Steps After Your New or Pre-Owned Vehicle Is Stolen

You’ve purchased a new car from Springfield’s leading car dealer, Thompson Sales. The value, selection, and expert staff made your buying experience great.  The Thompson Sales team provides excellent knowledge of used, certified pre-owned, and new GMC, Buick and Cadillac and are happy to help you through the entire buying, maintenance, and next steps to your car ownership. 

Unfortunately, vehicle theft is something every car owner should be concerned with. The realization that your vehicle has been stolen is both shocking and frightening. Feeling unsafe and unprotected, as well as not knowing what to do next can be overwhelming. However, time is of the essence in this situation so you will need to act fast. 

Call the Authorities

You will need to contact the police to file a stolen vehicle report. Knowing your license plate, VIN (vehicle identification number), make, and model of your car is essential.  Many newer vehicles have a tracking device such as LoJack or OnStar, so be sure you tell the police this information. The police will file a report and give you a copy.  It’s important to keep this, as your insurance company will need it.  

Call Your Insurance Company

After the police report, you will need to contact your insurance company immediately. That company will direct your next steps in processing your claim. 

Increase your Reporting Power

Lastly, report your stolen vehicle to the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state. They keep a database and work with law enforcement agencies to assist in locating your car. 

Consider Your Options Before Buying

If having your vehicle stolen is a concern, consider your options before buying.  New Buick, Cadillac, and GMC vehicles come with technology that both prevents theft and assists in locating stolen vehicles. OnStar, LoJack, and navigation packages greatly aid in returning vehicles to their rightful owners. Many offer features that remotely reduce engine power. Technology in new vehicles allows for GPS tracking and monitoring.  And, new vehicles are simply designed physically to be more difficult to steal.

On the negative side, new vehicles are typically more valuable to car thieves.  New car depreciation will factor into the insurance disbursement during a claim, so you may not receive as much for your stolen vehicle.

Used vehicles tend to be older models, so they won’t have state of the art technology, but they may still have technology that will prevent theft and assist in locating the vehicle. The depreciation ratio will be less for a used vehicle vs. a new one. 

Contact Thompson Sales Today 

The choice of vehicle is an important one. Regardless if you own a new or used vehicle, it is an investment and protecting that investment must be considered.  When it’s time for that decision, ask the experts at Thompson Sales at (417) 763-6811 these and other questions regarding vehicle theft; how to prevent it and how to recover it if the worst should happen. Getting a side-by-side comparison of both new and used vehicles will give you all the facts necessary to make an informed decision.  Hopefully, this information is never needed, but isn’t it important to be well-informed?