Does Auto Insurance Cover Theft? (And How To Handle Claims)

Does auto insurance cover theft? This is a question that car owners should ask their agents before signing up for any auto insurance policy.

Picture the following scenario: You leave home for an appointment with a friend or a client (Up to you).

You park your vehicle safely, and walk to your meeting after locking your vehicle as you normally do.

Few hours later, you return to you vehicle and notice that your side windows were broken, and your personal belongings were stolen.

It’s an unfortunate experience for sure, but you rely on your car insurance to help you cope with this incident.

But, does auto insurance cover theft?

It would be ideal to give you a straightforward answer but the fact is that it all depends on your policy.

For example, if you have comprehensive coverage on your policy, you’ll be cover for the damages on your vehicle as a result of a car theft.

Those damages include: broken windows, doors, ignition systems, and locks.

Now, if your car was stolen, your comprehensive coverage will cover the value of your vehicle.

SEE ALSO: 5 Kinds Of Auto Insurance Coverages (And How To Handle Them)

Does auto insurance cover stolen items?

Not really. By description, comprehensive coverage will only cover those features and elements that are part or were pre-installed on your vehicle.

So if you left any items like wallet, phone, or tablets inside your car, your auto insurance company won’t take that into consideration.

However, you could always refer to your home insurance or any other insurance company you signed up with.

Does comprehensive auto insurance cover vandalism?

Sure you could file a claim for vandalism. It all depends on how well you follow the claim procedures.

If your vehicle was vandalized, consider the following steps:

• Call the police right away. It’s a vital step since your auto insurance company will require a police report to use it a proof of evidence.
• Gather information of the incident and take note of all the damages. Use your phone to take some pictures, which is going to help you keep record of everything that happened during the incident.
• Contact your auto insurance once you get the police report and other supporting documents for your own security.

The sooner you keep in touch with your insurer, the better for your claim.

Auto insurance companies can guide you through the next steps and outline what you need to do next.

Let them help you handle your case and try to learn more about your policy to find out whether you are covered.

SEE ALSO: How To File Auto Insurance Claims After A Car Accident