Brad Larson

Licensed Insurance Agent

Brad Larson has been in the insurance industry for over 16 years. He specializes in helping clients navigate the claims process, with a particular emphasis on coverage analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Political Science. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designations, as well as a Utah Property and Casual...

Licensed Insurance Agent

Tim Bain

Licensed Insurance Agent

Tim Bain is a licensed insurance agent with 23 years of experience helping people protect their families and businesses with the best insurance coverage to meet their needs.  His insurance expertise has been featured in several publications, including Investopedia and eFinancial. He also does digital marking and analysis for KPS/3, a communications and marking firm located in Nevada. 

Licensed Insurance Agent

UPDATED: Jun 27, 2023

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UPDATED: Jun 27, 2023Fact Checked

For some people, cars are more than a mode of transportation; they’re an extension of a person’s home. People spend a lot of time in their vehicles, and most cars have a wide variety of items stored in them at least some of the time. From iPods and laptops to groceries, spare clothes and sporting equipment, vehicles carry a wide variety of personal belongings. If those vehicles are damaged or stolen, the items can be lost as well, and some thieves target items left inside of vehicles.

If you come out to a parking lot to discover that your car has been broken into and your belongings are missing, you may be wondering whether you can file a claim to replace those items. It’s a good idea to know in advance what your insurance will cover so that you can plan accordingly; you may want to re-think leaving some items unattended in your car if they will not be protected by insurance.

Does Car Insurance Pay for Stolen Items?

Car insurance is designed to pay for damages to the vehicle that’s listed on an insurance policy whenever that car is damaged as part of a covered loss. For example, if a car is stolen or broken into, the loss or damages to the vehicle itself will be handled under insurance as long as the car has the appropriate coverages.

In most cases, car insurance only pays for items that are factory-installed in the vehicle. If an item is not a permanent feature of the vehicle, it cannot be covered by car insurance. There are several reasons why insurance will not cover these items:

— It’s hard to prove whether an item was or was not in the vehicle at the time of the break-in
— The insurance company calculated risk based on the cost of the vehicle, not any accessories within it
— Items can be covered by other types of insurance, making duplicate claims a possibility

In some cases, if you install an item into your vehicle permanently, you can purchase an additional rider on your insurance policy to handle damages to that item. For example, after-market sound systems can be covered through additional coverages purchased and added to an existing policy. In order to do this, you will need to provide your insurance company with an accurate appraisal of the item’s worth and offer receipts if necessary.

If you cannot add the insurance rider to your policy or the item is not permanently installed in some way, your insurance company cannot pay for lost or stolen items left within your vehicle.

What Does Pay for Stolen Items?

Fortunately, you are not stuck replacing your stolen items out of your own pocket in all cases. Indeed, if you have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, everything that you own is automatically covered no matter where the items are at the time of the loss. This means that whether your laptop is in your car, on an airplane, at a coffee shop or in your living room, damages and theft will always be handled by your homeowner’s insurance company.

In order to get the theft covered, you will need to call your insurance provider and file a claim. You would then need to submit some form of proof of ownership to them, such as a receipt, serial number or original box. The adjuster would then reimburse you for your missing item after subtracting any applicable deductibles.

If you don’t own a home, you can still protect your personal belongings with renter’s insurance. This coverage is usually very affordable and it will provide protection to everything you own. You may also be able to get a discount on your car insurance if you purchase it from the same company that insures your vehicle, so shopping for renter’s insurance is a good idea if you don’t have it already.

Filing a Claim for Stolen Items

If the vehicle was damaged during the theft, you will need to file a separate claim on your car insurance to cover that loss. For example, if someone breaks your window or pries open a door to get to your iPod, you would need to file a claim on the auto insurance for the vehicle repair and a claim on the homeowner’s policy for the item reimbursement.

If you carry both types of insurance through a single provider, you can file both claims at the same time. Otherwise, you will need to make two separate phone calls. Be sure to provide both insurance companies with the other company’s information in case the adjusters need to communicate about any part of your claim.

Tips for Avoiding Item Theft

Bear in mind that any claim you file on your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance will have a deductible. If the item that was stolen from your car is fairly inexpensive to replace, it may not be worth filing a claim against your insurance. Because you may need to pay for stolen items out of your pocket, it’s a good idea to protect your belongings and avoid theft whenever possible. Here are a few tips:

— Try not to keep too many valuables in your car
— Don’t leave objects in your car overnight
— If you must put them in the car, don’t leave items within plain sight
— Always park in well-lit areas whenever possible
— Keep your car locked and all windows rolled up
— Install a car alarm on your vehicle
— Park your car in a garage at night rather than the driveway or on the curb

Also check to see if the extended warranty on any of your belongings covers theft. If so, it may be a good idea to purchase the warranty for items that you travel with frequently, such as laptops or other personal electronics. Your credit cards may also provide protection against theft or damages to your belongings.

