My vehicle was taken! Does insurance cover a stolen car?

It’s an incredible day at your local farmer’s market. You’re enjoying those postable social moments, sharing fresh goods with friends and focusing on the moment. That is, until you make your way back to your vehicle and find it—stolen. 

Panic rushes over you and you’re left wondering how, what, when, where and why someone would steal your vehicle. Although we can’t answer those key questions, there are questions we

 can answer here at HiRoad like, “does insurance cover a stolen car?”

With a reported 810,400 vehicles stolen in 2020 (source:

Insurance Information Institute), it’s important to understand which insurance coverages can help and the steps to take should you find yourself with a snatched car. 

What insurance coverage applies to vehicle theft?

You should have Comprehensive coverage on your car insurance policy before a vehicle theft. Meaning, you can’t add this coverage after the incident because it won’t be included.

Comprehensive coverage on a car insurance policy covers total or partial theft. So whether you experience a catalytic converter theft or one that leaves you without a vehicle completely, Comprehensive coverage would help in these situations.

If you do have this coverage on your policy, you’ll likely have a deductible amount selected. This is the amount you’ll be responsible to pay in the event of a claim. To understand more about car insurance deductibles, take a look at this article.

Another aspect to your car insurance policy you’ll want to look into is if your car insurer offers any transportation expenses, in the event of a stolen vehicle. Typically this is a limited amount of funds your insurance will provide you for temporary transportation. 

Additionally, you could have Rental Reimbursement added to your policy which typically provides a little more coverage than the amount that is included with Comprehensive coverage, as mentioned before. 

To summarize, it’s always a good idea to have at least Comprehensive coverage included with your policy, in the event your vehicle is stolen, and to contact your car insurance company to go through how a rental car would apply in this type of incident.

What to do when your car is stolen

Having any sort of vehicle theft happen can be a shocking and stressful experience that may leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what steps to take. We’ll give you a brief, helpful step-by-step on what you can do in the event of a stolen part or vehicle theft.

Your first to-do in the event of a vehicle theft is to call the authorities and file a police report. We can’t stress this step enough. A police report will assist in the claims process with your car insurance company. 

Second, document and collect as much information as you can. This could be taking photos of the scene, noting the location address or surrounding businesses and landmarks. Not to mention, if you are filing your claim with the HiRoad app, you’ll be able to upload these details quickly. 

The last step you’ll want to consider is filing a claim with your car insurer, especially if you carry Comprehensive coverage. You’ll work directly with your car insurer to assess transportation needs, coverages, deductible payments, etc. 

HiRoad insurance coverages for any situation

With the number of vehicle thefts happening each year, we understand how important choosing the right insurance coverages is to your policy. As inviting as minimum insurance requirements may sound, it isn’t always the right solution for those unexpected moments—like a vehicle theft. 

Having full coverage on your vehicle; including comprehensive and collision coverage on your vehicle, can help in situations that aren’t always planned for or expected. Sound like a lot of coverage you don’t want to pay for? We get it. But what if we told you that HiRoad is a possible solution to not only provide all coverages, but also help you save money every month? 

HiRoad car insurance utilizes the technology of telematics, and with your good driving behaviors you can save on your insurance bill every month. So while having more than the minimum required on your insurance policy may feel expensive and unnecessary—you can appreciate the savings that come every month with your good moves from behind the wheel, and the promise that we’re there for you—even when the unexpected happens. 

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with HiRoad®. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. HiRoad is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. HiRoad makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.