Discovering Your Stolen Car: 10 Practical Methods
In the distressing scenario of a car theft, you may be pondering “How can I locate my stolen vehicle?” Fear not! This guide unpacks every potential strategy for tracking a stolen car and retrieving your lost vehicle, complete with detailed instructions.
1. Lodge a Police Report for Your Stolen Car
If your car is stolen, particularly with a child, pet, or any other valuable inside, it’s imperative to contact the police immediately. As you file a police report, be prepared to share comprehensive details about your missing vehicle, generally encompassing:
- The license plate (this can significantly aid the police in locating your stolen car)
- The VIN
- Your personal identification
- Your car’s make, model, and color
- The last known location of your car
- Any car tracking device you have installed, such as LoJack or OnStar
Retain a copy of the report for subsequent insurance claims. Offering an exhaustive amount of detail improves the likelihood of the police aiding you in reclaiming your missing vehicle.
Note: If your vehicle has been stolen and subsequently impounded by the police (this can occur if they encounter your car while investigating traffic violations), be sure to bring your ID card, driving license, and other documents demonstrating vehicle ownership. Adequate proof expedites the process of reclaiming your stolen car.
2. Track Stolen Car with VIN Number
When your car is stolen, you can locate your stolen vehicle with the VIN number. A vehicle identification number (VIN) is a unique code used by vehicle industry to identify individual motor vehicles, towed vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, etc. You can track a stolen car online with the vehicle identification number.
The VIN serves dual purposes. Not only does it assist in checking the whereabouts of your lost vehicle, but it’s also a vital tool in executing a stolen car search. Here’s how you can leverage your VIN to find your stolen car:
- Firstly, head over to AutoCheck to procure a vehicle history report. This report typically costs between $30 and $40.
- In the vehicle history report search screen, enter your unique vehicle identification number as well as your credit card details. What follows is a detailed, chronological history of the locations where your car was registered, titled, and serviced. The final known registration or service location is likely to be the most recent location of your car, thus enabling you to narrow down your search radius considerably. With this approach, you can expedite the process of regaining your stolen car.
- Finally, engage the police in your search. Armed with the information you provide, they can assist in tracking down your stolen vehicle.
3. Use GPS to Locate Your Stolen Vehicle
Should you have the foresight to have equipped your car with a GPS tracking system, such as OnStar or LoJack, you’ve significantly simplified the process of recovering your stolen vehicle. In fact, the company behind your tracking system can not only pinpoint the location of your stolen car but also disable it.
The place of theft, be it a dealership, driveway, parking garage, valet service, or mechanic shop, makes no difference. Armed with GPS, you can swiftly track your vehicle, no matter where it’s been stolen from.
4. Utilize Security Camera Footage to Locate Your Stolen Vehicle
In the event of a car theft, turning to your security footage should be one of your earliest responses. For optimal clarity, consider a 4K security camera. Video recordings captured by 4K security cameras can be a powerful tool in tracking down your stolen vehicle. You might want to explore the following options:
- Inspect the security camera footage from your garage or home. Detailed video recordings can potentially reveal the thief’s face clearly, and provide an insight into their escape route. Possessing such evidence significantly uplifts the odds of locating your stolen car.
- Review your community’s security camera footage, granted permission. If your vehicle was stolen from a communal area such as a public driveway, local security camera systems may have recorded the path of your stolen car. For instance, the owner of a stolen Chevrolet Silverado successfully retrieved his car by examining a local primary school’s security camera systems.
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5. Engage with Your Insurance Provider
In the unfortunate event of your car being stolen, one of your initial calls should be to your insurance provider. If you are covered under a comprehensive insurance policy at the time of theft, you can qualify for a ‘car stolen’ insurance payout.
If you manage to locate your stolen car after having claimed the insurance, remember to notify your insurance company immediately. Understand that your recovered vehicle is now the property of the insurer. However, if you wish to regain ownership, you have the option of repurchasing the car from the company.
6. Notify Your Leasing Company in the Case of a Stolen Rental
In case the stolen vehicle was a rental, it’s crucial that the leasing company is notified as soon as you discover its absence. Enlighten them about the police report you’ve made and request the specific identification numbers and tags of the car.
It’s also vital to acquire an incident form from the rental company and acquaint yourself with their contract terms about the liability insurance you’ve opted for. If you had wisely chosen full coverage from the leasing company, rest assured you’d be covered for the theft, provided you adhered to the contract at the time of the incident.
7. Engage Cab Companies in Your Stolen Car Search
Cab drivers can be a unique asset in locating your stolen vehicles. Regardless of the circumstances, reaching out to all cab companies within the vicinity of the theft does boost your chances of finding your stolen car.
Bear in mind that taxi drivers substantially outnumber law enforcement officers in the area, thereby augmenting the likelihood of spotting your missing vehicle. As an added measure, consider offering a reward, say $100, to the taxi driver who assists in tracking down your stolen car. Such a reward serves as a persuasive motivation for a broader spectrum of individuals to participate in your search, thereby amplifying the prospect of retrieving your stolen car.
8. Leverage Your City’s Transportation Website for Parking Violations After Vehicle Theft
Internet can come to your rescue in the hunt for your stolen vehicle. Thieves often abandon stolen vehicles in public spaces, where they are ticketed for parking violations and entered into an online database.
Here are the clear-cut steps to facilitate an online ‘stolen vehicle’ search:
- Visit your city’s transportation website.
- Utilize your license plate number to scrutinize whether your vehicle appears in the database.
- Determine the location of the violation.
- Get in touch with the authorities. The police will actively hunt for your stolen vehicle and, once found, it will be returned to you.
9. Check Online Marketplaces for Parts of Your Stolen Vehicle
Take your search online; you might just spot your stolen vehicle—or parts of it—being peddled on the internet. If your theft-stripped car parts are posted for sale, identifying the seller could lead you back to your precious automobile. Harness the power of automated search systems like Craigslist checker to track down parts from your stolen car, whether they were grabbed from your apartment complex or other locations.
Should you recognize parts belonging to your stolen car, promptly alert the police before making any arrangements to meet with the seller. Dealing with car thieves can be risky business. With the support of law enforcement, you can retrieve your stolen car in a safer and more streamlined fashion.
10. Maintain a Record of Valuables In your Vehicle
While a stolen car is disheartening, remember that your insurance company can cover your losses, inclusive of personal items that were in the vehicle, subject to your policy terms.
Instead of surrendering to despair, promptly record all valuable belongings present in the vehicle while your recollection is still vivid. Prepare the receipts for items you plan to claim from insurance to alleviate your losses.
In addition to these proactive steps to find your stolen car, we provide comprehensive answers to the most burning queries around vehicle theft, such as details about stolen car insurance, the probability of recovering stolen vehicles, and more.