What do I do if my car is stolen?

A stolen vehicle can be a very upsetting experience, CarInsurance.com wants to make sure you are safe and protected. 

1. If your vehicle has been stolen, you should contact the police immediately and file a stolen vehicle report.
1. Most insurance companies cannot process a claim for vehicle theft unless you first file a police report.
2. After contacting the police, you should report the theft to your insurance company. Even if you do not have comprehensive coverage, you should still notify your carrier of any stolen vehicles immediately.
1. Notifying your insurance carrier of the vehicle theft could help protect you if the thief causes damage to others with your car.
3. When you contact your insurance company, try to have the following information available:
• Certificate of Title for the vehicle and/or loan/lease paperwork.
• 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 description of your vehicle, including mileage, options, and service records — if you have receipts for any upgrades or maintenance, please have these available as well.
• A list of any personal property stolen with your vehicle. Coverage for personal items varies from state to state, and your home-owner's or renter's insurance policy may provide additional coverage for personal items that were stolen.
• Please include any finance or leasing company contact information and your account number, if applicable.
4. If the stolen vehicle is financed or leased, report the theft to your finance or leasing company. To expedite your claim process, inform your finance or leasing company to discuss the case directly with your insurance company.

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If the police recover your vehicle, make sure to notify your insurance company's claims adjuster immediately. This will help in quickly resolving your claim.

In the even that you didn't elect to purchase comprehensive coverage, you should see if your policy will cover you for rental car coverage and make sure you are diligent with your local law enforcement so you can try to recover your car or find the person that is responsible for making you whole.

The good news for US drivers is that the vehicle theft rate is going down:

• 1999 - 2.89%
• 2000 - 2.89%
• 2001 - 3.26%
• 2002 - 2.49%
• 2003 - 1.84%
• 2004 - 1.83% 

Comment Update: Even without physical damage coverage you may have rental car coverage on your policy, through the vehicle manufacturer or on your AAA card and/or credit cards. It is a tough situation when you don't have insurance coverage and you lose a vehicle to theft. Let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you.