You check the car park, see that your car is there, lock it and go about your business. You return a couple of hours later to find that your car has been stolen.
What next?
It's every car owner's nightmare, especially if you only paid a few thousand dollars for your car. Fortunately, all is not lost and the question arises: what to do if your car is stolen?
If you have comprehensive car insurance, you should be covered for your loss, but it can take time to finalise things and get back on the road.
Read on to find out what to do if your car is stolen and some tips on how to get it back as quickly as possible.
3 tips on what to do if your car is stolen:
Check your insurance policy
If you have comprehensive car insurance, you should be covered for the loss of your car.
The first thing you should do is check your policy to see if the theft of your car is covered.
If you have a policy with a reputable insurer, you should file a claim regardless of the cause of the theft of the car.
No matter who broke into your car or used it to commit a crime, you will probably be covered for the loss of your car.
If you have a standard policy, you may be out of luck. Standard policies only cover specific situations, such as theft or burglary.
You should consult your policy to find out exactly what is covered and what is not.
What to do if your car is stolen
What to do if your car is stolen
Report the theft to the police
The next thing to do if your car is stolen is to report it to the police. You should report it as soon as you discover it has been stolen, but there is no reason to delay if it has just happened.
In general, you should report the theft of the car to the nearest police department. They will give you a copy of the report, which you should keep for your records.
Some police departments have online reporting systems that allow you to file a report online.
This can save you a lot of time if you don't live near the police station. If you have an iPhone, you can also install an app that allows you to file a report from your phone.
What to do if your car is stolen
What to do if your car is stolen
Obtain a copy of the police report
Once you have filed a police report, you should ask for a copy of the report. This is important because your car insurance company will want to see the report when you file your claim. If you do not have a copy of the police report, you can call the department and ask for a copy. If you have trouble getting the report, let your insurance company know. They can help you get it.
What to do if your car is stolen
What to do if your car is stolen
Contact your insurance company
After your car has been stolen, you should contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
Reporting the theft to your insurance company will trigger your car insurance cover, so it is important that you inform them as soon as possible.
Although the claims process may take a few months, it is likely that you will be offered a rental car free of charge until the claim is processed.
If at all possible, do not accept the rental car. You will eventually get your car back and you don't want to be driving someone else's car when yours is stolen.
Tell your insurance company that you want to report the theft as soon as possible. They will probably send an expert to examine the car and take photos.
What to do if your car is stolen
What to do if your car is stolen
Calculate the cost of repairing or replacing your car
You will need to be realistic when calculating the cost of repairing or replacing your stolen car. You may be able to get your car back, but it may not be in perfect condition.
If your car has been stolen and not recovered, your insurance company will most likely write it off. That means they will pay you the actual cash value of the car, not what you paid for it.
It is unlikely that the insurance company will provide you with a replacement car. rent a car time and see if you can get your car back.
In the event that you recover it and it is in very poor condition, the best thing to do before you face endless mechanical repairs is to have what to deregister your car and try to at least have a high valuation.
This is because your car will not be in good enough condition to sell, and will probably be too old and have too many kilometres on it for someone to buy it.
If your car has been stolen, but you have recovered it, it could go either way. Your insurance company may write off the car or pay for repairs depending on its condition.
Conclusion
If your car is stolen, it is important to report the theft to the police and file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible.
You should report the theft to your insurance company even if you do not have comprehensive car insurance, but you are likely to end up paying the full cost of the loss.
If your car is stolen, you should also calculate the cost of repairing or replacing it. This will help you work out how much your insurance company should pay you.
If your car is stolen, there are many things you can do to try to get it back.
You should file a report, contact your insurance company and ask them to send an expert to examine your car.
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