Having your car broken into can be a heart-dropping experience. Someone has damaged your car, and you're left to deal with the consequences, namely shattered glass, broken door handles or—even worse—missing personal items.
If you've never been a victim of this crime, you may have many questions. Will insurance cover the damage? What should you do first? If your car is broken into, take these actions to put the incident behind you and get your car back on the road.
1. File a Police Report
Immediately scan the area to make sure the perpetrator is no longer present at the scene, and make sure you're not at risk for personal harm. If you feel threatened or suspect danger, call 911 right away and seek safety elsewhere.
If you're confident you're safe, call the police non-emergency line to report the break-in. Ask if an officer will file a report on-site or if you'll need to file one in person at the police station. Keep in mind, your car insurance company will likely require a police report to process your claim. A police report can help law enforcement prosecute the case and reunite you with your belongings if they encounter the perpetrator with your possessions.
2. Assess and Take Photos of the Damage
While you're still at the scene, take a minute to jot down key details and gather documents you might need for your police report and auto insurance claim, including:
- The date, time and location of the incident
- A list of stolen personal items and, if possible, their estimated value and serial numbers (for electronics)
- Your driver's license
- Vehicle registration
- Proof of insurance
- Pictures and videos of the car damage (the police might dust for fingerprints or collect other evidence but might not take photos)
This information may help your auto insurer to verify the damage more efficiently and expedite your claim.
3. Contact Your Bank and Credit Card Issuers
If your purse, wallet or other items are stolen after your car is broken into, take steps to protect your finances and guard against identity theft.
Log in to your online credit card accounts and look for any unauthorized activity. Next, locate the option to freeze your credit cards. A freeze allows you to pause most transactions and prevents the problem from worsening.
Once your cards are frozen, call each card issuer to report a lost or stolen credit card and deactivate the cards. The phone number is normally printed on your credit card, but you can also find it on your monthly statement or on the financial institution's website if your card is missing.
4. Place a Fraud Alert
If stolen items contain sensitive personal information, such as your address, birth date or Social Security number, a thief could use this information to steal your identity or open accounts in your name.
To minimize the risk, you have the right to set up a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting one of the three credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. Placing the alert with one bureau will automatically apply it to your credit reports with all three.
You can place a fraud alert for free at the Experian Fraud Alert Center. Choose from three types of alerts and follow the steps to submit copies of your ID, proof of address and any other necessary documents.
5. Decide Whether to File an Insurance Claim
If your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage, you can file a claim to cover damages caused by a break-in. But before proceeding, decide if filing an insurance claim is worth it based on how much the repairs will cost. If there's significant damage and the repair costs are greater than your deductible, you might file an insurance claim.
On the other hand, if the damage is less than your deductible, you may want to skip the claim and pay for repairs on your own. Not only will you save money, but you'll minimize the possibility of your insurance premiums increasing the next time you renew your policy.
Car insurance usually doesn't cover the theft of your personal property. These items may fall under your homeowners or renters insurance if they aren't permanently installed, like a stereo system.
Follow these steps to file an insurance claim:
- Gather relevant documents. That includes photos of the damage, time and details of the incident, the police report and your insurance policy number.
- Contact your insurance company. File your claim quickly and be sure to answer their questions honestly. Ask about what damage your policy covers and what you may need to pay out of pocket, such as your deductible and rental car costs.
- Work with claim adjusters. They'll need to inspect your car to accurately assess the cost of repair. Your insurer may require a repair estimate from a body shop before paying for the damages.
The timeline to process a claim could range from a few days to several months. In theory, a straightforward smash-and-grab may be resolved relatively quickly, while more serious incidents involving injuries and lawyers could take longer. Check with your insurer to get a clear estimate of how long your claim might take.
6. Repair Your Car
If someone gets into your car through an open door or window, there may not be any damage, even if items are missing. In that case, there's no need to repair your car.
However, if your car is damaged—like broken windows or door handles—get it fixed right away to make your vehicle less vulnerable to another break-in. It's also good practice to lock your doors, set the alarm and take valuables with you whenever you leave your car.
Will My Rates Go Up if I File a Car Insurance Claim?
Just as your collision insurance rates can rise after a car accident claim, your comprehensive insurance could get more expensive after a break-in claim. Simply put, your insurance premiums can rise anytime you file a claim.
Break-ins don't always lead to higher rates, however, as the damage isn't considered your fault. This differs from accident claims, where premiums could go up regardless of who is at fault.
Your car insurer may consider the cost of repairs and your previous claims history when determining whether to raise your rates and by how much. For example, they may not raise your rate if it's your first claim and the cost to cover damages and stolen property is minimal.
On the other hand, you're more likely to face a rate increase if you filed multiple comprehensive claims. A study by The Zebra found that filing two or more comprehensive claims raises insurance rates by an average of $82 on a standard six-month policy. Similarly, filing three claims within a three-year period could lead your provider to cancel your policy or decline renewal.
Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft Is Essential
If your car is broken into, your first moves are crucial. First and foremost, make sure you are safe. Then, file a police report and document the damage to your car. If your wallet was stolen, freeze your credit cards and consider taking further action to help prevent someone from opening a new account in your name. Finally, consider the cost of car repairs and decide whether filing an insurance claim for the damages makes sense.
Fortunately, you can minimize or even avoid the financial fallout from a stolen wallet by quickly reporting the incident and monitoring your accounts for suspicious activity. For extra security, consider signing up for an identity theft and credit protection plan from Experian. You'll receive identity theft monitoring, dark web alerts, up to $1 million in identity theft insurance and other benefits to protect you.