Does Car Insurance Cover Theft with Keys Inside?

While some car insurance policies do not cover theft with the keys inside, others do. Regardless of whether you left your keys in the car or not, if you have liability coverage, you won’t be compensated if it is stolen. The most fundamental type of auto insurance, liability coverage pays for harm you do to other people’s property and persons in an accident.

Does Car Insurance Cover Theft with Keys Inside?

However, the type of car insurance that can cover theft is called comprehensive coverage. Furthermore, comprehensive coverage can cover automobile theft even if you left your keys inside.

What Type of Insurance Can Cover Theft for a Car with the Keys Inside

In the unexpected event that your car is stolen while the keys are inside, you should make a claim as quickly as you can. Even if you have a valid claim, any delays might put you in the dark and perhaps under investigation for fraud. Therefore, it’s essential to be fast about it. The first step is to understand how to file a claim and which clause of your policy to use.

Keep in mind that eligibility for this benefit varies by state.

Comprehensive coverage

The comprehensive section of your insurance policy will be the first area you should file a claim under. They will want comprehensive details on the incident and you:

  • Details about policies.
  • Where the keys were before and after the event.
  • Details about who was able to get into the car.
  • Your car’s details, including mileage, modifications, and service history.
  • Contact details for the lessor or lessee.

Underinsured/uninsured driver

If you have any kind of mishap while the thief is behind the wheel, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist will come to your aid. It protects you from potential losses, particularly in cases when the burglar lacks personal insurance.

  • Damage to property
  • Medical expenses

GAP insurance

If you are leasing your car, you should consider getting this particular insurance. It’s a common belief that your automobile loses value as soon as you drive off the lot. Moreover, the depreciation shows more clearly with time.

Furthermore, let’s say you completely lost your car. In that event, GAP insurance pays the difference between what you owe and the car’s true cash value, especially if it is stolen while the keys are inside.

How Much Damage Can Car Insurance Cover Theft With the Keys Inside

Since your car insurance coverage will cover you against theft, it is crucial to know the outcome of how a fun ride could lead to an accident. Do you have coverage for the harm the thief causes to both your automobile and the other vehicles? Depending on the kind of coverage you have, we may rely on it.

Firstly, your coverage will decide to quickly run inside the store after leaving your keys in the ignition will depend on where you live. Moreover, if the joyrider gets into accidents that result in property damage or personal injury to someone, this liability will still apply. The Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist section of your insurance covers this coverage.

Next, you shouldn’t anticipate getting reimbursed for the car’s purchase price while making a claim. Every claim amount takes depreciation into account. This is something to take into account while determining the level of coverage. Lastly, it’s critical to realize that when a car with keys inside is taken, there is a time component. Waiting for a claim can increase the likelihood of rejection or a fraud investigation based on the owner giving up before acceptance.

How Can I Replace My Car Keys?

Even though having your car stolen is an extremely painful situation, you may at least take some comfort in the knowledge that replacing your keys is easy. The following include:

  • Verify if the stolen car keys are covered by your plan or warranty by checking your insurance policy.
  • Visit your local dealership for replacement choices.
  • If you would rather deal with a third party, you can write down your VIN number, make, model, and year and work with a locksmith to build a replacement.

In addition, the kind of key you have will determine this. Older keys can readily be brought to any merchant that duplicates keys by a key manufacturer. Furthermore, to obtain a copy for a more recent car, get in touch with the carmaker or dealership. The price range for these keys is $200 to $500 per piece.

What to Do If Your Car Gets Stolen With Your Keys Inside

If your car gets stolen with your keys inside, you need to initially try not to panic. In addition, verify that your vehicle was really stolen and consider thinking back, especially to where you parked your car.

To avoid hassles later, double-check these sources before reporting anything stolen. Furthermore, other methods include

Call the police

Make the call as soon as you are certain that no one else is in possession of your automobile. While it helps the insurance adjuster with time and raises the chance of a speedy settlement with your provider, it does not imply that you will discover your car more easily.

Give your insurance company a call

Get in touch with your insurance provider after speaking with the police. If the police are unable to locate your vehicle, it is crucial that you get in touch with your insurance provider. Moreover, this is true even if you would like to allow them more time to do so. It will expedite the claim filing process and lessen the chance that any red flags will be raised.

File a claim

Submit your claim as soon as it is determined that your car will not be located. Recognize that an investigation can still be ongoing, particularly if your automobile was taken while the keys were in the ignition.

To initiate the claim process, provide car information, location details, and additional details like access, spare key holder, and running car. Furthermore, the insurance company will process your claim quicker with more details, such as the police report number and officer’s name.

Previous articleDoes Insurance Cover Aftermarket Parts?
Next articleDoes Car Insurance Cover Salt Damage?