If Your Car Was Stolen With Keys Inside, Follow the Police Process
As the colder weather pushes us into "Puffing Season", leaving cars running with keys inside has become an increasingly popular method of theft. If your car is taken with keys inside, you must always file a police report right immediately.
The policies of insurance vary but generally, comprehensive coverage protects cars even if keys are left inside. Personal items are usually covered by renters or homeowners insurance, not car insurance.
Theft
Many thieves of cars will target a vehicle with the keys inside. It's a simple strategy that works. Drivers get distracted and their car is gone the next thing they know. It's a cycle that must be broken, and the best method to break it is to ensure that you keep your keys with you when you leave your vehicle regardless of where you park.
A car is stolen every 32 seconds and Americans lose an average of $8 billion every year to vehicle thefts. It's crucial to never leave the keys in your car unattended especially when you reside in a high-crime zone.
The criminals have become clever at stealing vehicles that have key fobs. This makes it more crucial to take additional security measures. The thieves could employ relay attacks signal jamming, signal jamming, or other technology to hack the system of a vehicle and reprogram the key fob. They can also employ an "slim jim", a tool that fits into the door's cavity near the window's base, to alter the locking mechanisms or links.
Another method is hotwiring, which involves taking out a vehicle's ignition cable and using an electric current to start the engine. It's a trick that's popular among teenagers who do not have a full-time occupation and want to make an easy buck. It's also a method criminals can use stolen vehicles for joyriding, or other criminal acts.
Dealerships can protect themselves by utilizing vehicles tracking systems and performing regular audits of their key inventory and vehicle records to detect any discrepancies or potential breaches in security. They should also encourage drivers use a Faraday box or signal-blocking pouch when storing their keys as it can help stop relay attacks and hacking.
If you do happen to leave your car running with keys inside, your insurance provider likely will compensate you for the loss as long as you have Comprehensive coverage. Your insurer could conduct credit and other checks before making a payment.
Damage
It's like asking for your car to be stolen if you leave it running or unlocked with keys in the car. An opportunistic car thief can drive away in a matter seconds. If you have comprehensive insurance the insurer could take care of the theft. Some policies do not cover cars with keys that are left inside. If you're worried that your policy will not cover this, you should consider a new auto insurance provider.
Certain states have specific laws that govern how a car owner is accountable for a car theft involving keys inside. It's important to know the rules, since they differ from state to state. In the majority of cases, the owner of the vehicle is not accountable for any accidents that occur when the thief is driving. The thief is not covered by insurance. The car owner also is not held liable for the items stolen from the vehicle, since they are typically covered by homeowners or renters insurance.
Reporting the car theft immediately to your insurance provider and to the police is crucial. This will speed up the process and increase your chances of recovering property. Be aware that filing multiple claims may affect your insurance rates. Discuss this with your agent in order to find out what impact it could have on your policy in the future.
If you wish to protect your vehicle from being taken when the keys are inside, lock it and close the windows every time you leave. A spare key must be kept in a safe location and not kept in the car. If you have to leave the vehicle running, be sure to place it in park, and then turn off the ignition before you leave.
It is not advisable to keep valuables such as laptops or MP3 players in your vehicle. You could be able to make a separate claim if you have added non-permanent items to your car, such as an USB device that is connected to the an auxiliary port.
Insurance
A car is stolen every 32 seconds, and car theft is a major expense for Americans more than $8 billion each year. Luckily, the majority of vehicles are insured by insurance policies in the event that they are stolen. In certain situations your insurance policy might not cover the cost of replacing or repairing your car. If you have keys locked in your car, and it's stolen, this is one of those situations. This isn't the most common situation however, it can happen.
Your policy will determine whether your car is covered in this scenario. The majority of policies that offer are stolen car keys covered by insurance comprehensive coverage will cover the loss of a car, even if the keys are in the. The amount your insurance company will pay will depend on the limits of your policy and deductible.
If you have a liability-only insurance policy, your car will likely be taken if the keys are in it, but you'll only get the amount of $10,000 or so. If you have comprehensive insurance on your vehicle however, you'll be able to submit a claim for full value of your vehicle and all the items within it (minus the deductible).
There is a caveat that comes with this situation: Insurance companies might view leaving your key in your car as a case of negligence. Many insurers expect their customers to take reasonable steps to safeguard their vehicles. This includes locking them when they are not in use and ensuring they are not running. If you live in a location where car thefts are common and your insurance company may increase your premium.
There are other ways to safeguard your vehicle from theft, by installing an anti-theft system or other security features. You can also determine whether you have insurance for your property in place. Both homeowners and renters insurance usually provide personal property coverage that will cover your possessions in the event that they are stolen or lost within or off the premises. If you have a bundle of your property and auto insurance policies it is possible to file both claims together to save time and money.
Recovery
Follow the police procedure for recovering your car after it has been stolen and keys hidden inside. Report the theft to your local police department. Be sure to provide them all the details they need about the car, including the VIN license plate, year the year, make, model, location, and any distinctive features.
After filing a police report the police, they'll begin looking for your car. The police will employ various methods to locate your vehicle such as interviewing witnesses and analyzing evidence physical and reviewing surveillance footage. During this time, it is vital to remain patient and keep in touch with the police regularly for updates.
In the event that your vehicle is rescued in the event of a collision, it could need to be examined by an insurance claims adjuster to determine its condition. If it's found to be in drivable condition and the damage was caused in a manner that was not your control the amount you are paid for it under your comprehensive insurance. The amount you receive will depend on the value of your vehicle and its current market value, your insurance deductible and any other additional coverages you may have such as renters or homeowners.
Notifying the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state of residence about the stolen vehicle is an additional step that can differ based on the advice of the police or insurance company advises. This will add the information of your vehicle into a national database for stolen vehicles. This will make it harder for criminals in the future to sell or register the stolen vehicle illegally.
Contact the bank to block any credit or debit card found in your vehicle that was stolen. This will prevent fraudulent charges and identity theft. It's a good idea, when you have renters or homeowners insurance coverage, to also declare the theft. Cars and other items are usually covered by these policies. In certain cases you may be able to combine the claims from both policies in order to get a bigger payout for your stolen items.