How to find your car if it's been stolen?
Asked by: Burdette Murray | Last update: March 15, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (60 votes)
- Confirm the Theft. ...
- Ask Around. ...
- Report to the Police. ...
- Leverage VIN Tracking. ...
- Check Nearby Security Cameras. ...
- Utilise GPS and Bluetooth Tracking. ...
- Engage the Community. ...
- Monitor Online Marketplaces.
How to track your car if it's stolen?
- File a “Car Stolen” Report to the Police. ...
- Track Stolen Car with VIN Number. ...
- Use GPS Device to Track Your Stolen Car. ...
- Check Security Camera Footage to Find Your Stolen Car. ...
- Contact Your Insurance Company.
What are the chances of finding your stolen car?
More than 85 percent of stolen vehicles are eventually recovered. Once you've provided information to the police, they can create a report. Make sure to get a copy of the police report as you'll need the info for the next step.
What happens if your car gets stolen and they can't find it?
If the car is not found within 30 days, the insurance company will usually decide it's a total loss and pay you the actual cash value.
How to find your car if you lost it?
Check your car's location if it has GPS.
Some cars come with built-in GPS, while others include systems like OnStar that can be used for tracking purposes. Call your service provider and ask them to track your car's location. If your car doesn't come with one, you can buy a separate GPS tracker and have it installed.
How to get your stolen vehicle back
How do police find stolen cars?
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.
Can I locate my car online?
You should enable the Location service and Find My Phone feature. That way, you can use the Google Find My Device website or iCloud Find Devices to get the car's location. Note: The method cannot work if the device is not powered or connected to the internet.
How long does it take for a stolen car to be found?
Most cars are recovered within 48 hours. It's the police's job to try and track down your car and you'll need a police report to provide to your insurance company.
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.
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.
Where do stolen cars usually 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.
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.
Does insurance pay for a stolen car?
Does Liability Insurance Cover Theft in California? Every driver is legally required to carry liability insurance, which is designed to cover the other party if you cause an accident. Liability insurance doesn't cover theft, just damage and bodily injury to the other party caused by an accident where you are at fault.
How to trace a car location?
- Car Tracking Apps. Car tracking apps are one of the most convenient methods of tracking your car's location. ...
- Bluetooth Car Tracking. New. ...
- Car Locator Device. Car locator devices, also known as GPS trackers, offer advanced tracking capabilities.
Is there an app to check if a car is stolen?
StolenCar by AssetGuard LLC is the official app for StolenCar.com, which is the Nation's Neighborhood Watch for Stolen Vehicles. The app offers access to a highly relevant list of missing vehicles spread all across the country while enabling users to take photos of any license plates they believe might be stolen.
How do police track cars?
' The GPS receivers used by police departments transmit their location data back to investigators. Investigators can monitor the movements of a suspect vehicle in real-time, or save the vehicle's movement history for review later.
Do car thieves ever get caught?
Nationally, solve rates for vehicle theft have remained low. FBI estimates going back as far as 2000 show less than 1 in 5 such cases were "cleared" — meaning police either made an arrest or had enough information to solve the case.
How to locate a stolen car by VIN?
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 are the odds of finding my stolen car?
Interestingly, although California has a relatively high stolen car recovery rate (60%), the state also ranks fourth in the worst states for car theft nationally.
How are most stolen cars found?
Police Notification: The police are generally the ones who locate and recover stolen vehicles. They will contact you to inform you that your car has been found. The condition of your car when it's found can vary.
How fast do cops find stolen cars?
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.
Is there an app to locate your car?
Find My Car is a simple application that uses GPS location services to help you find your car. You will never forget where you parked! NEW : The Augmented Reality feature is now available. You can now search your car using Augmented Reality technology.
How can I find my car location online?
Track the location of your vehicle with LocoNav's GPS tracking system for cars from anywhere and get alerts whenever your car starts. LocoNav's GPS tracker can help you in saving on fuel expenditure & other operational costs. Track the behaviour of your driver, reduce excessive idling time & save big on fuel charge.
How can I find my parked car?
Your Google Assistant will tell you where you parked. If you turned on location, you'll see a map that shows your parking location.