Stolen car advice

[cuadrado]

My car was stolen sometime between Saturday and Sunday evening. It was taken from a secured parking garage in a luxury apartment complex. I've already filed a police report and the complex is supposedly reviewing their footage. The cops told me that stolen vehicles usually turn up right away from license plate scanners in their video systems at stop lights, but that sometimes it can take up to a month. They said that almost always someone is driving the car and that they didn't think someone would use the car for parts.

I'm not sure the implications for filing a claim with my insurance company. They said my premiums won't go up but I can't imagine this wont affect something regarding my coverage in the future? 

I have to file a claim with them in order to get a rental car. They will cover a car for 30 days or they said I could go ahead and write me a check for the value of my car. I have a 2011 Sonata and KBB says the trade-in value is only ~$6500. It's almost paid for. 

Is there any negative to me filing a claim now to get a rental? I'm afraid I'm going to file it and my car is going to turn up the next day or something, and then I'm going to have a stolen car in my history. I could pay for a rental for a week or so on my own but not sure if this is dumb if insurance will pay for it.

OR do you think I should go ahead and get a new car? I'm worried that if it does turn up that they did something to it that I won't know about until later on down the road. Maybe I should let this go but the feeling of someone breaking into my car and driving it is so violating that I don't even want to drive it anymore.

[wise_rita]

Jan 26, 2016 0:08:09 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

The cops told me that stolen vehicles usually turn up right away from license plate scanners in their video systems at stop lights, but that sometimes it can take up to a month. They said that almost always someone is driving the car and that they didn't think someone would use the car for parts.

I find this so difficult to believe.  If the thief wanted to keep the car to drive, why not change the license plates?

I also assumed cars were stolen for parts, unless it was a super fancy car.

Sorry I have no advice to offer, but it wouldn't even occur to me not to file a claim.

[cuadrado]

Jan 26, 2016 0:19:09 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Jan 26, 2016 0:08:09 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

The cops told me that stolen vehicles usually turn up right away from license plate scanners in their video systems at stop lights, but that sometimes it can take up to a month. They said that almost always someone is driving the car and that they didn't think someone would use the car for parts.

I find this so difficult to believe.  If the thief wanted to keep the car to drive, why not change the license plates?

I also assumed cars were stolen for parts, unless it was a super fancy car.

Sorry I have no advice to offer, but it wouldn't even occur to me not to file a claim.

Well, the reason I was hesitant was bc when I was shopping around for new car insurance, I couldn't get a better rate bc I had 3 tows on my record. And my mom's car got broken into last year and she filed a claim. Then her car insurance dropped her when it was time to renew her policy.

So I was just thinking that maybe I should wait a few days? 

[dottyblue]

Get the rental. Why would you not? I would imagine you are entitled to it whether your car shows up or not?

I would be asking insurance about that AND what happens if they give you a check for the value of the car but the car is returned to you. But I wouldn't hold your breath on the car being found, undamaged and driveable. I would start looking for a new car. Sorry!

ETA. I wouldn't wait. It seems crazy to not take advantage of the insurance coverage when this is exactly why you have it...

[v]

Make a claim. If your premiums go up, I'm going to guess it is by a lot less than the value of the car.

I don't even know thatI'd want a car that had been stolen back. God only knows what had happened to it in between.

[dr.girlfriend]

I'm so sorry all this is happening to you. Especially given your more recent post, I think you want transportation readily available, so I would get the rental ASAP.

[sfy]

I would file a claim that includes the rental and replacing your car. Your premiums may go up, but I've had my premiums not go up for large claims and then go up in a year when I filed no claim at all. At this point, I think you pay for the insurance for times like this, so it doesn't make sense to use it when you need it. I'm sorry, it sucks.

[mich1]

To start with, file with your insurance company. It sucks that your car was stolen, I had one stolen too only my car was only 9 months old. You need transportation and this is what insurance is for.

My insurance did drop me after the theft, but I easily found a new one, cheaper. Unless you have other issues, don't worry about this.

Finally, what an insurance company pays and what your car is worth are 2 separate things. You should get fair market value for your car, not what KBB says your car is worth. IOW, if it costs $8500 to get another 2011 Sonata from your local used car dealer, you get that minus your deductible.

