Can you Report a Car Stolen if the Person is on the Insurance?

Can you report a car stolen if the person is on the insurance? It may happen that the owner of a vehicle voluntarily lends his car to another person, and he does not want to give it back to you. This can be interpreted as an indirect theft. Therefore, since so many cases of this type in the United States, insurance companies have taken precautions. 

Even though the statistics are deficient, this type of incident can occur for these reasons. 

If this unfortunate situation happens to you, you should seek legal protection. Therefore, this article aims to answer this dilemma that may occur. Insurance companies act requires a police report filed by the vehicle owner. This is because they seek to avoid a fraudulent act before the insurance company. 

It is important to remember that high-end vehicles have much anti-theft technology, so insurance companies require a police report. When a claim is presented to the company, it investigates the person who stole the vehicle and how they were able to do it with the anti-theft features of the car. 

Now, theft can occur when a person assumes that he lent the vehicle, but the person who lent it to him does not want to give it back and acts as if the car were his own. However, these cases present very subjective elements for which insurance companies seek coverage to avoid millions of dollars in losses.

Can you Report a Car Stolen if the Person is on the Insurance?

Can you Report a Car Stolen if the Person is on the Insurance

The essential element of this analysis is to know the intentionality of the person who does not return the car. Legally, they have forgotten about it, and charges cannot be filed against this person. Therefore, the accusations to be presented by the owners of the vehicles must be supported by the following elements: 

The person’s intention to steal the vehicle qualifies legally with the term men’s REA (alleging a mental imbalance of the person). 

An example basis for this accusation could be stating to whom the vehicle was lent has no intention of returning it. This type of case is part of the insurance company’s strategy to get the car back. But if there are no clear indications, you may even dismiss the issue. It is also essential to know that the person who wants to steal a vehicle when lent to him must have a good alibi.

Is it illegal to borrow something and don’t give it back?

Can you Report a Car Stolen if the Person is on the Insurance

You can dismiss the option of theft because it is difficult for someone to forget to return something as significant as a car. But, regarding the situation, you might think that someone stole your vehicle. So, you could press charges. The first thing to know is whether or not the person is willing to return the car.

Now, within a conviction, it is essential to understand that if someone wants to commit this crime represents a weighty element. 

In the same way, you must remember that theft is mostly the intentional taking by a person of another person’s private property. In the face of this, it is difficult to give evidence of the charges and accusations. However, when you are going to charge or prosecute someone on suspicion of vehicle theft, the payment is taken into account, considering the proof’s burden. 

Because of this, prosecutors must mention a specific intention to prove that this person who has the car at this moment does not want to return it and assumes it as his own. Therefore, insurance companies require solid and all proof to prosecute this type of case in your favor. Consequently, it is essential to know that when you are going to lend a vehicle, make the conditions very clear with your friend or relative.

How can an insurance company treat a car robbery?

Can you Report a Car Stolen if the Person is on the Insurance

You must know that the insurance company can help you as long as the policy you contracted has comprehensive coverage. The reason is that this policy covers both theft and any other non-accidental damage that your vehicle may suffer. 

The coverage even includes causes of all kinds of accidents. It is also crucial for you to know that comprehensive coverage also takes care of recovering or reimbursing you for the stolen parts of your car and any other type of damage that the vehicle suffers during a theft.

Therefore, you should consider all the information below to make an application or claim for vehicle theft before the insurance company:

  • Your vehicle’s title.
  • All vehicle keys’ locations before and following the robbery.
  • The driver’s name and phone number.
  • Automobile’s description.
  • Personal property contained within the vehicle.

You need to know that everything that has to do with vehicle theft is a significant issue for insurance companies. Because of this, they investigate all claims thoroughly. 

So an essential thing to think about is that none of this is against the person making a claim or the person receiving the charges. This ceases to be a personal matter and becomes a criminal matter. Because of this, it is important the work that the expert appraiser can be because he knows very well the structure of fraudulent claims.

The following are some red flags:

  • Recently listing the vehicle for sale.
  • Suspension of a license.
  • The cost of insurance.

In sum, anticipate some awful questions if that request is not clear. So, if you respond to investigators’ questions, it could be easier to find who owns your vehicle.

Thus, when does car borrowing become theft?

In this case, the borrower treats the vehicle as if it were their own. They effectively acquire a car’s ownership by selling it. When a borrower commits this act, it constitutes theft.

It’s critical to remember that the laws governing this situation may vary by city and state. Verify your estate’s regulations anyway.

Conclusion

You can do this via letter and include language that expressly revokes the borrower’s consent to continue operating the car. Additionally, the letter should include information about the vehicle, such as its make and model, color, license plate, and VIN.

While most of the time, when you let a friend or colleague borrow a car from you. So, the vehicle is returned without incident; car theft is not as uncommon as you might believe.

Requesting its return several times in writing and being unable to obtain it is sufficient to elicit an investigation from most police departments.

After a police officer has taken your statement and issued you a police report bearing the incident number, you should notify your insurance company and local DMV of the theft. After enacting the law, you should not have to wait long for the return of your property to you.

If they don’t respond to the letter to the claim, you may report your car was stolen. So, you must be willing to press charges and testify in court against the person who loaned you the car.

Adam
Adam

Adam Grabois is an expert in all aspects of Insurance and Property with 20 years of experience. He is a licensed broker of all lines including property, casualty, life, and health. As a licensed adjuster, he is well-versed in all aspects of insurance, and he owns All Needs Insurance agency in Florida.

He attended Tufts University where he earned his undergraduate degree, followed by a Master's degree from Columbia University.

Adam shares his breadth of experience by helping many businesses and individuals manage risk and protect themselves financially. He now shares this with the audience of the "Pro Insurance Info" website.

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