How long does it take for a stolen car to be found?
Asked by: Mr. Mariano Abshire Sr. | Last update: June 9, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (62 votes)
What are the chances of my stolen car being found?
The quicker you report the theft, the higher the chances of recovering your vehicle. According to the Insurance Information Institute, cars reported stolen in the first 24 hours have a 34 percent same-day recovery rate.
Do cops ever find stolen cars?
Answer: Police departments do care about stolen cars and allocate resources to investigate these crimes. They utilize various techniques, including visiting crime scenes, gathering evidence, conducting interviews, and employing technology such as license plate recognition to track and recover stolen vehicles.
What happens if my stolen car is not found?
Your car insurance will cover a stolen car if you carry comprehensive insurance; you will have to pay the deductible. If your car is not recovered within 30 days, the insurance company will declare it a total loss and pay you its actual cash value.
Where do most stolen cars end up?
According to the FBI, a car is stolen in the U.S. about once every 40 seconds. Many of them end up at ports like the Port of Baltimore, where they are put on cargo ships headed to West Africa.
How Car Theft Actually Works | How Crime Works | Insider
How to check if a stolen car has been found?
NICB's VINCheck is a free lookup service provided to the public to assist in determining if a vehicle may have a record of an insurance theft claim, and has not been recovered, or has ever been reported as a salvage vehicle by participating NICB member insurance companies.
What do thieves do after stealing a car?
Chopping up cars and selling the parts
Many criminals send stolen cars to chop shops, which provide lucrative opportunities for car thieves. Once a car is stolen, chop shop operators strip them for parts and sell them to other people who need parts for crashed cars.
How long does it usually take for police to find a stolen car?
If you report your car as stolen immediately to police, there's a better chance it will be recovered. In fact, according to NICB data, 35% of recovered stolen vehicles are recovered on the same day as the theft, and 45% are recovered within two days.
What happens if they never find your car?
If your lender can't locate your vehicle to do a "self-help" repossession, they can still sue you for the vehicle. This will involve a small claims case, where the judge will order you to give the car to the lender. You might even be compelled to Court to provide testimony about the location of the vehicle.
Can police track down a stolen car?
The Police Tracking Computer provides the police officer, via the dispatcher, all pertinent information about the stolen vehicle. The LoJack monitor installed in patrol cars has a strength indicator that tells the officer if he is within one mile of the stolen vehicle, allowing time for back-up help to be called.
How long does it take to recover a stolen vehicle?
On average, law enforcement typically finds a stolen vehicle within 48 hours of it being reported missing. But the process can also take much, much longer. So be patient as law enforcement searches for your vehicle.
Do car thieves ever get caught?
Police solve only a fraction of cases
A CBS News analysis of police data from more than a dozen U.S. cities found nearly all of car theft cases go unsolved.
Can a dealership track a stolen car?
GPS tracking devices allow dealerships to monitor these vehicles, ensuring they know where each asset is at all times. In cases where vehicles are stolen, dealerships can rapidly recover them thanks to SVR (Stolen Vehicle Recovery) systems.
What is the average time to find a stolen car?
Generally, if a stolen car is not found within 30 days of being reported, it's unlikely to be found at all. Thieves will often change license plates illegally before selling the car on, making it impossible to trace.
How much will insurance pay for a stolen car?
Car Theft Insurance: When Am I Entitled to Coverage? Downey drivers whose cars are stolen in Califonia will have car theft insurance if they have comprehensive coverage. That should cover you up to the Actual Cash Value (ACV) of your vehicle. If your car is damaged due to a break-in, you'll also be covered.
What is the #1 place for stolen cars?
#1: Bakersfield, CA
Even in 2021, Bakersfield still places first in national car theft.
Do stolen cars usually get found?
The nature of that discussion will change considerably, as is the case with around 85% of stolen vehicles, yours is eventually recovered. If your stolen vehicle has been found, you and your insurance company will have to make important decisions about how to proceed.
What happens if the repo man never finds your car?
What Happens If the Repo Agent Doesn't Find Your Car? But if you make it hard for the repo agent to get it, then the creditor may use another method to get the car back, called "replevin." Replevin can be just as costly as a repossession, if not more so.
What happens if they can't find my stolen car?
In the wake of a stolen car, one term that often surfaces is “total loss.” When a stolen vehicle is not recovered, or if it is found but has sustained irreparable damage, insurance companies may deem it a total loss.
What time of day are most cars stolen?
Car thieves tend to steer clear of highly-visible areas, especially if there are security cameras or nosy neighbors around. This is especially important at night between 2 and 5 a.m. Since most people are asleep, that's the most common time for cars to be stolen.
Can I track my car if it got stolen?
Use GPS Device to Track Your Stolen Car
If you've installed a GPS tracking system, like OnStar, LoJack, etc. to your vehicle, the company of the tracker can help you determine the location of your stolen car, and even shut it down.
What are the chances of getting a stolen vehicle back?
If reported stolen in the first 24 hours, passenger vehicles had a 34 percent same-day recovery rate in 2023. More than 85 percent of stolen vehicles were recovered in 2023.
What color car is stolen the most?
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, black, silver, white, green, and gold cars are the most stolen. Many of those car colors blend in better than others.
How do police recover stolen cars?
GPS tracking technology is one of the most common methods of recovering stolen vehicles. Many vehicles have GPS systems that allow the owner to track the location of their vehicle in real-time. However, In some cases, an eyewitness can tip off the police.