Top 5 Cities in New Jersey for Car Theft

Which cities in New Jersey are at the highest risk for car theft? According to NJ.com, Newark easily came in at number one in both sheer numbers of cars stolen and ratio, the report said. Nearly 4,000 vehicles were stolen in 2012 in Newark, a city with 277,000 people. According to the report, Newark’s average number of cars stolen was 3,804, with a per capita rating of 13.7 vehicles stolen per 1,000 people.

The rest of the top five:

2. Irvington – avg. number of autos stolen: 618; number per 1,000 people: 13.7
3. Elizabeth – avg. number of autos stolen: 1204; number per 1,000 people: 9.6
4. Camden – avg. number of autos stolen: 676; number per 1,000 people: 8.78
5. Orange – avg. number of autos stolen: 259; number per 1,000 people: 8.63

What Should You Do if Your Car is Stolen in NJ?

If your vehicle has been stolen, you should contact the police immediately and file a stolen vehicle report. You should also notify your insurance company of the situation by contacting your insurance agent or calling your insurance carrier’s customer service number. Your insurance agent can help you verify whether you have comprehensive coverage listed on your policy and help you file the claim.

Many insurance companies require a minimum waiting period for a stolen car claim to be finalized. Often the wait time it thirty days in order to see if the vehicle can be recovered. The time period typically starts at the time the vehicle was stolen and not when you filed the claim. Ask your insurance carrier what time frame is required for your claim to be finalized.

Is theft covered on your auto insurance policy?

In every state in the U.S. you must have purchased comprehensive coverage on your insurance policy in order to have coverage for a stolen vehicle. Even if your car was stolen from your residence, only an auto policy with comprehensive coverage will cover your loss, not your home insurance policy (it is a common misconception a home policy will cover a vehicle).

If your car is stolen, you have a total loss claim on your hands. You will need to come to an agreement with the insurance adjuster as to the current value of your vehicle minus your deductible. After an agreement is made, you will need to have your lender, if you have a loan, sign off on the title. Finally, you need to sign the title over to the insurance company. You will no longer have any ownership of the vehicle. If the vehicle is found after the claim has been settled, the insurance company will have ownership. It is possible to work out an agreement with the insurance company if the vehicle is found and you want to buy it back.

If you have more questions about your auto insurance coverage, contact LG Insurance Agency in Long Branch, NJ.

All content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only. Topics discussed on this blog relate to insurance products and issues in a general application, and are not an offer of insurance, a guarantee of coverage, or applicable to specific and individual circumstances. Contact LG Insurance Agency for questions and information specific to your insurance needs.