Finally, I had a friend who had his car stolen. He dragged his feet about settling (insurance companies have to settle in 30 days) and his vehicle was found about 35 days after it went missing. Whomever had his car abused it horribly, and despite the work put into it, it was never the same. At the end, my friend was wishing he had just taken the insurance company's offer and moved on.

[mich1]

Jan 26, 2016 9:37:52 GMT -5 @juno said:

My neighbor's car was stolen 4 or 5 times over the last decade and returned by the police each time. It was only totaled out the last time after the thieves either wrecked or vandalized it. So it does happen. Hers was an older model that was easy to steal or something. I don't think they ever messed with the plates but i don't know.

Having said that i'm not sure i'd want it back either. I'd probably file, though i don't know what happens if they pay you for the car then it turns up in seemingly ok condition. Do they make you take it back?

Once the insurance company settles, you sign the title over to them and it is no longer your car.  It is now owned by the insurance company.

[audette]

You've got enough shit on your plate right now. I'd make the claim and get a rental. And start considering what car you'd like to get to replace the stolen one. I'd wait a week or two before buying, but definitely start looking now.

[Poppy]

I had a car stolen about 10 years ago. They trashed it (like it was literally filled with trash including an open jar of queso dip sitting in the back seat) and the radio was gone but otherwise I think it was OK. I had already started the process of buying a new car though and like you, felt weird about keeping it so I got rid of it.

I don't know how this works exactly, but can you talk to the insurance agent about the implications of you filing a claim? I agree that given your other post, it would be good for you to have a car available. Also, it seems like it might be a silver lining to have a different car that your ex will not recognize... But the decision of yours of course.

Good luck and lots of hugs.

[cuadrado]

Thanks, guys.

So I filed the claim. Went and got a rental car. Then got a call from the police station that they found my car on the side of the road.

I won't be able to find out until in the AM about the condition of the car or when I can get it back. I had just filled up the tank so I'm wondering if they drove it around until it ran out of gas. I'm interested to see the condition, lol.

[dr.girlfriend]

Jan 26, 2016 20:17:03 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

Thanks, guys.

So I filed the claim. Went and got a rental car. Then got a call from the police station that they found my car on the side of the road.

I won't be able to find out until in the AM about the condition of the car or when I can get it back. I had just filled up the tank so I'm wondering if they drove it around until it ran out of gas. I'm interested to see the condition, lol.

So glad you got it back!  Hope it's in good shape.

[LoveTrains]

Jan 26, 2016 7:35:24 GMT -5 v said:

Make a claim. If your premiums go up, I'm going to guess it is by a lot less than the value of the car.

I don't even know thatI'd want a car that had been stolen back. God only knows what had happened to it in between.

Funny story...my BIL's car was stolen in Hartford, CT. It was eventually found...and when he got it back there were used condoms in it. 

[cuadrado]

Sooooo when the police department called me last night to tell me my car was towed from "the side of the road", they failed to mention that my car was involved in a high-speed chase (130mph) and multi-vehicle accident. It's totaled. I found out ON THE NEWS this AM. They arrested 3 teenagers. Good times.

[VillainV]

Jan 27, 2016 21:28:02 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

Sooooo when the police department called me last night to tell me my car was towed from "the side of the road", they failed to mention that my car was involved in a high-speed chase (130mph) and multi-vehicle accident. It's totaled. I found out ON THE NEWS this AM. They arrested 3 teenagers. Good times.

Shit.  I hope nobody was too badly hurt.   

[jerseyjaybird]

OMG

[cuadrado]

Jan 27, 2016 22:03:16 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Jan 27, 2016 21:28:02 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

Sooooo when the police department called me last night to tell me my car was towed from "the side of the road", they failed to mention that my car was involved in a high-speed chase (130mph) and multi-vehicle accident. It's totaled. I found out ON THE NEWS this AM. They arrested 3 teenagers. Good times.

Shit.  I hope nobody was too badly hurt.   

One person was hurt but the state trooper told me today that she's going to be okay. 

[KaraOrNot]

Holy crap!

[cuadrado]

Jan 27, 2016 23:02:48 GMT -5 mp said:

Oh man, what a trip to see it on the news. Curiously makes me wonder if one of those teens lives in your complex?

It wasn't my complex but they definitely didn't live there. It happened in a bigger city and there is a not-so-great neighborhood a few streets over from the complex.

