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Vandalized and Victimized!
What To Do when Your Car's Been Stolen or Damaged
It's a sad fact of life— auto theft and vandalism are common occurrences nowadays. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported in 2003 that approximately 1.2 million vehicles were stolen, or attempted stolen in the U.S. According to the FBI, the total estimated cost of stolen vehicles in 2003 was over $8.5 billion!
Chances are at some point in your life, you or someone you know will be a victim of auto theft or vandalism. Learn how to protect your car by visiting our Auto Insurance Learning Center and reading the article Thick as Car Thieves: Auto Theft, Vandalism & Your Auto Insurance.
However, sometimes no matter how careful you are, vandalism or theft can happen. Here are some tips on how to file your auto insurance claim in the event your vehicle is stolen, vandalized, or property inside is removed.
If your car's been vandalized:
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- Leave your car exactly the way it was when you found it. Any effort you make to clean up your vehicle could erase valuable evidence for the investigation, and may delay the resolution of your auto insurance claim.
- Notify the police immediately, so they can issue a police report documenting the damage. This also helps local authorities keep track of vandalism in a given area, which helps them do more to protect you and your community in the future.
- It's always a good idea to document your vehicle's damage. If you have a camera handy, use it to take photos of the damage. However, never tamper with the investigation or put yourself in danger to document the damage. Your safety is more important than your vehicle or your auto insurance claim.
- If you're an Esurance policyholder, as soon as possible after contacting the police, report the incident by using our online auto insurance claims feature or by calling 1-800-ESURANCE (1-800-378-7262). We're here to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
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If your car's been stolen:
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- Contact the police immediately so they can file a report and possibly locate your vehicle.
- Report the incident to your auto insurance company. With Esurance you can report the claim online or over the phone. Our claims representatives are available 24/7 to handle and service your auto insurance claim.
- If Esurance is your auto insurance provider, our claims representatives will immediately start the process of getting you back on the road. Our claims representatives can also help you obtain a rental car, if that's included in your auto insurance coverage.
- Items stolen from your car may not be covered by your auto insurance coverage. However, your renters or homeowners insurance often covers such losses. Check all your insurance policies for coverage details so that you know whom to call if a theft occurs.
- Immediately file a report with the police detailing the belongings that were stolen from your vehicle.
- Report the incident to your auto insurance company or the company you use for your homeowners or renters insurance.
- Be prepared to provide your claims representative with receipts and detailed descriptions of the stolen goods. Your preparation will help speed up the claims process.
- Remember that it's always best to avoid keeping valuables in your car.
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For more information on vehicle safety and other auto insurance-related topics, visit Esurance's Auto Insurance Learning Center. |
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