What to do if your car was stolen

While unfortunately there are no sure tips to guarantee your stolen car's safe return, these tips will help you stay calm and help speed up the investigation and insurance claim process.

Call the police immediately

Once you've taken a few moments to make sure your car wasn't just towed (or that you didn't simply forget where you parked), call the police. They will want to know:

• Make, model, year, and color of your car
• Any distinct features of your car
• License plate number
• Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• Information about your GPS or tracking system, if you have one
• Where and when you last saw your car

Contact your car insurance company

Submit a claim with your insurance company within 24 hours of the theft, or as soon as possible after you've filed a police report. If your insurance company requests additional information, get it to them as quickly as possible. If you're a Liberty Mutual customer, you can file a claim online in less than 10 minutes.

In addition to the information you provided the police, your insurance company may request:

• A list and description of any valuables that were in your car, such as a laptop or other electronic equipment, workout gear, textbooks, or tools
• A copy of the police report

Be prepared for the possibility the car may not be returned

It's estimated only half of vehicles stolen are recovered. Cars are often stolen solely for the parts, which means they can quickly get dismantled and disappear. In the event your car is returned, it's possible it may be damaged or missing parts because of these circumstances.

Make sure to inspect your car if it's returned

If you do get your car back and it's in drivable condition, you want to make sure you carefully inspect it first. Put on a pair of rubber gloves, grab a flashlight, then thoroughly look through your car for anything that isn't yours. If you find anything, notify the police. You don't want anyone to get hurt, and you certainly don't want to get pulled over with anything unexpected in your car.

Keeping your vehicle protected in the future

Now is the time to think about taking new measures to deter would-be thieves from touching your car again. Consider anti-theft devices such as a new alarm system or GPS tracking device.

Check your car insurance coverage. Car theft is usually covered under comprehensive insurance--typically an optional coverage. State required car insurance minimums do not generally cover car theft.

Keep in mind that personal belongings in your car are not covered by car insurance. You'll need to cover them or file a claim with your renters or homeowners insurance.

Learn more about comprehensive car insurance