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jaap-willem/Getty Images November 11, 2022 Mandy Sleight has been a licensed insurance agent since 2005. She has three years of experience writing for insurance websites such as Bankrate, MoneyGeek and The Simple Dollar. Mandy writes about auto, homeowners, renters, life insurance, disability and supplemental insurance products. Amy Sims is a managing editor for Bankrate, leading a team responsible for creating educational insurance content. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of how we make money. Our content is backed by LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our Insurance Disclosure. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by and edited by , who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Our insurance team is composed of agents, data analysts, and customers like you. They focus on the points consumers care about most — price, customer service, policy features and savings opportunities — so you can feel confident about which provider is right for you. We guide you throughout your search and help you understand your coverage options. We provide up-to-date, reliable market information to help you make confident decisions. We reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible. All providers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide. And we constantly review our criteria to ensure we’re putting accuracy first. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. By the end of September, in 2022, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB). This shows an increase of 24 percent from the same timeframe in 2019 and the highest instance of stolen cars since 2008. The NCIB states that the holiday season in the last quarter of the year typically shows a rise in auto thefts, which could push the yearly total over 1 million. Compare rates and save on auto insurance today! Get quotes Close X RatesRates keep going up in 2022. Compare rates and save on auto insurance today! Get quotes Close X This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions. Compare auto insurance rates
Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers. Save on auto insurance with quotes from trusted providers like: Drivers switch & save an average of $750+/year Arrow Right Are you overpaying for auto insurance? Arrow Right Safe drivers choose Allstate Arrow Right Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249) Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. See more providers in Choose from insurers in Show More RATE INCREASE ALERT Rates increased up to 12% this year
Shop for a better rate before you renew your current policy. This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions. Compare auto insurance rates
Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers. Save on auto insurance with quotes from trusted providers like: Drivers switch & save an average of $750+/year Arrow Right Are you overpaying for auto insurance? Arrow Right Safe drivers choose Allstate Arrow Right Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249) Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. See more providers in Choose from insurers in Show More And because of the limitations car insurance has on vehicle theft relating to personal items stolen from a vehicle, these figures do not include car break-ins. Whether car insurance covers theft depends on your coverage and policy details. Knowing your coverage, understanding your options and learning what to do if you are a victim of theft may help you prevent this type of crime and know how you’re covered (or not covered) if it happens. Does car insurance cover car theft
Car insurance covers car theft, but only if you have in place before the vehicle is stolen. Comprehensive insurance pays for vandalism, vehicle theft, broken windows or windshields, weather events and encounters with an animal. The coverage typically has a deductible that the policyholder is responsible for paying, so it’s important to consider what out-of-pocket costs you are comfortable with if a claim were to happen. It might be worthwhile to pay for comprehensive coverage, even if you carry a higher deductible, if you cannot afford to repair or replace your vehicle if a theft occurs. Although your may be higher, the broader coverage can offset the out-of-pocket costs you could face if your car is stolen. You may also consider purchasing if you have a new vehicle with a loan or lease. This coverage will pay the difference between your loan amount and the depreciated value of your car, which is determined at the time of a claim. It may be helpful coverage for you if your vehicle is stolen and unable to be found. Does car insurance cover items stolen from your car
The type of policy you have, the coverage you choose and your insurance company will determine if your car insurance will cover items stolen from your car. Typically, your comprehensive coverage covers permanently installed items if they are stolen from your car, such as: Radios TVs in the headrests Navigation system Custom wheels (additional limits may apply) Vehicle battery Catalytic converter If you have aftermarket items installed in your car, like rims, a stereo or a custom paint job, you may want to consider custom parts and equipment coverage. Companies like offer this optional endorsement, but be prepared to provide details and receipts at the company’s request. Items not permanently installed, like clothes, a laptop, a cell phone or a camera left in the vehicle, are not covered by your auto insurance, unless the company offers special coverage that you add to your policy before the incident occurs. For example, Erie offers , which will pay up to $350 for personal items stolen from the vehicle. Without this type of coverage — which is rarely offered — your home or renters insurance policy would cover these items stolen from your vehicle, subject to that policy’s deductible. It is worth noting that if someone damages your vehicle while breaking into it, like busting out a window to get to your personal items, damages to your vehicle would still be covered by comprehensive coverage in most scenarios. What to do if you are a victim of theft
If you are a victim of theft, there are steps to take, whether your car has been stolen or your vehicle was broken into and personal items were stolen. Here’s what you should do in either scenario. If your vehicle has been stolen
The first thing you should do if your vehicle has been stolen is rule out any of these possible scenarios first: Is it possible the vehicle was towed after being parked illegally? Could the car have been repossessed by a lienholder? Could the vehicle have been impounded for another reason? If none of these scenarios are relevant, call the police and report the theft. Be prepared to provide vehicle information, such as the , license plate number, identifying characteristics like existing damage and the color, make and model of the car. If you have it available, you will want the police report number and a copy of the report when you file a claim with your . When you file the claim, you should have the report information, details on where and when the vehicle was stolen and any tracking device information handy, like OnStar or LoJack. Tracking information should also be reported to the police to aid in getting your vehicle recovered. If your personal items have been stolen
If you’ve had personal items stolen, you may want to contact your auto insurer to see if you have coverage. If not, you might need to check your or to see about coverage. Remember, which policy would cover the claim depends on whether the stolen items were considered permanently installed or not, or if your auto insurance has extra personal property coverage built into your policy. Discuss any deductible you must meet after filing a claim and if there are coverage limitations on specific items. Most property insurance policies have limitations depending on the items stolen, like jewelry or cameras. In cases where you have these items, considering may help further avoid coverage gaps. How to prevent the theft of a vehicle or personal items
There are ways to help prevent the risk of theft of your vehicle or personal items, whether the car is parked in your driveway or a parking lot overnight. Besides not leaving items in plain sight (or in your car at all), here are some ways to prevent car theft: Park in well-lit areas or under a street light Park in a locked or security-manned garage Place a spotlight or motion-activated light over your driveway Buy a car with a vehicle recovery system or have one installed Install an audible or visible alarm device Keep the doors locked at all times and activate the alarm using your key fob, if applicable Roll up windows and never leave the key or fob in or around the vehicle Certain theft-prevention measures, like an anti-theft device or parking the vehicle in a locked garage, may also save you money on your car insurance policy. In addition to reducing the risk of filing a theft claim and increasing your premium, you may earn a for having these preventative measures. Ask your insurance agent or company what anti-theft discounts might be available to you. SHARE: Mandy Sleight has been a licensed insurance agent since 2005. She has three years of experience writing for insurance websites such as Bankrate, MoneyGeek and The Simple Dollar. Mandy writes about auto, homeowners, renters, life insurance, disability and supplemental insurance products. Amy Sims is a managing editor for Bankrate, leading a team responsible for creating educational insurance content. Related Articles