Does car insurance cover a stolen car?

Does car insurance cover a stolen car? You can buy auto insurance coverage for stolen vehicles with the right options. But how does insurance work if your car is stolen? Don’t worry – we’re here to help.

Read through this guide to learn how you can get car insurance coverage for a stolen car and why you should compare car insurance. We’ve also included factors that affect your coverage of stolen vehicles.

After you learn everything about how car insurance covers stolen cars, enter your ZIP code in the free comparison tool above to compare multiple companies near you.

Does car insurance cover a stolen car?

If my car is stolen, does my insurance cover it? The answer is yes, but you’ll need comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive car insurance covers the value of your vehicle if it’s stolen.

If your car is recovered but has damage from the theft, your auto insurance company will cut a check for the cost of damages from the theft.

What if your car is stolen and insurance won’t pay out? Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay a deductible to the car insurance company before they pay out any claims.

Does car insurance cover a stolen car if the keys are left behind?

The short answer is yes. If you left your keys in the car by mistake and your car was stolen, your auto insurance company will cover you.

However, you’ll need comprehensive insurance on your car insurance policy to receive coverage.

Will insurance cover personal items that are stolen from my car?

Car insurance companies won’t cover personal items or aftermarket car parts that are stolen from your vehicle.

Aftermarket parts are car parts that didn’t originally come with your vehicle, and are typically installed by a third-party company.

To get coverage for stolen items in your car, you’ll need to buy homeowners insurance, renters insurance, or condo insurance. These policies have coverage for stolen items even if it occurs inside your vehicle.

If you’re not at your address, you’ll need “off-premises” insurance coverage to get a claim check from an insurance company.

Read more: Does my car insurance cover damage to my car’s stereo or other aftermarket accessories?

Comprehensive Insurance: If your car gets stolen, does insurance cover it?

Comprehensive auto insurance covers damage to your vehicle that doesn’t involve a collision. In other words, car insurance companies pay for damage from unforeseen incidents, such as:

• Vehicle Theft
• Fire Damage
• Natural Disasters (flooding, hail, etc.)
• Animal Damage
• Falling Objects
• Car Part Theft (such as catalytic converter or stereo)
• Vandalism (damage from riots or other crimes)

When you have comprehensive insurance, you can file a claim on either of these incidents. You’ll need to pay a deductible first, though, or else insurance won’t pay out for your stolen car.

Once your deductible is paid, your auto insurance company will cover the cost of repairs or issue a check based on the value of your car.

Double-check your comprehensive coverage limits to make sure they’re equal to or greater than the value of your car.

How much is comprehensive car insurance?

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), comprehensive car insurance is $13 a month on average.

However, comprehensive insurance may be more expensive even at the best car insurance companies.

Here are several factors that determine comprehensive car insurance rates:

• Deductible
• Vehicle Make and Model Year
• Location

Low deductibles produce more expensive comprehensive insurance rates, but higher deductibles lower rates for comprehensive car insurance.

Continue reading to learn how location and vehicles affect comprehensive coverage.

How does a vehicle’s make, and model year influence comprehensive car insurance?

Older cars have lower values, while newer models have a bigger price tag. Therefore, more expensive values generate higher comprehensive auto insurance rates. In addition to values, car insurance companies consider vehicle theft rankings.

Here’s a list of the top 10 most stolen vehicles by make and model year.

1. 2006 Ford Pickup (Full Size) – 38,938 thefts
2. 2000 Honda Civic – 33,220 thefts
3. 2004 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size) – 32,583 thefts
4. 1997 Honda Accord – 30,745 thefts
5. 2007 Toyota Camry – 15,656 thefts
6. 2015 Nissan Altima – 13,355 thefts
7. 2018 Toyota Corolla – 12,137 thefts
8. 2001 Dodge Pickup (Full Size) – 11,292 thefts
9. 2018 GMC Pickup (Full Size) – 11,164 thefts
10. 2001 Honda CR-V – 10,094 thefts

This list is from the latest National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) statistics. Based on the list, comprehensive coverage could cost more if you have a four-door sedan or pickup truck.

