My Car Was Stolen Without Insurance Coverage: What Should I Do?
If your car is stolen without insurance coverage, you're out of luck. You will need comprehensive coverage if you want vehicle theft covered by your insurance policy.
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Zach Fagiano
Licensed Insurance Broker
Zach Fagiano has been in the insurance industry for over 10 years, specializing in property and casualty and risk management consulting. He started out specializing in small businesses and moved up to large commercial real estate risks. During that time, he acquired property & casualty, life & health, and surplus lines brokers licenses. He’s now the Senior Vice President overseeing globa...
Licensed Insurance Broker
UPDATED: Aug 26, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Aug 26, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
Having anything stolen from you is an awful feeling. But having a car stolen without insurance is particularly rough. If you have comprehensive auto insurance coverage, then you can make an insurance claim. But what if your uninsured car was stolen? If you don’t have insurance, however, then you may be out of luck. Understanding auto insurance laws is important here.
Today, we’re explaining what happens if your car is stolen, and you don’t have insurance coverage. Plug in your ZIP code above to get a FREE quote.
What does insurance cover if your car is stolen?
If you just have basic liability auto insurance, then your car insurance will not cover car theft. Only comprehensive coverage, which is optional in every state, covers car theft.
Read more:
- Does my auto insurance cover a stolen car?
- What happens if stolen car is recovered after insurance company pays claim?
There are three main types of car insurance:
Liability Coverage: This is required in every state (except the rules for auto insurance required in New Hampshire are different). It includes bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. It protects other drivers on the road and any property you damage.
Collision Coverage: Collision coverage covers the cost of repairing your own vehicle after an accident.
Comprehensive Coverage: Comprehensive coverage covers non-accident-related damage to your vehicle, including collisions with animals, fallen tree branches, hail damage, theft, vandalism, break-ins, and more.
If your car was stolen and you don’t have insurance, only comprehensive coverage will protect against vehicle theft. Other types of coverage won’t offer any protection for such incidents. Remember to report the theft to Minnesota’s police stolen vehicle database.
Essentially, if you solely possess the fundamental liability coverage mandated by your state, the likelihood is low that your car theft will be compensated by your auto insurance. This means that if your financed car is stolen, you may wonder, “Will insurance pay if my car was stolen?” However, basic liability coverage generally does not extend coverage to theft incidents.
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Does car insurance cover theft of personal items?
What to do if your car gets stolen? Let’s say you do have car insurance. You file a police report. The police arrive to gather the facts (and to ensure there’s no insurance fraud). Your insurance company processes the claim, then pays out the actual cash value of your vehicle.
Be prepared to be asked plenty of questions. The vehicle owner is the primary suspect when a vehicle is stolen. Insurance companies lose billions to fraud every year. Before paying out a claim, the insurance company will do everything in its power to rule out fraud.
If my car has been stolen, will my insurance rates go up? Some insurers may implement a waiting period, typically lasting from two to eight weeks, for all reported stolen vehicles. If your stolen vehicle is recovered within this timeframe, your insurance company may opt not to fulfill your stolen vehicle claim.
If your stolen vehicle is never recovered, and the insurance company doesn’t suspect you of fraud, then your auto insurance company will reimburse you for the actual cash value of your car. This is the price you paid for the car minus any depreciation. Finally, you’ll receive a check for this dollar amount (minus your auto insurance deductible).
Keep in mind that in the event of a total loss, the actual cash value of your vehicle could be negotiable. Insurance adjusters start with the low end of a vehicle’s value with the assumption the owner will negotiate. If my car was stolen and recovered, do I have to take it back? Don’t be afraid to research, check comparable values for your vehicle, and deny the company’s initial offer.
What happens when your car is stolen without insurance?
Does my auto insurance cover a stolen car If your car is stolen, and you don’t have insurance, then you won’t receive any type of reimbursement for your vehicle. However, it’s still in your best interest to work through certain steps, and your vehicle may still be recovered.
Step 1) Make Sure your Car Has Really Been Stolen
It sounds stupid, but a lot of people believe a car has been stolen when, in reality, it has not been stolen. You might have parked at a different spot. A friend or family member might have borrowed your car. Maybe you left your car at the bar last night. Take a minute to assess the situation and remember where you last parked it.
Read more: Does my auto insurance cover damage caused by a friend who borrowed my car and got into an accident?
Step 2) Call the Police
Once you’ve verified that your car has been stolen, it’s time to call the police. The sooner you call the police, the better the chances how to locate a stolen car by VIN. The percentage of stolen cars that are recovered is more than half. You’ll need to file a police report and tell the police everything about your car, including the VIN number, make, model, and place you last parked your car. Keep a copy of the police report for your own records.
Step 3) Report the Stolen Car to the DMV
Your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) maintains a database of stolen cars, then works with police to recover stolen vehicles. Report the stolen car to the DMV as soon as possible.
Step 4) Search for your Car Yourself
The police will look for your stolen vehicle. While they’re looking, however, you can take matters into your own hands. Search Craigslist and similar websites for your stolen vehicle. Check Craigslist listings for neighboring states or cities. Sometimes, thieves will evade local police by selling a vehicle in a neighboring state.
Stolen Car Insurance Payout
Are the Contents Of My Vehicle Covered? Comprehensive coverage covers your vehicle, but it does not cover the contents of your vehicle. If you have renter or homeowners insurance coverage, however, then you can make a claim through these policies.
