Last Updated on May 11, 2022 by Fair Punishment Team
No matter how well we try and prevent it, sometimes unfortunate situations such as a stolen car can’t be helped!
So, if you’ve recently had your car or vehicle stolen and you’re interested in what the recovery process might look like, or you simply want to make sure that you’re prepared in the event that it does happen – then rest assured that you have clicked on the right article because we’re here to lend you a helping hand!
To make sure that you’re well aware of what will happen in the event that your car is stolen and then recovered again, we are going to be talking you through the process below so you know exactly what to expect.
In addition to that, we’ll also be providing you with some additional information that will help you gain a clearer understanding of what happens in the instance of a stolen vehicle being recovered again. Read on!
What Happens When Your Car Is Stolen And Recovered?
Finding that your car has been stolen is never a nice situation to find yourself in, and if you’re currently going through this particular situation, taking the time to do a little bit of research regarding the often complicated recovery process is a great thing to do – as you’re making sure that you’re well aware of what to expect along the way.
With that being said, In the event that your car is stolen, the first thing that you should do is file a claim with your car’s insurance provider, and so long as you have insured your car on a comprehensive package – you should find that the cost of your stolen vehicle will be paid for by the provider with no cash out of your pocket.
It is very important that you make sure to file a claim and alert your insurance provider the very moment that you learn that your car has been stolen, as this will make the process a whole lot easier for you, as well as ensure that you do not get stuck with any costs that you don’t actually need to pay for yourself.
For the most part, most cars that are stolen won’t be recovered due to the person or group who stole the car either keeping it or destroying it to prevent any legal action being taken against them in the case that it is recovered.
However, in the instance that they have been recovered, you might currently be wondering about whether or not you’ll be entitled to get it back, especially if your insurance provider has covered the cost of the theft for you.
Luckily enough, if your insurance provider has paid the bill and the car has become the insurance provider’s possession, there are still options available for you to try that might allow you to get your car back. This brings us to our next point!
What Happens If A Car Is Recovered After The Insurance Provider Has Paid Off The Claim?
So, as we have already touched upon in a previous point above, if you happen to discover that your car gets recovered after your insurance provider has paid off the claim on your behalf, then it is important to note that the insurance company will automatically have ownership of the vehicle recovered.
So, in other words, the car will no longer belong to you or be in your name.
With that being said, if it comes to your attention that your stolen car has been recovered, then the first thing that you will need to do is take the time to immediately alert your insurance provider of this development, as failing to do so could land you in some serious hot water.
Then, once the insurance company has been made aware, a representative will usually be sent to recover the car on the insurance company’s behalf, and this is where you might be given the opportunity to buy the car back.
It is very common for insurance providers to offer owners the chance to take back their paid-off stolen cars for a price, but this will be entirely up to you and depend on whether or not you would prefer to simply buy a new car and start fresh.
However, while this might be the case for most insurance companies, this particular procedure can often vary from insurance provider to insurance provider, so we recommend that you check in with your particular provider so you can be sure of whether or not you’ll get the opportunity to buy the car back or not.
On the flip side, if you don’t have comprehensive coverage and have had to foot the bill yourself, then the recovered car will still be yours upon recovery.
What Happens If My Stolen Car Is Recovered During The Claims Process?
The process will be a little bit different if you happen to discover that your car has been recovered while your insurance provider is in the middle of going through the claims process.
In the event that your car gets recovered during the process of your insurance provider paying off the claim, then the first thing that you should do is immediately contact your insurance company and let them know.
Usually, your insurance provider will then proceed to halt the claims process so that they can make a proper assessment of whether or not the car is damaged, as well as discover if any repairs need to be made to the vehicle that has been stolen.
Keep in mind that if your car is damaged beyond repair, then your insurance provider will pay the cash value of the car in the same way that they would if your car was simply flat-out stolen. This will all be taken from the total claim payout, too.