If you’ve been a victim of car theft, you’re not alone – having a vehicle stolen can be a very upsetting experience. And car thefts, which declined in recent years, are on the rise.
Vehicle theft costs Americans more than $8 billion each year. More than 1 million vehicles were stolen in 2023, a 25% increase in vehicle thefts over the previous few years. That’s the equivalent of one vehicle stolen every 31 seconds., according to the most recent data (2023) from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Before 2020, vehicle thefts had been trending downward for two decades.
So what’s the best course of action if your car is stolen? And what should you do in the days and weeks following the theft to ensure your car insurance claim is handled correctly? Keep reading to learn more.
- If your car is stolen then immediately contact the police and file a stolen vehicle report. Later report the theft to your car insurance company as well.
- If the stolen vehicle is financed or leased, you must also report the theft to your finance or leasing company.
- To avoid theft when a vehicle is purchased, ensure it has an anti-theft device or an alarm system if not present, you can buy aftermarket anti-theft devices for your automobile.
What to do if your car is stolen
Contact the police immediately and file a stolen vehicle report
Most insurance companies cannot process a claim for vehicle theft unless you first file a police report. Make sure you are diligent and proactive with your local law enforcement agency so you can try to recover your car.
Report the theft to your car insurance company
Even if you do not have comprehensive auto insurance, which covers vehicle thefts, you should still notify your carrier of any stolen vehicles immediately. Notifying your car insurance carrier of the vehicle theft could help protect you if the thief causes any damage using your car.
When you contact your insurance company, try to have as many of the following items available as possible:
- Certificate of title for the vehicle and/or loan/lease paperwork.
- Auto insurance policy number.
- 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, 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 homeowners or renters insurance policy may provide additional coverage for stolen personal items.
- Any finance or leasing company contact information and your account number if applicable.
Is your state one of the top states for stolen vehicles? Check out this list.
Report the theft to your lienholder or leasing company
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 about the case so they can work directly with your insurance company.
Work with your insurance claim adjuster
If the police recover your vehicle, immediately notify your insurance company’s claims adjuster. This will help in quickly resolving your claim. Provide any necessary documentation to your adjuster.
Comprehensive car insurance covers car theft — here’s how.
Should I cancel my insurance policy when my car is stolen?
No, keep your car insurance for at least 30 days after the car is stolen.
Here’s why:
- The police may recover it and return it to you in the same condition as before, and you won’t want to start a new policy to drive it.
- Most car insurance companies will extend your liability coverage to a rental car if you use one.
- If you end up without a car for an extended period. In that case, you can transition your current policy to a non-owner car insurance policy (car insurance for licensed drivers who don’t own a car, but drive other cars occasionally). This means you’d retain continuous coverage as a driver, avoiding a lapse in insurance, which could lead to lower rates.
Am I liable for the stolen car?
Typically, you won’t be held liable for your car after it’s been stolen. For example, if the thief gets in a wreck, that damage won’t be attributed to your car insurance policy.
However, many states have laws that penalize you for negligence that led to theft. You can be ticketed if you’re caught leaving your car unlocked, leaving it running or leaving keys inside the car.
Worse yet, it’s possible to have claims filed against you if your car was stolen due to your negligence and the thief caused damage while driving your car.
In such cases, the insurance company will pay our liability claims up to your limits, and you can expect to see higher car insurance rates.
If the car is not recovered, how much will I receive for it?
Your car insurance company will pay out the actual cash value, or ACV, if your car is never found or is totaled by the car thief. The actual cash value is what your car would have sold for on the open market just before the theft.
This can be a controversial or upsetting part of having a car stolen because you may receive less than the Kelley Blue Book value and won’t receive money back for recent repairs, upgrades or sentimental value.
How to avoid the theft of your vehicle
The NHTSA reminds drivers to take these precautions and use good judgment every time you park and exit your vehicle.
“Vehicle theft is a common and costly problem, but there’s a lot we can do to protect against it.” says NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman.
There are things you can do to safeguard your vehicle, such as:
Install anti-theft devices or an alarm system on the car
When a vehicle is purchased, ensure it has an anti-theft device or an alarm system. Anti-theft devices like steering wheel locks, brake locks, kill switches and remote locks are powerful theft deterrents.
Always locking the car doors
Lock the doors even if you are entering your residence to grab that item you forgot to take on your way out the door. Theft can happen in a matter of seconds.
Keeping your windows up
Your vehicle windows should always be up when no one is in the vehicle. Blocking the doors will not help if the windows are left down. With the windows up and the doors locked, you will prevent personal belongings and even the car from being stolen.
Not leaving personal items in the car in plain sight
Never leave property inside of an unattended vehicle. Thieves will break into your automobile for purses, shopping bags, backpacks and other items.
And once a thief is in the car for these items, they might also find any important documents or credit cards you left in the vehicle. Once they have broken into the car, they may steal the car itself.
Not leaving the car keys in the ignition
Sometimes when we are in a hurry, we might forget and leave the keys in the ignition. If you do this, you make it way too easy for the thief to steal your vehicle.
Getting your windows tinted
If possible, have your vehicle windows tinted. With tinted windows, it should be more obvious to any bystander if a stranger will break into your car.
The thief will have to try and peer into the car to figure out how to break in, which is the typical stance of a person who owns a car. Also, having tinted windows makes it harder for a possible thief to see which belongings you have in the car.
Getting an aftermarket anti-theft device
To have extra protection, you can go to an auto parts store and buy an anti-theft device that you can use in your automobile. For these types of devices, you do not need professional installations. The most popular is the device that locks around your steering wheel.
Not leaving a vehicle running and unattended
Never leave a car running unattended – not even for a second. We sometimes stop at a gas station to grab something and pay for it real quick, making it extra easy for the thief to drive off in your car.
So, even if you run into a store for two minutes, turn off your car and take your keys.
Not leaving a spare key where a thief can find it
It is prevalent for one to have a spare key under the car, this is not recommended. Too many people have used this trick to prevent locking themselves out of their cars. Thieves are clever and know where to look for that extra key.
So, you might get locked out of your car, but if you leave that spare key under your car, you could lose your whole vehicle.
Parking in public places with plenty of light
Make sure to park your car in a lighted area if possible. Park in a place where your car is visual to the public. The more eyes on it, the more difficult it will be for a thief to do anything to it.
A car is more likely to get stolen if parked in a dark area where a thief can slink up to the car than if in a well-lit area that’s more visible.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
NHTSA. “Consumer Alert: NHTSA Reminds Drivers to Safeguard Their Vehicles.” Accessed July 2024.
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.
Ask the Insurance Expert
John McCormick
Editorial Director
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.
Ask the Insurance Expert
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.
Ask the Insurance Expert
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.