Did you know that motor vehicle theft has been on the rise for the past years? 

            On average, 39,000+ cars are stolen across Australia per year or 131 vehicles per day. Because of this statistic, knowing what you need to do when this happens is important. 

What should you do the moment you find out your car is gone?

Once you have discovered that your vehicle has been stolen, the best thing to do is to report the incident to the police.

 Then you call your insurance company by lodging a claim. Lodgement of claim should be done as soon as possible. Depending on your policy, most comprehensive car insurance offers a 14-day hire car when you lodge a theft claim.  Once a claim has been lodged, most insurance companies allow the vehicle to be recovered within 21 calendar days. 

Why 21 days? 

That is the allowable period of recovery for stolen vehicles by insurance companies. Though the chance of stolen vehicle recovery is slim, around 18%, when this happens, it may have gone beyond the insurance allowable recovery period of 21 days. After 21 days of your vehicle being unrecovered, insurance companies finalise the payout and the total loss of the vehicle by paying either the agreed value or market value of the vehicle based on their policy agreement and settling the claim.

What happens when my car is found?

On the other hand, when a stolen vehicle has been recovered within 21 days, a towing company will be contacted by the police to tow the vehicle from the recovery location to the towing company’s holding yard or depot to conduct their forensics check before releasing the car from polices’ holding yard.

After the car has been released from the police, they will contact you. You will then have to contact your insurance company to advise that your car has been found. Then a tow will be organised for your car to go through a “sharps check” and car assessment.  

What is the “sharps” test? 

Sharps testing is required for all vehicles that have been stolen or broken into. This is to ensure the safety of the assessor and repairer before starting your car’s assessment, quoting and/or repair. And if the vehicle does not need any repairs, it is also for your safety when you collect it. Sharps test allows for inspection, removal or disposal of any dangerous and harmful objects, weapons, needles, bodily fluids or other contaminants left behind by thieves. 

Once the Sharps check has been completed, the vehicle can be assessed and/or repaired.

Who pays for the towing cost, sharps check and my rental car?

 You may claim the cost of all tows, assessments, and repairs from your comprehensive car policy insurance. On the other hand, if you only have Third party car Insurance, you may ask if you can add theft coverage; otherwise, you have to cover all the towing expenses and repairs. 

Here are some tips to avoid your car from being stolen:

All in all, the theft of a vehicle is a very strenuous experience. The most important thing to remember is to avoid this from happening. 

• Remember to keep your keys in a safe and secure location.
• Don’t forget to lock your vehicle when unattended. If you are in doubt, double-check.
• Do not park in an unsecured area or in dark places.  
• If you want to sell your car online, you must edit the photos and blur the rego.
• When a buyer is doing a test drive, always be with them. Do not allow potential buyers to drive your car unattended.
• Never leave things in your car that can potentially attract thieves, like, your keys, bags, phone, or something that looks valuable. If you are to leave your things, you keep them in the compartment. 
• When going on a lengthy vacation, leave your car in paid parking or with a friend where it’s seen consistently.