What to Do If Your Car Is Stolen

File a police report before calling your insurer. Auto theft is covered under comprehensive insurance, not collision. Without comprehensive coverage, you have no insurance claim and are responsible for any loan balance.

Find out if you're overpaying for car insurance below.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: March 23, 2026

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Key Takeaways

File a police report before calling your insurer. Most policies require this, and insurers won't process a theft claim without a report number.

Without comprehensive coverage, you have no insurance claim for a stolen car and are responsible for any loan balance.

If the car is recovered damaged, the claim process changes depending on the extent of damage vs. the car's actual cash value.

What to Do When Your Car Is Stolen

Before calling the police, confirm the car is actually stolen. Contact local parking enforcement to rule out a tow for violations or parking restrictions. If theft is confirmed, call the police immediately and get the case number. Insurers require it to open a theft claim. After securing the report, call your insurer's claims line.

Follow these steps in order. Both the police report and prompt notification to the insurer are required to file an auto insurance theft claim.

1
Confirm the Car Is Stolen, Then Call Police
Contact local parking enforcement to verify the car wasn't towed for a violation or parking restriction. If theft is confirmed, call 911 or the non-emergency line, file a report and get the case number. Your insurer requires it to open a theft claim.
2
Notify Your Insurer Within 24 Hours
Call your insurer's claims line with the police report number, your policy number and the vehicle's VIN. The insurer assigns an adjuster and usually requires a waiting period of 24 to 72 hours before processing the claim, in case the vehicle is recovered.
3
Request Rental Coverage if Your Policy Includes It
Rental reimbursement coverage pays for a rental car while the theft claim is pending. Ask the adjuster when the rental benefit starts and what the daily limit is.
4
File Your Comprehensive Claim
After the waiting period, if the car isn't recovered, the insurer pays actual cash value minus your comprehensive deductible.
5
Handle the Loan Balance if You Owe More Than ACV
If the outstanding loan balance exceeds the ACV payout, gap insurance covers the difference. Without gap coverage, you owe the remaining balance even though you no longer have the vehicle.

What a Theft Claim Covers and What It Doesn't

Auto theft is covered under comprehensive insurance, not collision coverage. The average comprehensive premium runs approximately $363 per year (2024 data), and a typical theft claim pays $15,000 to $25,000, depending on the vehicle's actual cash value (ACV). Drivers without comprehensive coverage receive no insurance payout for a stolen vehicle and are responsible for any outstanding loan balance, even after losing the car.

No Comprehensive Coverage

Theft is a comprehensive claim. Without comprehensive coverage on your policy, there is no payout for the stolen vehicle.

Deductible

Your comprehensive deductible is subtracted from the ACV payout before the insurer issues a check.

Personal Items Inside the Car

Car insurance does not cover personal property stolen from the vehicle. Those losses fall under homeowners or renters insurance.

GAP Coverage

If you owe more than the ACV payout, gap insurance covers the difference. Without gap coverage, you're responsible for the remaining loan balance.

What Happens if Your Stolen Car Is Recovered?

A stolen car recovered undamaged before the claim closes can be kept by withdrawing the claim. Your insurer notifies you when police locate the vehicle, and you decide whether to proceed with the claim or cancel it and keep the car.

A stolen car recovered with damage goes through the same evaluation process as a standard collision claim. The insurer determines whether to repair or total the vehicle based on repair costs relative to ACV. If you've already received a payout, the insurer takes ownership of the recovered vehicle. You can't keep both the settlement and the car. Learn more about whether a theft claim raises your rates and what happens if your car is stolen with no insurance.

What to Do If Your Vehicle Is Stolen: FAQs

What do you do if your car is stolen?

File a police report first and get the case number. Then call your insurer's claims line within 24 hours with the report number, your policy number and the vehicle's VIN. The insurer assigns an adjuster and usually requires a waiting period of 24 to 72 hours before processing the claim.

Does car insurance cover theft?

Comprehensive insurance covers theft. Collision coverage does not. Without comprehensive coverage, you have no insurance claim for a stolen vehicle and are responsible for any outstanding loan balance.

Do you need a police report to file a theft claim?

Yes. Most insurers require a police report to open a theft claim. File the report immediately after confirming the car is stolen and provide the case number when you call your insurer.

How long does it take for insurance to pay a stolen car claim?

Insurers usually require a waiting period of 24 to 72 hours in case the car is recovered. If the vehicle isn't found, the claim is typically processed within a few weeks after filing, depending on the insurer and state regulations.

What happens if your stolen car is found after you've been paid?

If you've already received the ACV payout, the insurer takes ownership of the recovered vehicle. You can't keep both the payout and the car. If the car is found before the claim closes, you can withdraw the claim and keep the vehicle.

Does a car theft claim raise your insurance rates?

Comprehensive claims don't raise rates as sharply as collision or liability claims because theft isn't the policyholder's fault. Some insurers increase premiums at renewal when multiple comprehensive claims are filed within a short period.

MoneyGeek's content is based on Quadrant Information Services data, state insurance department filings and insurer policy documents. Comprehensive coverage premium figures and theft claim data were verified using current industry sources as of February 2025. Read our full auto insurance methodology.

All theft claim timelines and coverage rules were verified as of February 2025.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.

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What to Do If Your Car Is Stolen

What to Do When Your Car Is Stolen

Confirm the Car Is Stolen, Then Call Police

Notify Your Insurer Within 24 Hours

Request Rental Coverage if Your Policy Includes It

File Your Comprehensive Claim

Handle the Loan Balance if You Owe More Than ACV