The Main Problem With Car Stolen With Keys And How To Fix It
The Main Problem With Car Stolen With Keys And How To Fix It
Blog Article
Does Insurance Cover Cars Stolen With Keys Inside?
It may appear to be a bad idea to leave your car keys in the ignition however, is insurance covered for cars that are stolen with keys inside them? Generally, yes. However there are a few cautions.
First, ensure that your vehicle is indeed missing before you file a claim. Know that the claim process starts with a police report as well as a thorough description of your vehicle.
1. Contact the police
It is essential to take preventative measures to safeguard your car and its contents. Car theft is on the rise nationwide, and Colorado is the top state for per capita thefts. This includes locking your vehicle and setting up an alarm and removing all keys or fobs from the vehicle while you're not driving. It's a good idea also to keep valuables out of the vehicle, or better, remove the car altogether. However, even having taken preventive steps, you might be the victim of a crime that is a matter of opportunity. If you have a key in the interior of your vehicle and it's stolen and you want to report it, here are the steps to take to report the theft to the police and your insurance.
When your vehicle is reported stolen, you should call the police to submit a theft report. The more details you provide to the police about your car like its model and make, as well as license plate number or VIN, the greater the chance of it being returned to you. Also let the police know if your vehicle is equipped with an GPS device.
Once you've filed a police report, contact your insurance company to notify them of the theft. You can make this call or online, depending on the policies of your insurance company. Give your policy number, the car's model and make, as well as any identifying information (like large dents or custom add-ons) and the time and the location of the theft. Inform your insurance agent that you have other technology in your vehicle, for instance a GPS tracking system, which can assist in finding it.
Be sure to provide the police and your insurance company the same information, as any inconsistencies could delay the process of processing your claim. The insurance company could also utilize this information to decide whether or not to settle claims in the event that you owe a large amount of money. This is why it's best to avoid leaving any personal documents or data in your vehicle, including credit cards, receipts and paycheck stubs. If you do leave any of these information in your car, notify your bank and credit card company, as well as any other entities regarding the theft. This will allow them to block any unauthorized charges, and alert their security departments.
2. Contact Your Insurer
It's no secret that car theft is on the rise. In reality thousands of vehicles are stolen with owners' keys inside every year. It's not just luck. You can prevent this type of crime by adding additional protections to your vehicle.
Contact your insurance company right away after the loss. You can obtain an auto rental from your insurance company while you wait to retrieve your vehicle or get compensation if you don't. They will be able to provide you with specifics of your policy and answer any questions. It's also crucial to submit a police report that includes the name and number of the officer who conducted an investigation into the incident, as well as the date and time of the theft.
Include all pertinent information about your vehicle, such as its model and make, as well as an in-depth description of the items stolen. Be sure to include your name, number and any other details of anyone who may have had access to your vehicle, or valuables inside. This information can help police investigate the claims and eliminate people trying to commit fraud. It may be necessary to run a credit check in addition. This is to ensure you don't have a lot of debt that may create suspicions and make it difficult to negotiate an acceptable settlement for your vehicle.
Your insurance company will provide you with the name and number of a representative who will help you navigate the claims process. You can reach them in many ways, such as by telephone or via chat online.
When making a claim for insurance on your car with the police and insurer can be a hassle and it's important to complete the process as fast as you can. It's important to file a claim as soon as you can. Not only will it ensure that your car gets the attention it needs and you'll avoid being a victim of fraud and having your insurance denied due to an unintentional error.
3. File a Claim
You'll need to provide all the information as quickly as you can. This includes where your vehicle was prior to and after it was stolen, any photos you might have, and contact information for everyone who was able to access the vehicle. Your insurance company requires an exact description of your car including any upgrades and other options. If you have receipts for your purchase, these are essential as well.
You may need to make two claims. One for the auto insurance policy and one for renters or homeowners for any personal belongings that were in the vehicle. If you have comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy it will be able to cover the cost of replacing your property. Your policy's limits as well as your deductible will still apply.
Once your claim has been completed and your insurance company is notified, they will either pay you the cash value of the car if the vehicle is deemed totaled, or pay the entire cost in the event that the car was found and then returned. Then you'll be accountable for the deductible if you choose to repair the vehicle, which is often not feasible.
It could take up to up to 30 days for an insurance company to settle a stolen car claim. In the meantime it can be difficult to navigate so make sure to check whether your policy covers rental reimbursement. Most do, however the coverage varies by the policy and the provider.
Report your vehicle to the police immediately if not found. This will put your vehicle in databases of the state and national levels which makes it much more difficult for thieves to sell your car later. You can also include a police report to your auto insurance policy by submitting it to your insurer.
If you don't want your car to be taken away keep your keys away from view and lock your car when it's not being used. You can also stop theft by parking your vehicle in well-lit areas and keeping your key in your pocket.
4. Recover Your Car
When you are certain that your car was taken with keys inside, contact the police and file a claim. This will add your vehicle's details to national and state databases, making it more difficult for thieves to make a deal with it. Contact your insurance company immediately to report a stolen vehicle.
If you have comprehensive insurance, your insurer will replace the vehicle you lost with the exception of depreciation. The insurer will consider comparable vehicles in your area, mileage on the odometer and other factors to determine how much your car is worth. However, what to do if your car keys are stolen you'll still need to pay an amount of $500 for deductible.
In addition to the cost to replace your vehicle, your insurance company will repair any damage that was caused when your vehicle was taken with the keys inside. If you own a tracker, it could assist the police in finding your car once it's recovered.
If your vehicle has been taken with your keys inside, you need to take action immediately. Delays can cause your claim to be rejected or be investigated as fraud. In certain instances you might be required to undergo an examination under oath where you're asked questions by a representative from your insurance company under oath.
You may need to file an another claim for any items that were stolen from your vehicle. Comprehensive auto insurance will cover your vehicle. These items will probably be covered by homeowners or renters insurance, based on the location you stored them. If you have both your auto and homeowners insurance policies combined and you want to claim both policies at once.
Always lock your car and take the keys when you're not driving it. Keep the spare key in a secure place away from your car. Don't write your address or name on your keys to your car. Rather, choose parking spaces that are well-lit, supervised and off-street as much as you can. You should also make sure your car is in a secure, well-lit place and that you're blocking mailboxes or driveways.