Car stolen: what now?

Frits Pieper
06 jun 2016

You grab your car keys and your other stuff and walk outside. But the spot where you parked the car yesterday is empty. Huh? Where's my car? Stolen? Towed?

Report to the police

In most cases, you will only discover that your car has been stolen once the thief has flown. In that case, report it to the police immediately. And make sure you have your registration certificate at hand. The police will make a note in the registration register of the RDW that your car has been stolen. You will then no longer have to pay motor vehicle tax and insurance premiums. You are also no longer liable for damage that the thief causes to others with your car. When reporting the theft, the police will ask for, among other things:

  • Brand, type and license plate
  • Place where the car was stolen
  • Current value of the car
  • Mileage
  • Car details
  • Serial numbers etc. of items in the car (car radio, telephone, etc.)

Was your car stolen abroad? Then report it to the police abroad immediately. With this report you can report it when you are back in the Netherlands. This is necessary because only the Dutch police will report your car to the RDW that it has been stolen.

Report to your insurance company

Theft of your car is not always covered by your car insurance. A third-party insurance only covers the damage that you cause to someone else with your car, so no theft. With a third-party with limited hull and full hull, theft is covered.

You must always report a theft to your insurer (even if you have third-party insurance). The insurer can then suspend your car insurance, which means temporarily stopping it. You will then not pay for your car insurance for the period of theft. The insurer can namely deregister your license plate with the RDW and suspend your car insurance. You will then not pay for your car insurance. If the theft is covered, your insurer will ask you for a completed claim form and proof of reporting to the police.

30 days discovery period

Insurers do not handle the theft of your car immediately. They maintain a waiting period of 30 days. If your car is found within these 30 days, the insurer will reimburse any damage to your car.

Is your car not found after 30 days? Then the insurer will pay you the amount. Is your car found after 30 days? Then you get your car back, of course you have to pay the amount of damage to the insurer.

Replacement car

If theft is covered by your car insurance, your insurer will usually also reimburse the costs you incur for a replacement car. This often applies for a maximum period of 30 days. You can find this information in the terms and conditions of your insurance.

How much will I get back from the insurance?

This depends on the arrangement that your car insurance has. With a new value arrangement (only for new cars) you will be paid the amount that your car now costs new. Often a new value arrangement only applies to the first year of your insurance. A purchase value arrangement reimburses the purchase price of a second-hand car. If you have an equivalent car arrangement, you will receive enough money back from the insurer to buy an equivalent car.

If you do not have a special arrangement, the insurer will pay out the current value. This is the value your car had at the time of theft. The current value may be below the market value of your car, which means you cannot purchase an equivalent car with the amount of the damage.

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