It’s been a great evening, full of fun and laughs with your friends. You say good night and head out to the car. Walking back to the parking space, you get a strange feeling that something is wrong. You arrive and your car is gone. After a moment of shocked disbelief, you try to figure out what to do.

Having a car stolen can be a very upsetting event and thankfully, most people never have to experience it. However, if you find yourself the victim of a car thief, here are some great tips to help you get you through it.

Is It Really Stolen?

Take a deep breath and think about if there is another explanation for your missing car. Did you park it somewhere else? Is it a block over, because where you normally park was full? Did your sister take it with her extra set of keys? Could it have been towed? Run through all the possible scenarios as to what could have happened before you take any more serious action. Sometimes there is a simple explanation that thankfully doesn’t involve an actual crime being committed.

Call The Cops  

If your brainstorming session doesn’t come up with any feasible explanations for your missing car, it’s time to call the police. An officer will be dispatched to your location and will start a report on the spot. They will need to know the make and model of your car, as well as the VIN number (hint: write it down and put it in your wallet now). If your vehicle has a tracking device, let the police about that too. Be sure to ask the officer for a copy of the report. You will need it in the next step.

The Next Phone Call – Your Insurance Company

You don’t have to wait until 9am the next morning in order to report that your car has been stolen to the insurance company. Nearly all auto carriers maintain a 24/7 customer service number precisely for these kinds of events. Even if you have a liability only policy, it is very important that you let the insurance company know that you no longer have control or possession of your vehicle. In most cases, your auto carrier will work with the police during the investigation. If it turns out that the car is gone for good, the insurance company will have all the information they need in order to cancel your policy.

Help The Police Find It

Keep an eye out for your car online to see if it turns up on any auto sales websites. You can easily search for it by typing the year, make and model of your car into Google. Search results will be returned with cars matching your description. It is surprising how many stolen cars wind up being sold on the internet by unscrupulous thieves. If you do happen to find your car, do not contact the seller directly. Get in touch with the police and let them follow up on it.

Replacing Your Car

If you had full coverage on your vehicle, ask your insurance company how long they will want you to wait before starting to look for another car. They will eventually pay either the bank or you directly for the value of the vehicle. Be sure to stay in close touch with them as the claim process moves along. Let the police also know that you will soon be in the market for a new vehicle.   

Get In Contact With Us If Your Car Is Stolen

Having a car stolen can be a tough experience to go through, but with these great tips, you will have some important information to make the process a little easier. If you are still having some trouble, do not hesitate to give us a call. Insure on the Spot is here 24/7 to assist you with your auto needs. We specialize in Auto Insurance and SR22 Insurance in the Chicagoland area, but we can assist with anything. Especially the loss of a car and how it affects your auto insurance.