Car theft is on the rise.5 steps if your car is stolen

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Taking these steps will increase your chances of keeping your car in good condition.

Car theft is a growing problem, with over 930,000 cars stolen in the United States last year. If you become one of those victims, it can be a devastating experience. Here are five steps you can take if your car is stolen.

If your car is stolen, the first thing you should do is call the police immediately and file a report. This not only allows them to locate your vehicle more quickly, but it can also provide valuable evidence for subsequent insurance claims and criminal proceedings. Make, model, VIN number and license plate. Be sure to provide the police with all relevant information about the vehicle, including the number.

After notifying the police about your car being stolen, contact your car insurance company as soon as possible to start the claim process. Depending on your insurance coverage and the type of theft (forcible theft or tampering), some or all of the costs associated with replacing or recovering your vehicle may be covered.

If you are in the process of paying off your car loan or leasing your vehicle, contact your lien, lender, or renter as soon as possible to let them know what happened. If you are financing the purchase of a car, find out what steps you need to take as all insurance payments are made to the lender. Link insurance companies with lenders to expedite the claims process.

Contact your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to file a report. It is different from reporting to the police. The DMV can update their records accordingly to show that the plate was lost or stolen. You can also cancel your registration, thus avoiding fees associated with renewals and future required safety checks.

5. Change the locking system

If you are lucky enough to recover your car, it is important to replace the locking system that was installed prior to the theft. Update your car with a keyless entry system, change door locks, or add security devices like steering wheel locks. You can prevent future thefts by investing in these extra precautions!

Car theft is a serious problem that affects nearly one million people each year. It’s important to be prepared before anything happens. Make sure you have the right car insurance and take extra precautions, such as installing additional security features in your vehicle. However, in the event of an incident such as vehicle theft, it is imperative that you act quickly by following these five steps. This increases the chances of recovery while minimizing the negative financial impact.