Car theft – what to do? Which insurance applies? Effective theft protection

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Car stolen, what to do?

Theft around the car is becoming more and more frequent. Recently, there have been several catalytic converter thefts and license plates are also increasingly being stolen. Anyone can become a victim of car theft. If this happens, it is important to know exactly what to do. The best thing to do is to follow these steps:

 

1. Car stolen or towed?

The shock is great when you have parked the car and do not find it again when you come back. But first you have to stay calm and find out whether there has been a theft or whether the car has been towed. To find out, a call to the police is necessary.

2. Report car theft to the police

If you are sure that you have not parked the car incorrectly and generally rules out towing, the police are still the next point of contact. In this case, you should report the theft as soon as possible.

A theft report must be filed in writing. The vehicle registration document is required for this, as well as the identity card. Only provide information that you know for sure, i.e. no estimates of the mileage, etc. It is also important that you have a copy of the report handed over to you, because you will need it for the insurance, among other things.

3. What was stolen from the car?

If you have left your bag with wallet, credit cards and mobile phone in the car, then you should have everything blocked as soon as possible. Otherwise, the thief could harm you additionally.

4. Contact car theft insurance company

Car theft is only covered by comprehensive insurance. So if you have at least partial comprehensive insurance, you should report the theft to the used car insurance company as soon as possible. This should be done in writing and should not take longer than a week. To be on the safe side, you can announce in advance by phone that a written report will follow.

5. Is it a leased vehicle or is it financed?

If you had a leased vehicle or the car is financed, it is practically not your property. Accordingly, the owner – i.e. the leasing company or the bank – must be informed.

6. Deregister the car

So that you don't have to continue paying vehicle tax and insurance premiums, the car should be deregistered no later than 14 days after the theft. For this purpose, the theft report, the vehicle registration certificate and the identity card are required.

 

Car Theft Insurance – When & How Much Does It Pay?

As already mentioned, your insurance pays a fee through no fault of your own (!) Car theft only if you have partial or fully comprehensive insurance. However, anyone who has demonstrably parked their vehicle with open windows or completely unlocked could get into trouble.

Theft with partial casco

If you have reported a car theft to your partial casco, the following steps will be taken:

• Case under review
• If you find the car within four weeks, you have to take it back – no money from insurance
• Once the four weeks are over, the car you find goes to the insurance company – you have received money
• The car is not found: damage is settled. You get the replacement value. For new cars up to 12 months, the full price will be refunded.

How long does it take to settle a stolen car?

As mentioned above, the insurance company has about one month to review the case and settle the claim at the end.

When does insurance not pay out for a stolen car?

If you have enabled or facilitated the theft through your own culpable behavior, then your insurance will not pay. These include, for example, if you left the car window open, or if the car was not locked at all.

How much does the insurance company pay if the car is stolen?

You will be paid the replacement value of the car. For a new car that is not older than 12 months, you will be refunded the full price.

Theft with fully comprehensive insurance

If you have taken out fully comprehensive insurance, then partial comprehensive insurance is included and is responsible for settling. In the event of car theft, partial comprehensive insurance would be sufficient for you, but fully comprehensive insurance does not change here.

Theft from the car, does household insurance pay?

All damage to the car in connection with the theft, such as smashed windows, is covered by partial casco. However, if mobile items have been stolen from your car, such as a smartphone, laptop or other valuables, then you will have to contact your household insurance company for claims settlement.

Car theft abroad

The procedure for car theft abroad is the same as in Germany. It is essential to inform the police and file a theft report. If you are not able to read the documents you are supposed to sign, then call in an interpreter. Don't sign anything you can't read!

After that, the insurance company must be informed. During this phone call, you can also ask whether a free return is included in your contract. After all, you have to come home again.

 

Car theft protection for the car

To protect yourself from car theft, there are a few things you can do. Of course, this is not 100 percent protection either, but if you have done everything, at least your insurance company will not cause any problems in the end.

Securing your car against theft: rules for parking and leaving the vehicle

Basically, the following things must always be observed:

• If possible, do not park expensive vehicles on the street or openly.
• Watch out for unknown vehicles or people who often sneak through the street.
• People who photograph vehicles are often suspicious.
• Always remove the ignition key, even if you are away for a short time.
• Always lock the steering wheel lock.
• When locking with a remote key, make sure that it is really locked.
• Never leave keys unattended (e.g. in jackets at cloakrooms).
• If you lose the key, be sure to drive to the workshop and have the key locked.
• Don't store car keys too obviously, even at home.

A modern problem is the so-called keyless comfort system. It is possible for professional car thieves to interfere with or change the signal and thus open the car. Accordingly, you should also consider the following:

• Never leave keys near the front door – radio signal should be shielded by appropriate key covers.
• When getting off, watch out for people with briefcases in the immediate vicinity. These could be car thieves with the appropriate equipment.
• Use wireless sleeves, both on the go and at home.

By the way: A dash cam does not protect against theft, but it can help to clarify the question of guilt in an accident. A Safe Lock system could also help, but then it becomes difficult if you have the car key locked in the car.

Mechanical anti-theft devices

In addition to the general protective measures mentioned above, there are also various mechanical safeguards against vehicle theft:

Rim Lock

If you have mounted expensive rims, you should specifically secure them against theft. A rim lock is a good idea, these are special wheel locking nuts or bolts that cannot be removed with normal tools.

Steering wheel lock

There are locks that can be attached to the steering wheel in addition to the normal steering wheel lock. This has a visual deterrent effect for potential thieves and prevents the steering wheel from turning.

Wheel clamp

Similar to the steering wheel lock, a parking claw is visually a clear deterrent signal. A steel bracket is attached to the front wheel so that the vehicle cannot be moved. This method is particularly suitable if the vehicle is parked for a longer period of time.

Electronic anti-theft devices

If you prefer to use electronic fuses or want to use them additionally, you can choose between alarm systems and tracking systems.

Alarm

As soon as the door or bonnet is opened, the alarm system should sound with a loud noise. The anti-theft alarm system also triggers if the car is moved without authorisation – which can also be difficult when towing – or if someone reaches into the interior. Many manufacturers already offer alarm systems with contact and interior monitoring at the factory.

Tracking systems

If the car has been stolen despite all measures, you can at least find it again with a tracking system. There are now a wide variety of providers here, find out in advance what exactly you want for functions. However, a GPS tracker for the car must be well hidden so that thieves cannot find it and turn it off.

Immobilization

Immobilisation devices are installed as standard in modern cars. To circumvent these, car thieves resort to various tricks. Therefore, be careful if you offer a test drive or if you own a classic car - an immobilizer is not always available here.

• Accompany potential buyers on a test drive - otherwise you may never see the car again.
• Check keys for functions, because you may get a fake key back.
• If necessary, retrofit your classic car with mechanical fuses.

 

The most stolen cars

Would you have thought that? The most stolen cars in Germany in 2023 were the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Lexus NX and the Lexus UX. The Land Rover Range Rover Sport (2nd generation) and the Kia Stinger (1st generation) were also frequently victims of thieves. Overall, it can be said that it is mainly luxury off-road vehicles that are deliberately stolen.

Within Germany, it can also be seen that there are differences from state to state. Most motor vehicle thefts in 2023 were in Berlin and Hamburg, while there were rather few in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.