Car Theft and Insurance
If your car is stolen, contact the police immediately and then your insurance company. If there are signs of forced entry and your car isn’t returned within 30 days, you’ll often receive compensation under limited comprehensive or all-risk insurance, but not under liability-only insurance.
Report a car theft immediately through AlpinaReport a car theft
Has your car been stolen? If so, take action right away. First, report the car theft to the police—either at the station or online. To do so, the police will need the following information from you.
Make sure you have the following on hand:
license plate and registration certificate
make and model of your car
current market value of your car
mileage
location where the car was stolen
special features of the car
There's no need to call 112 unless you catch the perpetrator(s) in the act. In that case, the police can come right away to arrest them.
No Longer Liable for Auto Insurance After Filing a Claim
The police will report to the RDW that your car has been stolen. As long as your car is stolen, you are not liable for the obligations associated with the car. From that moment on, you will no longer have to pay motor vehicle tax . You are also no longer liable for any damage caused by the vehicle.
Car theft without signs of forced entry
Theft from your car without signs of forced entry is not covered by your auto insurance. Always file a police report. That way, the police can track down the perpetrator, and you can seek compensation from him or her for the damage.
Report Your Car as Stolen
Have you filed a police report? If so, report your car as stolen to the Vehicle Crime Insurance Bureau (VBV). That way, your car will also be registered as stolen nationwide, increasing the chances that someone will find it.
Temporarily suspend your insurance
After filing the report, notify your insurer or insurance agent that you have been the victim of a car theft. The insurer will then deregister your license plate with the RDW and suspend your auto insurance. Suspension means that your insurance is temporarily halted. You will not have to pay any premiums for the time being.
Theft Coverage
If you have liability-only coverage, you are not covered for damage resulting from theft. With limited comprehensive coverage or comprehensive (all-risk) coverage, you are often covered for this. Want to know exactly how much you’re covered for? Check the policy details of your auto insurance.
Third-Party Liability (Mandatory)
- Damage to others
- Theft, joyriding, and missing persons
- Window damage
- Damage caused by fire or natural disasters
- Damage to one's own vehicle caused by a collision
Limited casco
- Damage to others
- Theft, joyriding, and missing persons
- Window damage
- Damage caused by fire or natural disasters
- Damage to one's own vehicle caused by a collision
All Risk (Liability + Comprehensive)
- Damage to others
- Theft, joyriding, and missing persons
- Window damage
- Damage caused by fire or natural disasters
- Damage to one's own vehicle caused by a collision
Reimbursement Amounts and Policies
If your car isn't found within 30 days, the insurance company will pay out a certain amount. This amount depends on your coverage.
Do you have limited comprehensive coverage or comprehensive coverage? If so, there are a few options:
1. New Value Rule:
You'll receive an amount that will allow you to buy the same car new.
You'll receive the amount you paid for your used car.
3. Equivalent car policy:
You'll receive a sum of money to buy a car of equivalent value.
4. Fair Value Accounting:
You will be paid the current value of the stolen car.
Reimbursement for items in your car
Were there any items in the car at the time of the theft? For example, a child safety seat or a phone mount? Unfortunately, these items are often not covered unless you have supplemental auto insurance or off-premises coverage through your home contents insurance.
What if your car is stolen while you're on vacation? In that case, your belongings in the car are often covered by your travel insurance.
To be on the safe side, check the terms and conditions of your insurance policy.
Increase your chances of receiving reimbursement from your insurer
Did you fail to lock the car properly? Was the car key not stored securely, or did you fail to meet other security requirements set by the insurer? If so, the insurer may refuse to pay a claim.
Increase your chances of receiving insurance reimbursement by doing the following:
Try to prove the theft using any security camera footage that may have captured the break-in.
Check to see if there have been other car break-ins in the neighborhood. If there is a lot of crime in the neighborhood, the police can take additional measures and mobilize the community to limit and prevent future break-ins.
If your car is found
If your car is found within 30 days and you can drive it again, the police will notify the RDW.
Please note! From that moment on, you’ll be required to have insurance again. Has your auto insurance coverage been suspended? Notify the insurer that your car has been recovered and have the insurance reinstated.
Have you already received a payment from the insurance company, and is your car later found? If so, you must repay that amount.
5 Tips to Prevent Car Theft
How can you prevent your car from being stolen? Of course, it’s never entirely preventable. But you can make it as difficult as possible for thieves or burglars. Secure your car and follow the tips below:
- Park your car in a clearly visible and well-lit area.
- Never leave valuables such as a smartphone, camera, (laptop) bag, suitcase, car documents, cash, or credit cards in the car.
- Show that there are no valuables in your car by opening the glove compartment.
- Do not store items under your seat.
- Always lock your car, even if you're only gone for a moment.
Preventing Keyless Car Theft (Keyless Entry)
Cars without a key are particularly vulnerable to theft. For owners of cars with keyless entry, we have some additional tips to help protect your car from theft:
- Be sure to keep the key in a steel box or wrapped in aluminum foil.
- Do not keep the key within 6 meters of an exterior wall. This is because the key’s signal has a range of up to 6 meters. Within this 6-meter range, the signal can be intercepted by criminals.
- Turn off the keyless entry system or have it deactivated at your auto repair shop. You can often disable the system in your car's settings.
- Make sure you have good car insurance.
Installing an Alarm System in Your Car
You can reduce the risk of break-ins and theft by installing an car alarm system. Security systems are classified into 5 classes, ranging from basic (Class 1 alarm) to very comprehensive (Class 5 alarm).
Since 1998, all cars manufactured in Europe have come standard with a basic security system. For cars that are easier to steal—such as convertibles and luxury cars—auto insurers require additional security measures.
Alarm Certificate
Does your car's security system fall under one of these alarm classes? If so, you will receive a certificate for it. Your alarm certificate is valid for 3 years. So be sure to have your car alarm re-inspected before the certificate expires.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Theft
Am I covered by liability insurance if my car is stolen?
No, third-party liability insurance does not cover car theft. Only with limited comprehensive or comprehensive (all-risk) insurance will you typically receive compensation in the event of theft, provided there are signs of forced entry. If the car is not recovered within 30 days, the insurer will pay out a certain amount depending on your coverage.
When does the insurance pay out in the event of a car theft?
Only with limited comprehensive or comprehensive (all-risk) insurance will you typically receive compensation in the event of theft, provided there are signs of forced entry. If the car is not recovered within 30 days, the insurer will pay out a certain amount depending on your coverage. The amount of the compensation depends on your coverage: under a replacement value policy, you’ll receive the replacement value; under a purchase price policy, the purchase price of your used car; and under a current market value policy, the current market value of the car.
Will items from my car also be covered if they're stolen?
Items from your car are generally not covered by your auto insurance. Compensation is only possible if you have supplemental coverage, such as off-premises coverage through your home contents insurance or travel insurance (in the event of car theft while on vacation). Be sure to check the policy terms and conditions.
What happens if my stolen car is later recovered?
If your car is recovered within 30 days, you must report this to your insurer and reactivate your auto insurance. If a claim payment has already been made and the car is subsequently recovered, you must repay the amount paid to the insurer.
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