How to File a Stolen Car Insurance Claim

When your car is taken you are left with a myriad of problems, but one of the most important is filing a stolen car insurance claim. As with any insurance claim it is extremely important you follow the proper steps. By missing just one step you could unwittingly sabotage yourself, potentially costing you thousands of dollars. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with this process when you are thinking clearing and not in the heat of the moment. Once you are ready here is how you do it.

Step 1: File a Police Report

Before anything else you must immediately file a police report on discovering your vehicle is missing. The faster you file this report the better, for several reasons. First the quicker the police get the information the more likely your vehicle is going to be found. In addition to this it looks suspicious if you wait an inordinate amount of time between knowing your car is gone and filing a report. This doesn’t mean you are guilty of anything but insurance companies do not like to see that it took you two days to file a report. Lastly this document is the single most important piece of information you will have for your insurance claim. File quickly and be honest and accurate.

Step 2: Call Your Insurance Company

Next you will call your insurance company and break the news to them that your vehicle has been taken. If you have comprehensive coverage this is extremely important but if you don’t this call is meaningless. Collision insurance does not cover theft and will be of no use to you. Those drivers with comprehensive insurance coverage will need to fill out a claim and submit the police report, if you have rental coverage your insurance company will then set you up with a rental car.

Step 3: File Any Additional Claims

Comprehensive coverage is tricky and doesn’t always cover all of the items inside of the vehicle. In some cases you will need to file a claim through your homeowner’s insurance to cover any additional items of value inside of the car. If both your insurance and home are covered with one company and agent you will only need to make one phone call, if you have separate companies you will need to make two. To claim anything of value inside of a stolen vehicle you will need to provide proof ownership and value, typically through the use of receipts.

With three easy steps you have filed a stolen car insurance claim, now all you have to do is wait for the insurance company and police to do their work. Should your insurance cover it you should have access to a rental car, or rental car coverage, allowing you to drive in the interim. With any luck your vehicle will be recovered, or you will be compensated for your loss and you will be able to get on with your life without the worry of not having a vehicle.