If your car has ever been stolen, you know that this is an infuriating experience. It can be tough to think of the best course of action to take when this happens. Unfortunately, this is a situation many South Africans have to deal with each year and one of the main reasons all car owners need to have car insurance.

According to Stats SA, approximately 88 000 were stolen between 2019 and 2020. This high car theft rate is why all car owners need to know what to do if their car gets stolen.

Here Is What You Need to Do if Your Car Gets Stolen

The first thing that you need to do is try your best to remain calm. While this may seem impossible, it will help you to get through the steps of what to do if your car is stolen. All you need to do is follow these simple steps.

Activate Your Tracking Device

As soon as you discover your car has been stolen, the first thing you should do if you have a tracking device in your car is to activate it. If you cannot activate the tracking device by yourself, make sure to contact your vehicle tracking company as soon as possible.

How To Report A Stolen Car

1.    Go to Your Local Police Station

Reporting stolen cars can be a long process but is essential if you are to claim from your car insurance. After activating your tracking device, you should go to your local police station as soon as possible. The quicker you report your stolen car, the higher the chance it will be recovered.

Once you are at your police station, a police officer will ask a few questions and will fill out a police report. During this step, you need to have the following details found on your vehicle registration documents:

• Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• The license number plate
• The car model and make
• The year your car was manufactured

You may also be asked to provide details about the situation, like the location of the incident, the time of the incident, and whether your car was parked in a gated or non-gated car park. Reporting your stolen car is not a complicated process, but attention to detail is key.

2.    Read Over and Sign the Police Report

Once you have provided all the necessary details about your car, read over all the information on the police report carefully. All the information on the paperwork needs to be correct or you may have issues claiming your car insurance.

3.    Ask Your Case Number and a Copy of the Police Report

Once you have signed the report, make sure to ask for your case number and a copy of the police report as well. You will need to keep both safe because it will be needed for car insurance purposes.

Contact Your Car Insurance Provider

After filing a police report, you should contact your car insurance provider as soon as possible to submit a claim. Claims can take a while to be filled out and processed, but once this step is done, the sooner you will be able to get your new car.While car insurance can be expensive, it is a good decision for all car owners to have it. Make sure that you have affordable car insurance that gives you the most benefits.

When submitting a claim from your insurer, you will need to include the following documents:

• A copy of the police report
• The case number
• A certified copy of your identification card

You will also need to fill out the form given to you by the insurance company and approve their access to your police report and tracking information. The insurance company may request additional information about your car’s mileage and the vehicle’s condition.

If you’re still paying off your car, you may need to get a settlement letter from your bank. The insurance company will pay off the rest of your car loan and pay you the remainder of the money or give you a replacement vehicle. Once you accept these conditions from the insurance company, you will have to provide them with the keys to your car and the car’s original registration documents.

What Happens When Your Car Is Stolen and Recovered?

According to Stats SA, around 56.4% of cars are recovered each year. However, these stolen cars can be found weeks or even months after they have been reported. Meaning, you may have already submitted your car insurance claim before your vehicle was recovered.

So what happens if your car gets stolen and has been recovered by the police before your car insurance claim has been processed? In this case, the police will contact you, and you will need to inform your car insurance company that your car has been found.

You will then need to get a clearance certificate from the police, which you will also send to the car insurance company. This certificate is proof that your vehicle is no longer stolen property.

On the other hand, if the car insurance claim has already been processed and your vehicle is recovered, you will not be able to get back the car. This is because after the claim was processed, the car insurance company is now the owner of the car. In this case, they will keep the vehicle, but return any personal belongings in the car to you.

What happens if your car is stolen and never found? In this case, you will be able to keep the money or the replacement vehicle that the insurance company has given you.

Tips to Prevent Your Vehicle From Being Stolen

• Because of remote jamming, it is important to always make sure your car is locked. You can do this by pulling your door handle after locking the car to make sure it does not open.
• Try your best to park in a safe and secure location and avoid parking in isolated areas.
• Always take your key out of the car when you leave the car, even if it is just for a few minutes.

Final Thoughts on What to Do When Your Has Been Stolen

South Africa has one of the highest rates of theft in the world. This is why every car owner needs to know exactly what they need to do if their car is ever stolen. Following these steps will help either recover your car or help you get a new set of wheels sooner.