Does car insurance cover a stolen car?

Auto theft is very high is some cities but no matter where you live you can be a victim of car theft and when this happens what should you do? Auto theft is not limited to fancy cars – In fact, the most common cars stolen are very common automobiles such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Civic. Car thieves are usually more interested in stealing a vehicle so they can strip it down for parts then scoring a luxury car for resale.

What are the most stolens cars in America?

Every year the National Insurance Crime Bureau publishes a report called  the “Hot Wheels Report” – a play on words for cars that are hot in demand for auto theft.  The 5 vehicles most reported as stolen in 2009 were:

• Honda Accord (1994)
• Honda Civic (1995)
• Toyota Camry (1991)
• Dodge Ram Pickup (2004)
• Ford F-150 Pickup (1997)

If you believe your car has been stolen the first thing to do is take a second and really think whether or not this is the case. A lot of false 911 calls are received from people who just happen to forget their cousin borrowed their car or where they parked the vehicle. If you are still unsure where the vehicle is then call 911 and report the car stolen. The sooner you contact the authorities the greater chance you have of recovering the vehicle. If you happen to see the car thief in action then its no time to play Superman. Take note of what the thieves are wearing, any physical features and the direction of travel relaying this information to the authorities. While there are many amateur car thieves around auto theft is still a big business and violence is often used to stop anyone in the way.

What information will I need to report a car theft?

If you know your license plate then most of the information can be pulled from the DMV record by authorities however you also should take note of any particular details of the vehicle which may help law enforcement identity it quicker – roof rack, custom tire cover etc. Auto thieves often switch license plates so the license plate itself should never be relied on as the sole identifier for a vehicle.

Will car insurance cover a stolen car?

This really depends on your car insurance policy. If you just have enough car insurance to simply meet the state minimum requirements than you most likely have no insurance as most states only require liability insurance and auto theft is covered under comprehensive insurance. Today is a good day to call your car insurance company and inquire about your coverage for auto theft. If it happens the financial consequences can be great without the right type of car insurance.

How does car insurance work for a stolen car?

If your car is stolen and you have the right type of car insurance then you will need to file a car insurance claim for coverage. Most auto insurance policies which cover auto theft allow the victim to file a claim for the vehicle and its contents. Although the contents are limited to insured items there is hope of getting some money back for items stolen. The biggest downfall of car insurance for a stolen car is how the auto insurance company values the vehicle. Unless you have total replacement value coverage then odds are you simply will get the book value of the vehicle which can be far less than what you owe to the car loan company for late model cars. Reasons like this are why you need to learn about car insurance before having to file a claim since even a simple incident of auto theft can leave you liable for thousands of dollars.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Today!