Does Auto Insurance Cover a Stolen Car?
Your insurance company should cover a stolen car if you have comprehensive auto insurance.
Comprehensive coverage tends to be relatively cheap, and covers car theft, stolen car parts and any damage from theft. More than 850,000 vehicles were stolen in 2024. If your car goes missing, it’s a good idea to call the cops and start an insurance claim quickly.
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Does car insurance cover theft and vandalism?
Yes, you’re covered for any theft or vandalism of your car if you have comprehensive car insurance.
Comprehensive insurance covers a car that's been stolen and not recovered, or stolen and recovered but damaged. It pays to replace your car or fix any damages from a theft, including a broken window, damaged lock or stolen keys.
If a thief took your car for a joy ride and crashed it, comprehensive car insurance covers that too. It also includes coverage for theft of car parts — anything that was permanently installed , including the catalytic converter, sound system and other commonly-stolen parts.
But coverage is limited to the car itself. It does not cover things that were in your car, like your laptop, dashcam or phone.
Instead, you could make a homeowners or renters insurance claim to replace those stolen things, even if your car wasn't parked at home during the theft.
What kind of theft does comprehensive insurance cover?
If you don't have comprehensive insurance, you won't be covered if your car is stolen. Other types of car insurance, like liability and collision coverage, don't pay for a stolen car.
If you have a car loan, you almost assuredly have comprehensive car insurance. Lenders typically require it. If you bought your car outright or paid it off, you may not have comprehensive coverage. No state requires you to have it.
How much does comprehensive insurance cost? Comprehensive car insurance tends to be cheap. You can get it without having collision insurance, which can be costly.
What to do when your car is stolen
It's a scary moment to walk out and find your car missing. But before you call the police, it’s a good idea to rule out some other things that could have happened to it.
- Could your car have been towed?
- Did someone else with a key borrow it?
- Could it have been repossessed if you were behind on payments?
As soon as you realize your car has been stolen, contact the police.
Making a police report and insurance claim as soon as possible gives you the best chance of getting your car back and having a smooth claim process.
Once you've filed a police report, you can then begin to file an insurance claim.
1. File a police report
It's best to file a police report within 24 hours of the theft. The faster the police can begin searching, the more likely they are to find it. You'll also be able to start the claim process sooner, potentially getting a payout more quickly.
The police will ask for info about your car to help them find it. Be thorough and honest. If you don’t know or remember, you can find some of what you need on your car’s insurance paperwork, loan paperwork and title.
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- License plate number
- Year, make, model and color of the car
- Place and estimated time of the theft
- Personal property inside the car when it was stolen
- Identifying marks on the car, such as bumper stickers or dents
- Whether your car has an installed GPS tracker
2. File an insurance claim
Your auto insurance company will need as much info as possible to evaluate your insurance claim and decide its payout offer.
Most insurance companies will ask for information when you submit a claim, including:
- The location of all keys to the vehicle before and after the theft
- Names and contact information of everyone who had access to the vehicle
- Description of your vehicle, including mileage, service records and upgrades
- Contact information for your auto lender if you have one
- Insurance policy account number
If you're leasing or financing your vehicle, it’s a good idea to notify the lender. You can ask to pause payments while your car is missing.
How much will my stolen car payout be?
The maximum amount you'll be paid is what's called the actual cash value of your car, minus your insurance deductible.
If the car is recovered with minor damage, you'll receive enough to only pay for the repairs, minus the deductible.
Most insurance companies will wait a few weeks before completing your claim payout to see if your stolen car is recovered.
What is "actual cash value"?
The actual cash value, or ACV, is what your car is worth at the moment.
To come up with a valuation, the insurance adjuster will consider your car's make and model, age, accident history, Kelley Blue Book value and other details.
The ACV doesn’t take into account what you may owe on your car loan. You may owe more than what your car is worth.
Other car insurance coverage that could help with a stolen car:
- Gap insurance covers the difference between your car's value and how much you have left on your loan.
- New car replacement coverage pays to completely replace a new car within the first few years after you buy it.
- Rental car reimbursement coverage pays for you to rent a vehicle for a set amount of days after your car is stolen and you've filed a claim.
How to dispute a stolen car insurance claim offer
It's the insurance adjuster's job to provide a fair valuation for your car, but it might be lower than you thought. Research the value of your vehicle so you know whether you're getting a decent offer. You can use:
- Kelley Blue Book
- Edmunds
- National Automobile Dealers Association
To get an accurate value of your car, factor in the mileage, general condition and accident history. You can also look at dealership websites to see how much similar cars are selling for.
If you feel the price your insurance company comes to is unfair, you can appeal your claim offer and support your position with solid research. If you've made upgrades to your car and can prove it with receipts and photos, the insurance company might adjust its valuation.
If your insurance company finds evidence showing you deliberately allowed your car to be stolen to receive a payout, your claim will very likely be denied. That's called insurance fraud, and not only will your claim be denied, but you may face criminal charges.
Stolen car claim payout example
Say you bought a new 2025 Toyota Camry for $28,700 and drove it for one year, putting 12,000 miles total on the car.
But last week, your car was stolen from outside your apartment with your iPad in the backseat. You filed a police report and notified your insurance company right away. The insurance adjuster set the ACV of the car at $15,000. As part of your policy, you have a $500 deductible that you must pay before coverage kicks in. In total, the insurance company cuts you a check for $14,500.
2025 Toyota Camry | Value |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $28,700 |
|
Adjuster's designated ACV | $15,000 |
| Insurance deductible | $500 |
| Final claim payout | $14,500 |
Even though your car insurance is bundled with renters insurance, you would have to file a separate claim for your iPad. Your renters insurance policy is also subject to a $500 deductible. Your tablet is a year old and worth less than the deductible, so it’s smarter to replace your tablet with your own money.
What happens if my stolen car is found?
If your car is found in perfect condition, then you will get your car back. If your car is damaged, then your comprehensive coverage will pay for the cost of repairs, minus your deductible.
One exception is when the repair costs are higher than what the car is worth. If that's the case, the car is called a total loss and your insurance will pay you the ACV, minus any deductible.
If your vehicle is recovered after your insurance company has paid your claim, then your insurance company will likely become the car’s owner. However, if you haven't bought a replacement car, you might get your old one back and have to return the money.
This is handled on a case-by-case basis with your insurance company.
Frequently asked questions
Does car insurance cover theft if I leave the engine on?
Yes. Comprehensive coverage generally pays to replace your car if it's stolen, even if you leave the engine on.
Does insurance cover my stolen car if I left the keys inside?
Yes, as long as you have comprehensive coverage on your car, you're covered no matter what the circumstances of the theft are. That includes situations where you walked away with the door unlocked or even left the car running.
What kinds of car insurance cover theft?
The only type of car insurance coverage that will pay for a stolen car is comprehensive. Except for crashes, it covers most other causes of damage to your car, including vandalism, fire, hail and water damage.
Does car insurance cover items left in my car?
No type of car insurance will cover stolen items that were in your car. But most home and renters insurance policies will likely cover them.
Does car insurance cover a stolen catalytic converter?
Yes, if you carry comprehensive coverage on your car, you should be covered for the theft of your catalytic converter. If you have only the minimum insurance on your car, it will not be covered, and you’ll need to pay for the replacement.
Sources
ValuePenguin looked at the webpages of several insurance companies, industry organizations and government bureaus, including the National Crime Insurance Bureau, Liberty Mutual, Kelly Blue Book and Progressive.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
