What happens when your car is stolen?

You walk to where your car was parked. The space is empty. In that moment, most people freeze — unsure what to call first, what information they need, or what actually happens next. Here is exactly what to do, step by step, and why the first few minutes matter more than anything else.

Step 1 — Call the police

Unless the theft is happening right now or there is an immediate threat, call 101 — the non-emergency police line. Use 999 only if the situation is live or dangerous.

When you call, have the following ready: your vehicle registration number, make, model, and colour. If you have access to CCTV footage, witness details, or anything unusual you noticed, mention it — every detail helps.

Get your crime reference number

Once the theft is logged, the police will give you a crime reference number. Keep it — you will need it for your insurance claim and for any follow-up with the DVLA. Do not hang up without it.

Step 2 — Call your insurer immediately

GOV.UK guidance is clear: contact your insurance company straight away after reporting to the police. Most insurers require prompt notification and will ask for your crime reference number, policy details, and vehicle information.

They will then explain the next steps — including what documents they need and what happens if the vehicle is found after a claim has been opened. Do not wait to see if the car turns up before calling.

If your keys were stolen first

If your keys were taken in a burglary before the vehicle disappeared, report both incidents separately and make clear to the police and your insurer that the keys were stolen. Some policies have specific key-cover terms, and insurers — as well as the Financial Ombudsman — pay close attention to how and where the keys were kept. Document everything and provide the burglary report alongside the theft report.

Step 3 — Notify the DVLA (only if required)

You do not need to contact the DVLA yourself at the start — the police handle that notification once the theft is logged. However, if your insurer pays out and settles the claim, you must tell the DVLA that you no longer own the vehicle, as it is treated as sold to the insurer.

You can do this online or by sending the yellow transfer section of your V5C logbook with a letter giving the insurer's details and the date payment was accepted. If you have a personalised registration plate you want to keep, recover it before notifying the DVLA — once the vehicle is transferred, it becomes more complicated.

Step 4 — Secure your identity and documents

This step is easy to overlook under stress. Think carefully about what was in the car. If your V5C logbook was inside, a thief now has your home address. If you had a work pass, bank card, or house keys, your home may also be at risk. Consider changing your locks and notifying your bank if relevant.

The uncomfortable truth about recovery

Only 2% of car thefts in the UK end with a suspect being caught. More than 70% of cases go entirely unsolved. Organised networks move quickly — vehicles can be stripped, replatted, or out of the country within hours of being taken.

The contrast with tracked vehicles tells a different story. Tracker reported a 15-year high in recoveries in 2025, with over £31 million of vehicles returned to their owners in just nine months. The difference is not luck — it is the ability to share a live location with law enforcement in the minutes immediately after a theft.

By the time you notice the empty space and dial 101, that window is already closing. Coyote Secure exists to keep it open.

Don't wait until it happens. Discover Coyote Secure →

Sources: GOV.UK, West Yorkshire Police, Avon & Somerset Police, Aviva, Financial Ombudsman Service, Tracker, Age UK