SUV for work, make sure you are covered to rent something a bit more expensive than a basic sedan.
Continue to Make Car Payments
Inform your financing or leasing company that your car has been stolen, but remember to keep making payments on time; you are still responsible for the full amount of any loan. Gap insurance can cover the difference between the insured value of your stolen vehicle and what you might still owe on it.
Remain Calm During the Waiting Period
Before your insurance provider finalizes your claim, there will be a waiting time that varies by carrier. This is a standard part of dealing with auto theft, and while it may add to your stress, keep in mind that if your car is insured, the situation will be resolved.
Prevent Future Car Theft
Auto theft is one of the most upsetting experiences a driver can have. Preparing ahead — just in case — is the smartest thing you can do to make the situation easier.
Consider installing a GPS tracker (these are Car and Driver’s top recommendations). If you have an iPhone, you can also place an AirTag in you car, which can be located through the Find My app or iCloud.
If you do not have comprehensive coverage, now is also the time to update your policy.
To learn about car insurance options, schedule an appointment with a AAA insurance agent.
Has your car ever been stolen? Tell us about it in the comments.
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4 Thoughts on “Steps To Take if Your Car Is Stolen”
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Comments are subject to moderation and may or may not be published at the editor’s discretion. Only comments that are relevant to the article and add value to the Your AAA community will be considered. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.
In the article, you recommend “Consider installing a GPS tracker” and provide a link to Car and Driver’s top recommendations. I read the article in Car and Driver, but it does not list the use of these trackers for locating a stolen car. For example, Bouncie – the Best Overall selection – “will only report while the car ignition is on”, which seems notably less useful or locating a stolen car. The Tracki – Best For Families selection – seems to require pushing a button …. Thank you for this article anyway – it is useful.
First of all, insurance companies have access to information provided by automated license plate readers so very often they recover stolen cars before the police.
And why are you only promoting iPhones and Air tags? There are plenty of trackers available for non-iphone users.
If you have an iPhone; simply use an air tag. With this, you can provide the cars location to police almost immediately.
Hi Tom, see above.