When someone steals from you, it is a violating feeling. Hopefully you never have to experience it, but if you do, Four Seasons Insurance is here for you. If you suspect your car has been stolen, don’t panic. First make sure it wasn’t towed or that you weren’t pranked by an overzealous friend. In the Salt Lake City area, auto thefts relatively high, with about 500 vehicles getting stolen each year per 100,000 people. To best protect your asset, make sure you have a policy that covers cases of theft, such as a comprehensive policy.
Here are the steps to follow if you suspect your car has been stolen to help you get it back or get compensation for your loss:
Report it to the police – This should be the first thing you do because it provides the best possibility of finding the car and getting it back. Most stolen vehicles are found within two days of being stolen, so don’t wait to get a hold of the police. Be prepared to provide information on your car’s make and model, the license plate number, the VIN, details of where the car was parked and likely stolen, the approximate timeframe, and if your vehicle has GPS.
Get a hold of your insurance company(ies) – Second on the list is to call your car insurance company with the police report to get a claim going. Generally, your insurance will ask for the police report information in order to file a claim. They may ask for similar information as the police as well as additional details such as who was driving the vehicle and who has access to the keys. One consideration that is often overlooked is to verify if you have rental reimbursement coverage. If you don’t have this coverage and you need a temporary rental car, you’ll probably pay that out of pocket. You’ll also want to reach out to your homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance provider (which may be the same company) because your car insurance policy won’t cover personal items. If your car was stolen, it is likely that other possessions were in the car and stolen as well.
Contact applicable financial institutions – If your car is on an auto loan, you’ll need to contact the lender to inform them of the situation. If you had personal information within the vehicle, you’ll likely want to set up a temporary fraud alert on your credit records as well. And finally, if you had credit cards or debit cards in the vehicle, get in touch with those lenders quickly as well.
Stay calm and be prepared for whatever the outcome – Once you’ve followed all these steps, rest assured that you’ve done all you can and now you can wait for the process to run its course. Your premiums shouldn’t increase in a theft case because the fault is not yours, however, there may be an increase if you were previously a claim-free customer.
Having your car stolen is never expected or wanted, but with Four Seasons Insurance on your side, you can feel at ease knowing your vehicle and your belongings can be covered and protected.
