Finding an empty space where your car should be is horrible. Here is a calm checklist for the first hour, based on official police and GOV.UK advice.
Key takeaways
- Rule out towing or a household member borrowing the car first.
- Call 999 if the theft is happening now. Otherwise call 101 or report online.
- Keep your crime reference number safe. Your insurer will ask for it.
- Tell your insurer straight away, and never chase the car yourself.
Take a breath. What you do in the next hour helps the police, your insurer and you. Work through these steps in order.
Step 1: Check it hasn't been towed or moved
Before you report a theft, rule out the simple explanations. Has someone in your household borrowed it? Could you have parked on a different street?
Councils can tow cars that are parked illegally, and untaxed cars can be clamped or impounded. For an untaxed car, GOV.UK says you can call 101 and ask for your local police, or call NSL, to find out where it has been taken (GOV.UK: get a clamped or impounded vehicle released).
In London, the TRACE service from London Councils is a free, 24-hour way to find a car a London borough has towed. Elsewhere, check your local council's website.
Step 2: Call 999 if it is happening now, otherwise 101 or report online
999
If you can see your car being taken, or someone is in danger.
101
If the car has already gone. You can also report online.
Police.uk says to call 999 if a serious offence is in progress or has just happened, or someone is in immediate danger (police.uk: how to report).
If the car has already gone, call 101 or report it online with your local force. You can report online in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
GOV.UK says to have these ready (GOV.UK: report your vehicle as stolen):
- your registration number
- the make and model
- the colour
It also helps to mention any marks or damage, whether the car has a tracker, and how many keys you still have.
Step 3: Get a crime reference number
When you report the theft you will get a crime reference number. Write it down somewhere safe, along with the date and time you reported it. Your insurer will ask for it.
The police tell DVLA about the theft, and tell them again if the car is found, so you do not need to contact DVLA yourself at this stage (GOV.UK).
Step 4: Tell your insurer
GOV.UK says to tell the police and your insurance company straight away. Your insurer will explain how to make a claim. Have your crime reference number, your keys and your V5C logbook to hand.
If the car is on finance or a lease, let the finance company know too.
Step 6: Cancel anything linked to the car
- Fuel cards and parking apps that hold your payment details.
- Toll, congestion or clean air zone accounts linked to the registration.
- Any bank cards, phones or laptops that were left inside.
- Access to any connected car app, if your car has one.
How to make it harder next time
Police crime prevention advice recommends layers of security (police.uk: preventing car theft):
- Keep a keyless fob in a signal-blocking pouch, away from doors and windows, and check the pouch still works every few months.
- Use a visible steering wheel lock. Police.uk points to products tested by Sold Secure.
- Park in a garage if you have one, or somewhere well lit and busy (Met Police advice).
- Fit a tracker that alerts you when the car moves when it shouldn't.
Our guide to how keyless car theft works goes into more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Should I call 999 or 101 if my car has been stolen?
Call 999 if the theft is happening now, has just happened, or someone is in danger. If the car has already gone, call 101 or report it online with your local police force.
Do I need to tell DVLA my car has been stolen?
No. The police tell DVLA about the theft and if the car is found. You only need to contact DVLA if your insurer pays out, to tell them the car has been sold to the insurance company.
Will a tracker get my car back?
No tracker can guarantee that. What it does is help you and the police know where the car is, which gives them up-to-date information to work with.
What if I find my car myself?
Do not approach it if anyone is with it, and tell the police. If it has been abandoned, try not to touch it. Police advice says items left behind by thieves may hold evidence such as fingerprints.
Drift
Know where your car is
Drift is a small plug-in tracker and web app that shows your car on a live map and alerts you if it moves when it shouldn't. It can't promise to get a car back, but it helps you and the police know where it is.
See how Drift works