What to do if Your Car is Stolen

Your dream car has just been stolen — now what?

We consider what to do if you find yourself in that situation, how to protect your car, as well as provide handy details regarding how to find your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN).

Car theft in Australia

It’s one of those things you think will never happen to you. But the hard facts of it are that in Australia, a vehicle is stolen approximately every 11 minutes! That’s more than 130 vehicles stolen every day.  Vehicle theft can leave you feeling violated and confused. Still, the faster you act, the better the chances are of recovering your car. So, if you find yourself in this position, take a deep breath and follow these steps for what to do if your car is stolen.

What do I do if my car is stolen?

Call the police

The very first thing you need to do as soon as you notice your vehicle is missing is call the police. To get the process rolling, you need to file a stolen car report. Usually, the police will come out to the site your vehicle was taken from, and they’ll ask you questions about your car and what happened. You’ll need to provide your car’s details, including the registration number, the vehicle’s description and the vehicle identification number (VIN), as well as your personal details, such as your driver’s licence number and mobile phone number.

While waiting for the police to arrive, it can be helpful to ask any nearby shops or bystanders if they happened to see anything (if it was stolen from a shopping centre), or if they have surveillance cameras or dashcams that might’ve captured the theft. Advising a shopping centre’s centre management can make sure that they keep any CCTV footage from car park entry and exits.

Notify your car insurance provider that you’ve had your car stolen

Once a police report has been filed, you’ll be provided with a report reference number and will need to commence a car insurance claim. There may be a waiting period applied to your policy to give the police time to recover the stolen car. During this waiting period — depending on your car insurance cover — you may have access to a temporary replacement vehicle so you can still get around while you wait to hear about your car.

Contact your loan provider

If the purchase of your vehicle was financed with a car loan, and you still owe money on the loan, you’ll need to advise your lender as soon as possible.

Contacting your financier is important, given that for most car loans, the vehicle itself acts as a form of security against the loan, which is why it’s common for secured car loans to require a comprehensive insurance policy over the vehicle. Under a comprehensive policy, the car will be insured for theft.

Once the claim has been finalised, the insurance company will typically pay the proceeds to the lender directly. Once your loan has been repaid, you may then be in a position to take out another loan to purchase a replacement vehicle.

Alert your bank

If your wallet happened to be in your car, then you’ll need to cancel any credit and debit cards as soon as possible to prevent the thief from stealing your cash too.

Where do I find my VIN?

A VIN is a unique code that helps to identify your car. It is usually located either under the bonnet of your vehicle, along the door closure area of the driver’s-side door, or down the bottom of the passenger side of the windscreen. If you can’t physically check your car for the VIN, you can do a VIN check online for a fee.

It’s a good idea to keep your vehicle registration details, licence plate number and VIN somewhere handy, like on your phone, in case you ever find yourself having to pass this info on to the police.

Our quick tips to prevent your car from being stolen

While many thieves do not discriminate when choosing a ride to steal, there are certain cars that are more at risk. If you’re searching for a low-risk car, or are worried about the vehicle you currently have, you can have a look at the risk rating.

Tips to keep your car safe:

• Over half of all cars stolen are pinched from the family home, so keeping all the keys (including house keys and car keys) securely stored and securing your house every day and night can help prevent car theft.
• Do not leave valuables in sight within the car.
• Never leave your vehicle running — even while you’re close by. Car thieves are generally opportunistic.
• Ensure your vehicle is always locked.
• Choose secure parking locations whenever possible.
• Don’t leave keys lying on a table when you’re out to lunch or dinner.
• Buying a more modern car means that it won’t be as easy to steal, given the improved security technology over an older car.

Normal lending criteria apply. Fees and charges are payable. Terms and conditions apply.

Finance One means:
Fin One Pty Ltd – ABN: 80 139 719 903
Australian Credit Licence: 387528

Disclaimer: The information above is of a general nature only and does not consider your personal objectives, financial situation or particular needs. You should consider seeking independent advice regarding your legal, financial, taxation or other needs, to check how the information relates to your particular circumstances. We do not accept responsibility for any loss arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information. All loan applications are subject to normal lending criteria. Fees and charges payable. Terms and conditions apply.