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Written by:
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

If your insurance card and registration were stolen, one of the first things to do is make a police report. This report should prove the date, time and location of the theft or loss in case someone does try to use these or any other documents of yours that may have been stolen.

Before placing your insurance card in your car, make copies (or take photos) of both sides and keep them safe at home. If your insurance card is stolen or lost, report it to your insurance agent, request a new one, or print it online if that’s an option.

Key Highlights
  • Making a police report is one of the first things to do if your insurance card and registration have been taken. 
  • You must notify your insurance agent and ask for a new insurance card if your insurance card is stolen or lost. 
  • If your registration is stolen, notify your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and request a new one. 
  • State regulations differ about how to report and obtain new registration paperwork. 
  • In other jurisdictions, like California, you must apply for a duplicate registration after reporting the theft of your registration card with the California DMV.

As for your registration being stolen, you must inform your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) about the theft and get a replacement document. If the registration sticker on the plate or the license plate itself, then you will need to see how long it will take to get a replacement and if there is a temporary tag, registration, etc., that you can put on your car so that you will not have trouble with law enforcement.

State guidelines vary for reporting and receiving replacement registration documents.

For instance, in New York State, you must go to a police station and have the police complete form MV-78B (Report of Lost or Stolen Motor Vehicle Items). This form is available only from New York State police, not the DMV. If the police report indicates that the items were lost in a crime, there is no fee to replace the items. You then bring this form to a DMV office and follow the instructions that the DMV lists online.

In other states, such as California, you must apply with the California DMV for duplicate registration after you report your registration card as stolen.

Regardless of your state, you must contact your DMV to get your registration replaced and have it reported stolen.

Shop around for cheap car insurance every six months or a year.

Laura Longero

Ask the Insurance Expert

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

John McCormick

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John McCormick

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John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

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Leslie Kasperowicz

Managing Editor

Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

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Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

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author image
Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.