Does car insurance cover theft of personal items?

Yes, car insurance covers theft if you have comprehensive coverage, which is optional. Comprehensive auto insurance can help replace your car if it’s stolen or repair damage to your car resulting from break-ins or vandalism.

It is important to note that normal liability car insurance won’t cover theft because it only protects other drivers from bodily injury and property damage resulting from an accident you cause.... read full answer

What Insurance Covers If Your Car Is Stolen

• Your insurance company will pay your car’s depreciated value, or actual cash value (ACV), minus your deductible, if you have comprehensive coverage.
• If your vehicle is financed and you owe more than your car is worth, gap insurance will cover the difference between your car’s actual value and the balance owed.
• If you need help paying for transportation costs related to your car being stolen, rental reimbursement coverage will pay for a rental vehicle.

Car Insurance & Theft of Personal Items

Although comprehensive coverage will apply if your vehicle is stolen, no type of car insurance will cover theft of your personal items from your vehicle. Your phone, laptop, or other valuables should be listed on your homeowners or renters insurance policy, even if you often leave them in your car.

Next Steps

If your car is stolen, file a police report as soon as possible—ideally within 24 hours. Not only will this improve your chances of recovering the car, but you’ll also need a police report to file a claim with your insurance provider. After you’ve filed a report, you should contact your insurer to start the claims process

Geico comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car that is not caused by a car accident. Comprehensive coverage by Geico will cover non-accident related damage caused to your car, like theft, vandalism, flooding, fire, and natural or man-made disasters.

How Geico Comprehensive Coverage Works

Your comprehensive coverage will pay for the cost of necessary repairs, as calculated by a Geico inspector, minus your deductible. Your deductible is the amount you have to pay out of pocket for each claim. You can select a deductible from $0 to $1,500. But keep in mind that a lower deductible means higher premiums.... read full answer

If the cost of repairs is greater than the value of your car, the car will be declared a “total loss.” Your comprehensive coverage will pay out Geico’s determination of the car’s value minus your deductible, to you or to your leasing or financing company.

What Is Not Covered Under Geico Comprehensive Insurance

Geico’s comprehensive insurance does not cover accident/collision-related damage, roadside assistance or towing, renting a car while yours is being repaired, replacement of personal property stolen from inside your vehicle, or medical treatment of injuries. Other types of coverage can help in these situations.

If someone else is driving your car and gets in an accident, your car insurance will likely cover any resulting damage. Car insurance generally follows the car instead of the driver, so the car owner's insurance will cover the crash, even if someone else is driving. On the other hand, if your car is taken without permission or the driver is not licensed, the driver is responsible.... read full answer

Insurance Options When Someone Crashes Your Car

Remember, using your insurance means you are liable for paying your deductible, even if it’s a friend (and not you personally) who crashes your car. Fortunately, your friend’s insurance can help if the damage exceeds your coverage. For example, if your policy covers up to $45,000 and the damage is $55,000, the driver's insurance can cover the final $10,000.

However, that isn’t the case if you’ve specifically excluded the driver from your policy. You might choose to leave someone off your insurance because they are a high-risk driver and expensive to insure - like a new driver with multiple speeding tickets, or someone with DUIs on his or her driving record. If that excluded driver crashes your car, your insurance company will refuse to cover the damage.

Insurance Rates After an Accident

Unfortunately, an accident can affect your insurance rates even if you aren’t driving. One accident won’t necessarily raise your premium by itself. But if you were in another accident not too long before someone else crashes your car, your company is likely to raise your premium, retract your safe-driver discount, or even drop your policy.

At the end of the day, one of the best things you can do is consider adding people to your insurance if they regularly use your car. You don’t want to end up with a huge bill if your insurance company denies your claim because of who was driving. Also, make sure your friends have a valid driver’s license and car insurance if they’re using your car.