No matter how careful you are with your car, there could come the unfortunate day when it gets stolen by a thief. If this happens to you, then there are some important but also straightforward steps to follow.
In this guide, we’ll run through some questions you may have in the event of being a victim of car theft.
I’ve just discovered my car has been stolen. What do I do?
The moment you discover that your vehicle has been stolen, you should inform the police and insurance provider about this right away. Contacting the police should come first.
What do I tell the police?
Contact your local police force and provide them with the following relevant details: the registration number of the stolen vehicle, its make, the model and the colour of it. When this is done, the police will give you a crime reference number, which you’ll need when you inform your insurance company about the theft.
The police will inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about the theft of your car and will also update them if the vehicle is later found.
What do I tell my insurance provider?
After you’ve spoken to the police, contact the insurance company that provides cover for your car to get further advice. Explain what has happened and give them the crime reference number which the police originally gave you. The insurance company will explain to you how to make an insurance claim.
If you don’t already know, establish if the insurance company will pay out a claim for your stolen vehicle. If they are going to do this, you will need to notify the DVLA.
What you’ll need also need to do in this scenario is complete a section of your V5C registration certificate (aka the log book), specifically section V5C/3 which covers the ‘notification of sale or transfer’. Post this to the DVLA along with a letter explaining when the insurance pay out was accepted and details on the insurance company itself.
Some insurance companies might ask for the whole of the V5C registration certificate. If that happens, give them the V5C and just send the letter to the DVLA. If you’re only sending a letter to the DVLA, however, make sure it includes the date of the insurance claim, your vehicle’s registration number and the make, model and colour of your car. Add your signature to the letter too.
Can I get a refund on my vehicle tax?
If your vehicle isn’t found within a week, you are entitled to apply for a vehicle tax refund. When that’s the case, contact the DVLA to request form V33.
Complete this form and then send it to the DVLA’s Refund Section. Make sure your crime reference number is on the form. Double check as well that the V5C document has your current address on it, otherwise you won’t be refunded.
A vehicle tax refund usually comes within four to six weeks after you send off the appropriate form.
My stolen car had a personalised registration number, can I get that back?
If your stolen car had a personalised registration plate on it, you can usually claim this number back and have it transferred to another vehicle. There are certain conditions that have to be met first, however.
First of all, the police must be told about this particular issue and you’ll only be able to get reclaimed if the theft has been on DVLA records (and remained unresolved) for at least 12 months.
Also, the stolen vehicle which had the personalised plate must have had a valid MOT certificate and up to date vehicle tax at the time it was stolen. Your insurance company must also send a letter to the DVLA saying they are happy for the registration number to be re-issued.
If all these conditions are met, then write a letter to the DVLA Personalised Registrations department and give your name, address and your vehicle registration number.
If your car gets recovered and you or your insurer decides to sell or destroy it, you’ll need to apply for, fill in and send out DVLA form V317. This needs to be sorted before the vehicle is disposed of if you want to keep or transfer your personalised registration number.
What if my car has been cloned?
The act of car cloning involves not stealing the car itself but the registration plate on it. Criminals who copy a vehicle number plate may place it on a different, unrelated vehicle, as a way of covering their tracks while using the vehicle for a separate criminal act. Fines and other punishments will therefore end up being passed on to the owner of the cloned car.
If you believe your vehicle has been cloned then contact the police and the DVLA to inform them of this. Get in touch as well to any organisations which have sent fines or penalty points because of the other vehicle with your licence plate and explain your position. Send any documents you can to these organisations support your belief that your car has been stolen.
Once your car has been reported to have been cloned, the DVLA will decide whether to issue your car a new registration number.
