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 is an increasingly popular method of theft. If your vehicle is stolen with keys inside, it is recommended that you always make a police report away.
Insurance policies differ in coverage, but generally covers cars even if you put the keys in. Personal items are usually covered by renters or homeowners insurance, not car insurance.
Theft
Many thieves target vehicles with keys inside. It's a simple strategy that works: a driver gets distracted and then the next thing they realize is that their car is gone. This is a cycle that needs to be broken and the best method to do this is to ensure that you take your keys with you when you leave your car regardless of where you park it.
A car is stolen every 32 seconds, and Americans lose an average of $8 billion every year to vehicle thefts. It's important to never leave your keys in your car unattended, especially when you live in a high-crime area.
The criminals have become adept at stealing vehicles with key fobs. This makes it more crucial to take additional security measures. Thieves could utilize relay attacks, signal jamming devices, or other technology to hack into the computer system of a vehicle and reprogram the key fob to make it a new one. They can also use an instrument called a "slim jim" to slip into the door's opening at the bottom of the window to manipulate the internal locking mechanisms or linkage.
Another method is hotwiring which involves taking out a vehicle's ignition cable and using an electric current to start the engine. This is a method that is popular among teens who do not have a full-time occupation and want to make an easy buck. However, it's also a way for criminals to steal vehicles to engage in joyriding or other criminal acts.
Dealerships can secure themselves by using vehicles tracking systems and performing regular audits of their key inventory and vehicle records to detect discrepancies and potential security breaches. They should also urge drivers to use a Faraday box or signal-blocking pouch when storing their keys in order to stop relay attacks and hacking.
If you happen to leave the car running and keys inside with ignition turned on the car, your insurance company will likely cover the cost if you have Comprehensive coverage. Your insurer could conduct credit and other checks before paying you.
Damage
Unlocking your car and leaving it running with keys inside is almost asking for it to be taken. A car thief who is opportunistic can take off in a matter seconds. Luckily, your insurance company could cover the theft if you have comprehensive coverage. Some policies don't cover cars with keys left inside. If you're concerned that your insurance won't cover this, it may be worthwhile switching to other auto insurance providers.
Some states have specific laws that dictate the way a person who owns a car is responsible for a vehicle theft that involves keys inside. It's important to know the rules as they vary from state to state. In the majority of cases, when an accident occurs while the driver is a thief the car, the driver will not be held responsible. This is because the thief not considered an insured driver. The car owner is also not liable for items stolen from a vehicle as they are covered by homeowners insurance or renters' insurance.
Reporting the car theft immediately to your insurance company as well as to the police is crucial. This will allow the process to accelerate and may increase your chances of reclaiming your property. It is important to be aware that multiple claims can impact your insurance rates. Discuss this with your agent to see how it affects your policy in the future.
If you wish to protect your car from being stolen when the keys are inside, secure it and close the windows each time you leave. A spare key should be stored in a secure location and not kept in the car. If you need to leave the vehicle running while you leave, be sure to shut off the ignition and put the vehicle in park prior to leaving.
It is best not to leave valuables such as laptops or MP3 players in your vehicle. If you have non-permanent attachments to your vehicle, like a USB player plugged into an auxiliary port, you may be able to make a separate claim for these items.
Insurance
A car is stolen every 32 seconds, and vehicle theft is a major expense for Americans over $8 billion per year. Most cars are covered under insurance policies in the event they are stolen. However there are a few circumstances where your policy will not pay to repair or replace your vehicle. If you leave your keys in your car and it's stolen, this is one of those situations. This isn't the most frequent scenario, but it does happen.
The answer to the question of whether your vehicle is covered in this case is contingent on the policy you have. Most policies that offer comprehensive insurance will cover the vehicle even if the vehicle is stolen and the keys are still inside. The amount of money that your insurance company will pay will depend on the limits of your policy and the deductible.
If you have only liability insurance, your car is more likely to be taken away if you leave keys in it. However, you'll only be compensated to a maximum of $10,000. If you have comprehensive insurance on your car however, you'll be able to make a claim for the full value of your vehicle and all the belongings inside it (minus the deductible).
One major caveat is that insurance companies could consider leaving keys in your vehicle as negligence. A lot of insurers require their clients to take reasonable care of their vehicles, which means ensuring they are locked when unattended and get more info not left running. If you reside in a region where car thefts are a common occurrence 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 check to determine if you are covered by insurance for your home. Renters and homeowners insurance usually provide personal property insurance, which can cover your belongings in case they are lost or stolen in the property or off it. You can save time and money by filing both claims at once when you have a home and auto insurance bundle.
Recovery
The best way to ensure that your car is retrieved after it has been taken with keys inside is to follow the police process. Make a report to the police department in your area, and make sure to provide them with the vehicle information they require, like the car's VIN as well as license plate number, its year model, make and model and the location from which it was taken, any distinctive characteristics (large holes or custom-designed add-ons, for example) and the time of day it was taken.
Once the police have filed a complaint and they begin looking for your vehicle. The police will employ various methods to locate your vehicle including interviewing witness and analyzing physical evidence and reviewing surveillance footage. During this time, it is important to remain calm and check with the police for updates.
If your vehicle is rescued and is subsequently inspected, it will be examined by an insurance claims adjuster to assess its condition. If the vehicle is in a safe driving condition and the damage occurred even though it was not your control, your comprehensive coverage will compensate you for the damage. The amount you'll be paid is based on the current market value of your car as well as the deductible on your auto insurance policy, and any additional coverages that you might have, such as homeowners or renters.
Another option that could differ according to the advice of the police or your insurance company is to inform your state's Department of Motor Vehicles about the stolen vehicle. This will add the details of your vehicle to a national database for stolen vehicles. This will make it difficult for criminals to register or sell an illegally stolen vehicle.
Contact your bank to stop the freezing of any debit or credit card that is found in your vehicle that has been stolen. This will stop fraud and identity theft. It's a good idea if you have renters or homeowners insurance coverage, to also notify the police of the theft. Items inside your car are typically covered under these policies. In some cases you may be able to combine claims of both policies to receive a larger payout for your stolen items.