What Happens If My Car is Recovered? If your car is recovered at any point before, during, or after the claims process, then contact your insurance company immediately. The company can assess the damages. Sometimes, the car is still considered a total loss and the insurance company will reimburse you for the actual cash value of your vehicle. In other cases, there’s minor damage to your vehicle that can be repaired to make your vehicle whole again. If a stolen car is recovered after the insurance company pays the claim, the company will collect your car.
What Happens When a Leased or Financed Vehicle is Stolen? When a leased or financed vehicle is stolen, you need to report the stolen property to your financing or leasing company (like your dealership) as soon as possible.
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Final Word
If you don’t have insurance coverage, then your vehicle theft will not be covered by car insurance.
Now here’s the good news: many stolen cars are recovered within a week or two. Stay patient and let the police do their work, and your car might be returned to you in the near future.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does insurance cover stolen personal items?
No, comprehensive coverage only includes the vehicle itself, not personal belongings. If my car is stolen, how long before insurance pays out depends on many factors, but comprehensive car insurance offers theft coverage that does not extend to personal items.
What should I do if my car is stolen without insurance?
If your car is stolen and you have no insurance, report the theft to the police and the DMV, and take steps to search for the car on your own.
What happens if my stolen car is recovered?
Can I negotiate the value of my stolen vehicle?
Yes, the actual cash value of your vehicle may be negotiable in the event of a total loss, even if your car is stolen with no comprehensive coverage or if your car is stolen and recovered with no damage.
Do I need to notify the DMV if my car is stolen?
Yes, it’s advisable to inform your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if your car is stolen. They keep a database of stolen vehicles and collaborate with law enforcement to aid in recovery, which can be a crucial step in the car theft insurance claim process and understanding your car theft insurance coverage.
Does auto insurance cover theft of contents?
Typically, if your car was stolen and totaled, auto insurance policies cover the theft of the vehicle itself but may not cover the theft of items inside the vehicle. However, renters or homeowners insurance may cover personal items that were stolen from the car. If your car was stolen and insurance won’t pay for the contents inside, you may need to file a claim through your renters or homeowners policy for those items.
Does car insurance cover burglary?
Comprehensive car insurance offer theft coverage typically protects against the theft of the vehicle itself. However, if your car was stolen with no insurance, burglary involving theft from a location like your home or garage would generally be covered by homeowners or renters insurance instead.
Does Progressive cover stolen cars?
Progressive, like many other auto insurance companies, offers comprehensive coverage that typically covers theft of the vehicle. It’s important to check your specific policy details for coverage specifics, especially if you’re dealing with a situation involving a stolen vehicle or If you want to repair your Land Rover at a body shop and have Progressive insurance.
What happens if my financed car is stolen, but I have no insurance?
If a financed car is stolen without insurance coverage for the stolen vehicle, the owner may still be responsible for the remaining loan balance unless they have gap insurance, which provides coverage for car theft by bridging the gap between the car’s value and the outstanding loan amount.
How does car theft affect insurance premiums?
Car theft can result in an increase in insurance premiums, particularly if you file a claim for the stolen vehicle. Insurance companies may view you as a higher risk, leading to higher premiums like insurance coverage for a stolen car.
Does third-party car insurance cover theft in Michigan?
Third-party car insurance typically does not cover theft of the insured vehicle; comprehensive coverage is usually necessary for theft protection. This means that if your leased car is stolen with no gap insurance coverage or if your motorcycle is stolen with no insurance at all, you may not have coverage unless you have comprehensive insurance.
Does uninsured motorist cover stolen vehicles?
Uninsured motorist coverage typically covers bodily injury expenses if you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. It does not usually cover theft of your vehicle.
Does auto insurance cover stolen vehicles?
Yes, comprehensive car insurance generally covers a stolen car.
Does insurance pay for a stolen car?
Yes, if you have comprehensive coverage, your insurance company will typically reimburse you for the stolen vehicle’s actual cash value.
What happens if your car gets stolen on finance?
If your financed car is stolen, you are still responsible for the remaining loan balance unless you have gap insurance. You would need to continue making payments to the financing company.
What happens if your car gets stolen without insurance?
If your car is stolen without insurance coverage, you won’t receive any reimbursement for the stolen vehicle.
What happens if your car is stolen and never found?
If your car is stolen and never found, and you have comprehensive coverage, your insurance company will typically reimburse you for the vehicle’s actual cash value.
What to do when my car is stolen?
When your car is stolen, you should immediately report it to the police, notify your insurance company, and gather any necessary documentation for the insurance claim.
What to do when your car is stolen and recovered?
If your stolen car is recovered, you should contact your insurance company to assess damages and determine next steps.
Will car insurance cover theft?
Yes, comprehensive car insurance typically covers theft of the insured vehicle.
Will liability cover a stolen car?
No, liability insurance typically does not cover theft of the insured vehicle. Comprehensive coverage is usually required for theft coverage.
Will my insurance cover my car if it’s stolen?
Is car theft covered by insurance?
Yes, car theft is typically covered by comprehensive auto insurance.
What if my car was stolen and totaled?
If your car was stolen and then totaled, your insurance, if you have comprehensive coverage, will generally cover the loss. They will typically reimburse you for the actual cash value of the car, minus any deductible. If the car is financed, the payment will first go towards settling the loan balance.
Compare over 200 auto insurance companies at once!
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Zach Fagiano
Licensed Insurance Broker
Zach Fagiano has been in the insurance industry for over 10 years, specializing in property and casualty and risk management consulting. He started out specializing in small businesses and moved up to large commercial real estate risks. During that time, he acquired property & casualty, life & health, and surplus lines brokers licenses. He’s now the Senior Vice President overseeing globa...
Licensed Insurance Broker
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.