If Your Car Was Stolen With Keys Inside, Follow the Police Process
As we enter "Puffing season" with the colder weather driving cars while keys are inside is a common crime-fighting tactic. If your vehicle is stolen with keys inside, you must always submit a police report away.
Insurance policies vary, but comprehensive coverage generally covers cars even if you leave the keys inside. Personal belongings are typically covered by renters or homeowners insurance, not auto insurance.
Theft
A lot of car thieves just attack vehicles with keys inside. It's a simple strategy that is effective. Drivers get distracted and their car is gone the next thing they know. It's crucial to stop this cycle, so ensure that you have your keys with you when you leave your vehicle, no matter the place you park.
A car is stolen every 32 seconds and Americans lose an average of $8 billion every year due to vehicle thefts. It's crucial to never leave the keys in your car without being checked, especially if you live in a high-crime area.
Thieves have become incredibly clever when they steal vehicles with key fobs inside their vehicles, which makes it even more crucial to be extra careful. Thieves may employ a relay attack, signal jamming devices, or other technology to hack into the computer system of a vehicle and reprogram an entirely new key fob. They can also use an instrument known as a "slim jim" to get into a door's cavity at the base of the window and alter the locking mechanism inside or linkage.
Hotwiring is another method that involves removing the vehicle's ignition cord and then using an electrical current to ignite the motor. It's a trick that's popular among teenagers who don't have a full-time job and are looking to make a quick buck. However, it's also a way for criminals to use stolen vehicles to engage in joyriding or other criminal acts.
Dealerships can safeguard themselves by utilizing vehicle tracking systems and performing regular audits of their key inventory and vehicle records to spot discrepancies and potential breaches in security. They should also encourage drivers to use a signal blocking pouch or Faraday box when storing their keys, as these can protect against relay attacks and other types of hacks.
If you happen to leave the car running and keys inside with ignition turned on the car, your insurance company will likely to cover the cost in the event that you have Comprehensive coverage. However, your insurer might conduct a credit check and other checks to confirm that the claim is legitimate before granting you reimbursement.
Damage
It's like asking for your vehicle to be stolen if you leave it unlocked or running while the keys are in the car. A car thief who is opportunistic can leave in a matter seconds. Fortunately, your insurance company could cover the theft in the event that you have comprehensive insurance. Some policies do not cover cars with keys inside. If you're worried that your insurance won't cover this, it could be worth switching auto insurance providers.
Some states have laws that define the responsibility of a car owner for theft if keys are inside. The rules vary from state to state, so it's important to understand them. In the majority of cases, when an accident occurs while the thief drives the car, the driver is not liable. This is because the thief is not considered an insured driver. The owner of the car is not held liable for the items stolen from the vehicle since they are typically covered by homeowners or renters insurance.
It is essential to report the theft to the police as well as your insurance company right away. This will help the process accelerate and increase the chances of recovering your property. It is crucial to be aware that multiple claims can affect your insurance rate. Discuss this with your agent to see what impact it could have on your policy in future.
The best way to avoid the car being taken with keys inside is to lock it and close the windows every time you leave your vehicle. A spare key should be stored in a safe location and not kept in the car. If you are required to leave the vehicle running, make sure to place it in park, and then turn off the ignition prior to your leave.
In addition to avoiding the risk of your car being taken away with keys in, you should also be careful not to leave valuables in your car like laptops and MP3 players. You might be able to file a separate claim in the event that you have added nonpermanent items to your vehicle like an USB device plugged into the an auxiliary port.
Insurance
Theft of vehicles costs Americans $8 billion annually. Most cars are covered under insurance policies in the event that they are stolen. In certain situations the insurance policy may not cover the cost of repair or replacement of your vehicle. If you leave keys in your car, and it's stolen, that's one of them. This is not a common situation, but does occur.
Your policy will determine whether or not your car is covered in this scenario. The majority of policies that provide comprehensive insurance will cover your car even if the vehicle is stolen and the keys are still inside. However, the amount that your insurance company will pay will be dependent on the limits of your policy and the deductible.
If you have a liability-only insurance policy your vehicle is most likely to be stolen if keys are in it, but you'll only get compensated for a maximum of around $10,000. If you have comprehensive insurance on your vehicle, you can file a claim to recover the entire value of the vehicle and everything inside it (minus the deductible).
One major caveat is that insurance companies might consider putting the key in your vehicle as an act of negligence. Many insurance companies require their customers to take reasonable care of their vehicles, which includes that they are secured when they are not being used and not left running. Additionally, if you live in an area where there are frequent reports of thefts of cars your insurance company may increase your premium.
There are other ways to secure your car from theft, such as installing an anti-theft device or other security features. You can also find out if you're covered by insurance for your home. Renters and homeowners insurance usually provide personal property insurance that will cover your belongings in case they get stolen or lost within or off the premises. You can save time and money by filing both claims in one go if you have a property and auto insurance bundle.
Recovery
The best way to ensure that your vehicle is found after it was taken with keys inside is to follow the police procedure. File a report with the police department in your area, and be sure to provide them with the details of your vehicle they require, including the car's VIN and license plate number, its year, make and model and the location from which it was stolen, any distinct characteristics (large holes or custom-designed add-ons, for example) and the time of day it was taken.
After the police have filed a report and are investigating, they will begin searching for your vehicle. They will employ a variety of methods to locate it, such as interviewing witnesses, analyzing physical evidence and reviewing surveillance footage. During this process, it's essential to be patient and to get more info check in with police periodically for updates.
If your car is repossessed and needs to be inspected by an insurance claims adjuster, they will be required to conduct the inspection to determine its condition. If it is found to be in drivable condition and the damage was done in a manner that was not your control, you will be compensated through your comprehensive insurance. The amount you will receive will depend on the value of your vehicle as well as its current market value, your insurance deductible, and any additional insurances you may have, such as renters or homeowners.
Another step that might vary based on the guidance of the police or your insurance company is to inform your state's Department of Motor Vehicles about the stolen vehicle. This will add your vehicle's details to a database of stolen vehicles which makes it much more difficult for criminals to sell or register stolen vehicles in the future.
Contact the bank to freeze any credit or debit card found in your vehicle that has been stolen. This will stop fraud and identity theft. It's a good idea, when you have homeowners insurance or renters coverage, to also declare the theft. Items inside your car are typically covered under these policies. You may be able combine your claims from both policies in some cases to receive a higher settlement for the items you lost.