How To Report A Car Stolen

Need to know how to report a car stolen? Report your stolen car right away in order to have the best chance of recovering you vehicle. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2008 a car was stolen every 33 seconds in the United States. The good news? That number is actually down from previous years.

To report a car stolen you will need:

• The car's description including year, make, model and color
• Approximate time and location of theft
• Details about potential witnesses or anything else suspicious about the incident

1. Contact the local law enforcement. You will need to report a car stolen to the local law enforcement agency as soon as possible. The police will make a report about the stolen car, including all the information you provide, which you will then sign. You will also receive a copy of the completed police report for your records.
2. Contact your car insurance agency as soon as possible. They will need a copy of the police report for your stolen car claim. Auto theft is covered under the comprehensive section of an auto insurance policy. Theft coverage applies to the loss of the vehicle as well as parts of the car such as air bags. While it is not mandatory to cover a car with comprehensive auto insurance, and you may not be covered if the car is stolen, you will still want to contact your insurance agency as soon as possible.
3. Contact the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. This database is used by state Motor Vehicle Departments, salvage yards and insurance professionals alike. If your stolen car shows up in another state or someone tries to get a clean title for it, the NMVTIS system may help to recover the stolen car and put whoever stole the car in jail.