It's a nightmare situation: you get to the car park and there's a space where your car should be. Slowly it sinks in that it's been stolen.
My car has been stolen – what should I do?
First you must report your car as stolen. Call the police on 101, the non-emergency line. They'll need the registration number, make, model and colour, as well as details of any personal belongings inside the vehicle.
Some police forces have an online service to report a crime.
The police will give you a crime reference number, which your insurer will need for the claim, and also inform the DVLA.
Insurance claims after a theft
If your car is found within 7 to 14 days, and there's little damage, your insurer should be able to settle the claim quite quickly.
If it's not found in this time, or it's found and damaged beyond economical repair, the insurer will likely offer the market value of the car at the time it was stolen.
Most insurers wait 30 days before paying out on a stolen car claim.
Are my possessions inside the car covered?
Our Platinum comprehensive car insurance covers personal belongings up to a total of £250 (or £500 if you're an existing AA member).
Each policy will be different, so check the limits and protect higher value items separately if you often have them in your car.
With third party fire and theft insurance you can't claim for any personal belongings taken or damaged from your stolen car. However, you may be able to claim for them on your home insurance.
Could my claim be denied?
Most insurers won't cover you if the key, lock transmitter or keyless entry card are left in or near the stolen car.
This can include connected cars, which are prone to a type of car theft called relay theft. The thieves use special tech to pick up the signal from the key fob to get access to the car. The devices can pick up a signal over 100 metres away and can be bought for as little as £100 online.
You also won't be covered if you've left the car running unattended and someone steals it, or if it's proven that you left the doors, windows or roof unlocked.
Once the car is missing, it may be hard to prove that the doors were locked. CCTV could be helpful for this, as well as for showing a crime taking place.
Avoiding theft
Protecting your car can be done with a little bit of caution and common sense. Always avoid any risk that can lead to theft, and never leave your keys in the car or your doors unlocked.
Author: The AA. Published 10 May 2019. Updated 16 October 2024.