What to do if Your Car is Stolen

Official figures from the Home Office reveal that 2 cars are stolen every minute in the UK; if you are unlucky enough to be one of the victims of car crime, follow this guide to what to do next ...

1. Call the Police

If your vehicle is stolen, you must report it immediately to your local police station. Make sure that you have all your car's details to hand, including the make, model, colour and registration number. The police will issue you a crime reference number for you to give to your insurance company and to claim for a refund of vehicle tax on your tax disc. They will then notify the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) of the theft on your behalf.

2. Call your Insurance Company

After you have informed the police of the theft of your vehicle, you will need to get in touch with your insurance company for advice. You will need your crime reference number to make a claim.

If your car is not recovered, your insurance company should pay out a claim. When this happens, you will need to complete the 'notification of sale or transfer' or yellow V5C/3 section of your registration certificate and send it to the DVLA, along with details of the date the claim was paid and the name and address of the insurance company. Alternatively, your insurance company may ask you to send them the whole of the registration certificate; in this case, simply write to the DVLA letting them know you have done this, together with details of the insurance company and the date of the claim.

3. Claim a Vehicle Tax Refund

If your car is stolen and not recovered, you can apply for a refund on your vehicle tax. It is advisable to wait for at least a week after the theft to make a claim, as the majority of recovered vehicles are located within that period. You will fill in an application form known as V33, supplying the crime reference number given to you by the police.

4. Reclaim your Personalised Registration Number

If your stolen car had a personalised registration plate, then you will be able to reclaim that number to use on another vehicle if your original car is not recovered after 12 months. However, you must be able to meet certain conditions in order to do this:

• The theft must have been notified to the police and recorded on DVLA records at least 12 months ago.
• The vehicle must have had a current vehicle tax disc at the time of the theft.
• The vehicle must have had a current MOT test certificate at the time of the theft.
• Your insurers must write to the DVLA to confirm that they have no objection to the number being re-issued.