Case Studies: Car Insurance and Stolen Items Coverage

Case Study 1: John’s Laptop Theft

John parked his car in a shopping mall parking lot and went inside to run errands. When he returned, he discovered that his car had been broken into, and his laptop was missing from the backseat. John contacted his car insurance company to inquire about coverage for the stolen laptop.

Unfortunately, his car insurance policy only covered damages to the vehicle itself and did not extend to personal belongings. John had to file a separate claim with his homeowner’s insurance, which covered the theft and reimbursed him for the stolen laptop after deducting the applicable deductible.

Case Study 2: Sarah’s Sound System Theft

Sarah had recently installed an aftermarket sound system in her car, which included speakers and a subwoofer. One day, she parked her car outside her apartment building, and when she returned, she noticed that her sound system had been stolen.

Sarah had purchased additional coverage for her aftermarket sound system through an insurance rider attached to her car insurance policy. She promptly filed a claim with her insurance company, providing them with an appraisal of the sound system’s value and the necessary receipts. Her insurance company reimbursed her for the stolen items after deducting the applicable deductible.

Case Study 3: Michael’s Unprotected Belongings

Michael frequently left his personal belongings, including a laptop and sports equipment, in his car. One day, he discovered that his car had been broken into, and his belongings were missing. Unfortunately, Michael’s car insurance policy did not cover items that were not factory-installed in the vehicle. He did not have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance at the time, so he had to bear the cost of replacing the stolen items himself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does car insurance cover stolen items?

Car insurance typically does not cover stolen items left inside the car. However, some policies may offer limited coverage for specific items like car stereos or GPS devices. It’s important to check your policy and discuss coverage options with your insurer.

What can pay for stolen items?

Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance covers everything you own, no matter where the items are. To get theft covered, you need to file a claim and submit proof of ownership.

How to file a claim for stolen items?

If the vehicle was damaged during the theft, file a separate claim on your car insurance for vehicle repair and a claim on homeowner’s insurance for the item reimbursement.

How to avoid item theft?

Try not to keep too many valuables in your car, don’t leave objects in your car overnight or within plain sight, park in well-lit areas, keep your car locked, install a car alarm, and park in a garage at night.

Will my car insurance cover theft if I left my car unlocked?

If you left your car unlocked and it was stolen, your car insurance may not cover the loss. Most car insurance policies require you to take reasonable precautions to secure your vehicle. If you failed to lock your car, your insurance company may argue that you did not take reasonable precautions, and they may deny your claim.

What should I do if my car is stolen?

If your car is stolen, you should report the theft to the police immediately. You should also contact your insurance company to report the theft and file a claim. Be sure to provide your insurance company with the police report number and any other relevant information they may need to process your claim.

Will my car insurance cover the cost of a rental car if my car is stolen?

Some car insurance policies may offer rental car coverage if your car is stolen. However, this coverage is not standard and may require you to add it as an optional coverage to your policy. Check your policy and speak with your insurance provider to understand your coverage options.

Will my car insurance cover the cost of replacing personal items stolen from my car?

As previously mentioned, car insurance typically only covers factory-installed items in your vehicle. If you have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, your personal belongings may be covered under those policies. However, you may need to pay a deductible and provide proof of ownership to file a claim. It’s important to review your policies and speak with your insurance provider to understand your coverage options.

How can I ensure that my personal items are covered if they are stolen from my car?

To ensure that your personal items are covered if they are stolen from your car, you may need to purchase additional coverage. Some insurance companies offer optional coverage for personal items, such as electronics or sporting equipment, that are not factory-installed in your vehicle. Be sure to discuss your coverage options with your insurance provider.

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Brad Larson

Licensed Insurance Agent

Brad Larson has been in the insurance industry for over 16 years. He specializes in helping clients navigate the claims process, with a particular emphasis on coverage analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Political Science. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designations, as well as a Utah Property and Casual...

Licensed Insurance Agent

Tim Bain

Licensed Insurance Agent

Tim Bain is a licensed insurance agent with 23 years of experience helping people protect their families and businesses with the best insurance coverage to meet their needs.  His insurance expertise has been featured in several publications, including Investopedia and eFinancial. He also does digital marking and analysis for KPS/3, a communications and marking firm located in Nevada. 

Licensed Insurance Agent

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.