Grand Theft Auto (also known as GTA), started out with the intent to take someone’s vehicle and leave them permanently deprived of their car. While the term is now more known for the video game franchise, the criminal act of Grand Theft Auto is all too real for some.

While most vehicles are being marketed as anti-theft cars, the statistics are still rather high. In 2019 alone, 219.9 vehicles were stolen per 100,000 people. This means that anything can happen, even to cars that are made to prevent the act of Grand Theft Auto.

It is important to note that this act can be charged as either a misdemeanor or as a felony charge. There are many different ways to look at it to decide which charge it should be filed under, but this all depends on if the assailant is caught.

There are plenty of steps you can take in order to file your vehicle as a stolen car. While some places will give you up to 10 steps, there are only 6 majorly important steps in making sure you report your vehicle safely and securely.

Rule Out All Other Options

When you go and see that your vehicle is not where you remembered it to be, panic is most likely the first result of the realization. However, keeping calm and ruling out all other options is your best bet. There are plenty of possibilities that could have happened other than GTA.

There is a very high possibility that your vehicle was towed. While this doesn’t seem like a good solution, at least you can rest assured knowing your vehicle can still be returned to you. Calling towing locations to see if your vehicle had been picked up, or checking the surrounding area for signs that state towing will occur if parked. 

There is also the possibility that you have forgotten where you have parked your vehicle. There are plenty of people who tend to forget where they parked, or remember where they parked the day before. 

Call The Police Immediately

Calling the police is in your best interest, as it will then let them know that the vehicle is missing and they need to keep an eye out for it. You are going to need a few things about your car if you are going to call.

• Vin Number
• License Plate
• Make and Model
• Insurance information
• Registration information

These will allow the police to run the license plate, see that there is a ping on the car, and check other forms of verification. Once they have verified this information, then they have a reason to arrest the person who is driving, and take the vehicle into their custody for you to pick up later.

Once you say to them, “My Car Was Stolen” they should know immediately what to do, especially if it is right away. This would mean that they couldn’t have gotten far, and they can radio out a missing car report to all dispatched police officers.

Call Your Insurance Provider

Calling your insurance provider and letting them know that someone stole your car will allow them to know that your vehicle isn’t longer in your possession. Each provider is different, but generally, they should put it down in their system, and it means that if anything happens with your car, then it may not be your responsibility. 

However, this is different for each provider. There is a possibility that it is not included in your coverage. It is recommended for you to review your coverage as soon as possible, and ask about stolen car protocols.

Wait and See if it Will be Returned

Be prepared for a wait. The average time that you could wait for your vehicle to be returned is anywhere from 2 weeks to upward of 3 months. That is if your vehicle is returned at all. There is a large possibility of that happening.

Continuing on with life is the best course of action. Find a replacement vehicle, and take the proper measures to prevent theft in the future. Look into anti-theft, tracking, and other devices that would help to make sure that you can track your vehicle if it is stolen again.

Inspect your Vehicle if it’s Returned

Reporting a stolen car is the easy part. If your vehicle is returned, the first thing that you should do is be very thankful. About 45%-50% of the time, stolen vehicles are not returned to the owners. However, don’t celebrate just yet, there could be some issues left behind.

Go and bring your vehicle to your mechanic to be inspected. There are plenty of times where a vehicle has been returned, but has been found to be in bad condition. Check out your vehicle to make sure that it is good enough to keep and drive.

Having a DriveSmart Warranty will help you with any kind of repairs that will need to be done on your vehicle. Having that help after finally having your vehicle returned can be a large weight off of your shoulders.

Protect your wallet from being emptied. Bring your vehicle to the mechanic, and don’t pay them a single cent. DriveSmart deals directly with the mechanic when it comes to payment, so all you have to do is wait.

Blog By Brooke Lazar