Hopefully you’ll never have to know the feeling of realizing your car has been stolen. It can at first be disorienting. You walk out to where you parked your car and it’s not there. Initially, you might think you just forgot where you parked it. But, as you look around the realization begins to hit you: the car is gone.
Before it happens to you, be prepared and know the steps you should take so you have a better chance of coming out of the whole incident with the least hassle. Here is what you should know about car insurance and what happens when your car has been stolen.
Keep extra copies of your records at home
Having a copy of your vehicle title and registration and insurance at home will help make this difficult process easier. Many people only have a copy of their registration in their car and have to spend time with the motor vehicle department to get proof of registration when their car has been stolen.
Report the theft to the police immediately
The sooner you report your car as stolen, the better the chances that it will be recovered. Contact the police immediately and be sure to list all the items that were in your car. It’s important to note any special value-added features of your car, especially if they will help with identification of the vehicle. If you have pictures and receipts, it will help you during the insurance claims process.
Report the theft to your car insurance company
Report the theft of your car immediately to your insurance company also. A delay in reporting can hurt your case later. Work with your insurance company to understand what happened, what kind of coverage you have that will help you and what your responsibilities are during the claims process.
Which type of auto insurance coverage addresses theft?
Theft of a vehicle is covered by comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive insurance pays for total loss and damages to your car that are not the result of a collision with another vehicle. Remember, you will be responsible for paying your deductible amount. Often, the insurance company will take the deductible amount out of your final payment, so you may not have to come up with the cash up front.
If you want to make sure you are covered should your car get stolen or be vandalized, make sure you have comprehensive insurance on your vehicle. Use the InsuranceWins form to quickly get quotes for comprehensive insurance coverage from major carriers. We’ll help you easily get the coverage you need at a price you can afford.