[aurora]

Oh, man; that's a crazy story. I'm sorry about your car but hope you get an even better one out of the whole situation. Goodness knows you could use a good break!

[pandora]

Jan 27, 2016 23:20:48 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

Jan 27, 2016 23:02:48 GMT -5 mp said:

Oh man, what a trip to see it on the news. Curiously makes me wonder if one of those teens lives in your complex?

It wasn't my complex but they definitely didn't live there. It happened in a bigger city and there is a not-so-great neighborhood a few streets over from the complex.

Holy crap, what condition is it in? Will they total it? (I hope) This update tells me that you don't have to worry about them coming to your house or anything from any identifying info in the car. They have bigger things to worry about now! How they total it so you can look for a new one with no hassles.

[cuadrado]

Jan 27, 2016 23:32:29 GMT -5 pandora said:

Jan 27, 2016 23:20:48 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

It wasn't my complex but they definitely didn't live there. It happened in a bigger city and there is a not-so-great neighborhood a few streets over from the complex.

Holy crap, what condition is it in? Will they total it? (I hope) This update tells me that you don't have to worry about them coming to your house or anything from any identifying info in the car. They have bigger things to worry about now! How they total it so you can look for a new one with no hassles.

Oh, it's definitely totaled. I'm going out to the tow yard today to go through the inside of the car with the police but I could see on the news that it was totaled, lol. 

[dr.girlfriend]

Jan 27, 2016 21:28:02 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

Sooooo when the police department called me last night to tell me my car was towed from "the side of the road", they failed to mention that my car was involved in a high-speed chase (130mph) and multi-vehicle accident. It's totaled. I found out ON THE NEWS this AM. They arrested 3 teenagers. Good times.

OMG, I'm so sorry. I really hope, that like you said, you'll look back on this and be like "thank God my car got stolen that time so I could see the true colors of that jerk I was dating..." But what an inconvenience and hassle!

[AAM2012]

Jan 28, 2016 9:06:15 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

Jan 27, 2016 23:32:29 GMT -5 pandora said:

Holy crap, what condition is it in? Will they total it? (I hope) This update tells me that you don't have to worry about them coming to your house or anything from any identifying info in the car. They have bigger things to worry about now! How they total it so you can look for a new one with no hassles.

Oh, it's definitely totaled. I'm going out to the tow yard today to go through the inside of the car with the police but I could see on the news that it was totaled, lol. 

I am really glad you reported your car stolen to both the police and your insurance company. Reason being is that it'll be easier for them to deny the claims of the people who were struck why it was on a joyride.


Do you have access to a car buying service (i.e. USAA or Costco)? I would start the process now because the insurance company won't give you must time in the rental once it's declared a total loss.

[cuadrado]

Jan 28, 2016 9:45:37 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

Jan 28, 2016 9:06:15 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

Oh, it's definitely totaled. I'm going out to the tow yard today to go through the inside of the car with the police but I could see on the news that it was totaled, lol. 

I am really glad you reported your car stolen to both the police and your insurance company. Reason being is that it'll be easier for them to deny the claims of the people who were struck why it was on a joyride.


Do you have access to a car buying service (i.e. USAA or Costco)? I would start the process now because the insurance company won't give you must time in the rental once it's declared a total loss.

I KNOW! The insurance company said immediately that since the car was reported stolen with the police that I wouldn't have to worry about it. 

I let my Costco membership lapse but I have been meaning to rejoin. Do you think if I rejoin today that I can use the car buying service right away, lol? 

[pandora]

Jan 28, 2016 12:33:38 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

Jan 28, 2016 9:45:37 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

I am really glad you reported your car stolen to both the police and your insurance company. Reason being is that it'll be easier for them to deny the claims of the people who were struck why it was on a joyride.


Do you have access to a car buying service (i.e. USAA or Costco)? I would start the process now because the insurance company won't give you must time in the rental once it's declared a total loss.

I KNOW! The insurance company said immediately that since the car was reported stolen with the police that I wouldn't have to worry about it. 

I let my Costco membership lapse but I have been meaning to rejoin. Do you think if I rejoin today that I can use the car buying service right away, lol? 

Call and see if you can renew from your last time, retro it? Kind of like AAA seems to do.