Car theft and insurance
If your car is stolen, contact the police immediately and then your insurance company. Are there traces of breakage and is your car not back within 30 days? Then you will often receive compensation with a WA limited casco or Allrisk insurance, but not with a WA insurance.
Report car theft directly through AlpinaReport car theft
Has your car been stolen? Then take quick action. First, report car theft to the police. At the station or online. To do this, the police need the following information from you.
Make sure you have this on hand:
license plate and registration certificate
make and type of your car
daily value of your car
mileage
place where the car was stolen
special features of the car
Calling 911 is not necessary unless you catch the perpetrator(s) in the act. In that case, the police can come immediately to apprehend the perpetrators.
Not liable for auto insurance after declaration
The police notify the RDW that your car has been stolen. As long as your car is stolen, you are not liable for the obligations associated with the car. You no longer pay motor vehicle tax from that moment on. And you are also no longer responsible for damage caused by the vehicle.
Car theft without forced entry
Theft from your car without breaking and entering is not covered by your car insurance. Always file a police report. That way the police can track down the perpetrator and you can recover damages from him or her.
Report your car missing
Report it missing? Then report your car as missing to the Vehicle Crime Insurance Bureau (VBV). This way, your car is also registered as missing nationwide and there is a greater chance that someone will find it.
Suspend your insurance temporarily
After reporting it, let your insurer or agent know that you have been a victim of car theft. The insurer will then report your license plate number to the RDW and suspend your car insurance. Suspension means that your insurance is stopped for a while. You pay no premium temporarily.
Theft coverage
If you have WA insurance, you are not covered for damage in case of theft. With a WA limited casco and WA-casco (all-risk) you are often insured for this. Want to know the exact amount? Check the policy values of your car insurance.
WA (mandatory)
- Damage to others
- Theft, joyriding and missing.
- Window damage
- Damage caused by fire or natural disasters
- Own damage from a collision
Limited casco
- Damage to others
- Theft, joyriding and missing.
- Window damage
- Damage caused by fire or natural disasters
- Own damage from a collision
All Risk (WA+Casco)
- Damage to others
- Theft, joyriding and missing.
- Window damage
- Damage caused by fire or natural disasters
- Own damage from a collision
Amounts and arrangements reimbursement
Is your car not recovered within 30 days? Then the insurance company will pay out a certain amount. This amount depends on your coverage.
Are you covered by WA limited casco or WA casco insurance? Then there are a number of options:
1. New Value Scheme:
you get an amount with which you can buy the same car new.
you get the amount you paid for your used car.
3. Equivalent car arrangement:
you get an amount to buy an equivalent car.
you get paid the current value of the stolen car.
Compensation for stuff in your car
Were there items in the car at the time of theft? For example, a child seat or a phone holder? Unfortunately, these items are often not reimbursed unless you have supplemental auto insurance or out-of-home coverage through your contents insurance.
Is your car stolen while on vacation? Then your belongings from the car are often covered by travel insurance.
To be sure, check your insurance policy terms and conditions.
Increase chances of getting reimbursed by the insurer
Did you not lock the car properly? Is the car key not securely stored or have you failed to meet other security requirements of the insurer? If so, the insurer may not pay compensation.
Increase the chances of insurance reimbursement this way:
Try to prove the theft with possible surveillance footage that captured the break-in.
Find out if there have been more car burglaries in the neighborhood. If there are many nuisances in the neighborhood, the police can take additional measures and mobilize the neighborhood to reduce and prevent future burglaries.
If your car is recovered
Is your car recovered within 30 days and you can drive it again? Then the police will pass this on to the RDW.
Note! From that moment on, you also have an insurance obligation again. Is your car insurance coverage suspended? Notify the insurer that your car has been recovered and have the insurance activated.
Have you already received a payment from the insurer and your car is still recovered? Then you must repay this amount.
5 tips to prevent car theft
How do you prevent your car from being stolen? Of course, it can never be completely prevented. But you can make it as difficult as possible for thieves or burglars. Secure your car and follow the tips below:
- Park your car in a highly visible and lighted area.
- Never leave valuables such as a smartphone, camera, (laptop) bag, suitcase, car papers, money or credit cards in the car.
- Show that there are no valuables in your car by opening the glove box.
- Do not store items under your seat.
- Always lock the car, even if you will only be gone for a short time.
Preventing keyless car theft (keyless entry)
Cars without an ignition key are especially susceptible to theft. For car owners of a car with keyless entry we have additional tips for protecting the car from theft:
- Be sure to keep the key in a steel box or wrap it in aluminum foil.
- Do not keep the key within 6 meters of the outside wall. This is because the signal from the key reaches up to 6 meters. Within these 6 meters, the signal can be picked up by criminals.
- Disable the keyless entry system or have it blocked at your garage. It is often possible to disable the system in your car's settings.
- Get good car insurance.
Taking alarm system in the car
You reduce the risk of burglary and theft with an alarm system in your car. There are 5 classes in which security systems are classified. This runs from simple (alarm class 1) to very extensive (alarm class 5).
Since 1998, all cars made in Europe have had a simple security system as standard. For cars that are more easily stolen such as convertibles and expensive cars, car insurance companies require additional security.
Alarm Certificate
Does the security system in your car fall under one of these alarm classes? Then you will receive a certificate for this. Your alarm certificate is valid for 3 years. So have your car alarm re-inspected before the certificate expires.
Frequently asked questions about auto theft
Am I covered for car theft with third-party insurance?
No, with third-party insurance you are not insured for car theft. Only with WA limited casco or WA-casco (all-risk) insurance do you usually get compensation in case of theft, provided there are breakage marks or if the car is not recovered within 30 days.
When does insurance pay out for car theft?
Insurance usually pays out if the stolen car is not recovered within 30 days. The amount of compensation depends on your coverage: with a new-value policy, you get the new-value, with a purchase-value policy, the purchase amount of your used car, and with a daily value policy, the current value of the car.
Are items from my car also reimbursed in case of theft?
Items from your car are usually not reimbursed through your car insurance. Only if you have additional coverage, such as coverage outside the home through your home contents insurance or travel insurance (in case of car theft during vacation), reimbursement is possible. Check the policy conditions for this.
What happens if my stolen car is later recovered?
If your car is recovered within 30 days, you must report this to your insurer and reactivate your car insurance. If compensation has already been paid out and the car is subsequently recovered, you must repay the amount paid out to the insurer.
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