How does location affect comprehensive car insurance?

Auto insurance companies also consider the statistics of the state where you live. Let’s look at the NICB’s top 10 cities with the most vehicle thefts in 2019.

1. Bakersfield, CA – 6,538 thefts
2. Albuquerque, NM – 6,399 thefts
3. Modesto, CA – 3,156 thefts
4. Springfield, MO – 2,420 thefts
5. Merced, CA – 1,483 thefts
6. Yakima, WA – 1,325 thefts
7. Topeka, KS – 1,293 thefts
8. Yuba City, CA – 959 thefts
9. Odessa, TX – 946 thefts
10. St. Joseph, MO-KS – 770 thefts

Most of these vehicle thefts occur in metropolitan areas. So, car insurance companies usually issue higher comprehensive insurance rates when you live in an urban or suburban area. Comprehensive insurance coverage covers you if your car is stolen, even if you leave the keys in the car. 

Can I get a car insurance discount for anti-theft features on my vehicle?

Yes, you can. Some car insurance companies will give you at least 5% off if you have anti-theft features on your vehicle.

Anti-theft features include commonly found features, such as an alarm, electronic door locks, and a tracking system.

Anything that makes it harder for thieves to steal is a plus for you and your monthly auto insurance payments.

Often the savings seem slim because the anti-theft device discount only applies to the comprehensive coverage and not your entire policy.

Vehicles made within the last 20 years have some sort of security system. The most recent make and model year cars have a more elaborate system, making it even more difficult for car thieves.

Case Studies: Does car insurance cover a stolen car?

Case Study 1: Jessica’s Stolen Car Claim With Comprehensive Coverage

Jessica woke up one morning to find that her car was missing from where she had parked it the previous night. She immediately contacted her insurance company and filed a claim for her stolen car. Fortunately, Jessica had comprehensive coverage on her car insurance policy, which covered the theft of her vehicle.

After paying her deductible, the insurance company reimbursed Jessica for the value of her stolen car. Thanks to her comprehensive coverage, Jessica didn’t have to bear the financial loss of her stolen vehicle.

Case Study 2: Mark’s Stolen Car With Personal Items

Mark’s car was stolen while he was running errands, and unfortunately, he had left his laptop and other personal items inside the vehicle. When he filed a claim with his car insurance company, he learned that personal items stolen from the car were not covered by his auto insurance policy. To recover the value of his stolen personal items, Mark contacted his renter’s insurance company.

Fortunately, his renter’s insurance policy covered stolen items, even if they were stolen from his car. Mark was able to receive compensation for the stolen personal items through his renter’s insurance policy.

Case Study 3: Sarah’s Stolen Car With Aftermarket Parts

Sarah’s car, which had aftermarket parts installed, was stolen from a parking lot. She contacted her car insurance company to file a claim, hoping to be reimbursed for the value of her stolen vehicle and the aftermarket parts. However, she learned that her auto insurance policy did not cover aftermarket parts that were stolen.

Disappointed with the lack of coverage from her car insurance, Sarah explored other options and found out that her homeowner’s insurance policy could cover stolen aftermarket parts. She contacted her homeowner’s insurance company and successfully filed a claim for the stolen aftermarket parts.

Does car insurance cover a stolen car? The Bottom Line

If my car is stolen, will insurance cover it? Comprehensive insurance will, once you’ve met your deductible. 

Comprehensive coverage is worth every cent, and it can help you in a complicated situation. It’s best to get comprehensive car insurance coverage before an incident. Auto insurance companies don’t cover claims after an incident happens.

When establishing your auto insurance policy, you should have comprehensive coverage.

If you’re not sure where to shop for comprehensive car insurance, start with the best insurance companies.

Now that you know how car insurance covers a stolen car, use our free online quote tool to compare multiple companies in your area.