8+ years writing for major outlets, including MarketWatch and Business Insider
Master’s in Education
Taylor Mlam-Samuel is a personal finance writer and credentialed educator. When she’s not helping readers better save and spend money, she can be found teaching.
Evelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
10+ years in insurance and personal finance content
30+ years in media, PR, and content creation
Evelyn leads Insurify’s content team. She’s passionate about creating empowering content to help people transform their financial lives and make sound insurance-buying decisions.
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When someone breaks into your vehicle, you need to notify the police immediately and file a police report. If you have comprehensive auto insurance, you can also file a claim for any damage to the vehicle. Your homeowners or renters insurance policy may cover any belongings stolen from your car.
Whether you’ve been the victim of a break-in in the past or you’re trying to avoid a break-in, here’s what you need to know to help you recognize, recover from, and prevent future car break-ins.
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5 signs of a car break-in
Your car may or may not appear damaged after a break-in. It depends on how the break-in occurred. Look for these telltale signs as you assess the situation:[1]
Broken lock: Window or door locks can serve as entry points to a motor vehicle. Check if these safety devices appear broken.
Shattered glass:Broken glass is an obvious sign of a break-in that could be visible on windows or windshields.
Missing items: Items aren’t always missing after a break-in. But if you notice something is gone, it’s a sign that someone broke into your car.
Car alarm: If your car alarm is activated, it could mean that someone tried to break in.
Scratches on vehicle: Damage to the exterior of your car can indicate that someone was trying to enter the vehicle.
What to do if your car is broken into
Once you realize there was a break-in, follow these steps to move forward with recovering items and ensuring your safety.[2]
Document the scene
Make a damage list, and document it by taking pictures and video of the damage. Use your smartphone to capture each side of the car and any visible damage. Your phone utilizes geolocation services that allow police to view the exact location of each photo, which can be helpful if there’s further investigation.
Next, create a list of each missing item. As you document the scene, try to avoid touching the area and wait to move your car until you talk with the police.
Contact the police
The next step is to call 9-1-1 and file a police report. Insurance companies usually require a police report for insurance claims related to car damage, missing items, or vehicle theft. So this step is a must if you plan to file a claim with your insurer.
Helpful Information
Before you call, it’s helpful to have the following information accessible:
Your driver’s license
Current location
Insurance information
Contact your insurance company
The final step is to contact your insurance company. If you have homeowners or renters insurance, your policy can help pay for missing items from your car. These policies can cover the objects even when you’re not home. But it’s important to read your policy so you know exactly what it covers and where.
Start by calling the company’s claims department. The insurance claims representative can guide you through the process and answer questions.
Take steps to prevent future break-ins
After you deal with the aftermath of a car break-in, it’s wise to assess the security of your car. Repair broken windows, fix locks, and change keyless entry codes to ensure no one can access your vehicle without your permission.
Be sure to choose well-lit parking lots when you’re away from home. Motor vehicle theft is often a crime of opportunity, so it’s a good idea to make your car as unappealing to criminals as possible.
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*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on December 25, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from December 25, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on December 25, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from December 25, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
What type of car insurance covers vehicle break-ins?
Comprehensive insurance, which is a part of a full-coverage auto insurance policy, covers vehicle break-ins. A full-coverage policy also includes collision and liability insurance, but neither of these types of insurance will cover a break-in.
If the culprit who broke into your vehicle vandalizes it or steals parts from it, comprehensive coverage will also pay to repair or replace damaged or missing parts. And if a thief steals your car, comprehensive coverage will reimburse you for it, even if police are able to recover the vehicle.
Comprehensive coverage also provides financial protection for damage from natural disasters (like hurricanes or flooding), fire, collisions with animals, storm damage, and broken glass.
Cost of full-coverage car insurance
Full-coverage car insurance typically costs more than liability-only coverage because it pays to repair or replace your vehicle if a covered event damages it. Liability coverage pays for damages or injuries to the other driver and their vehicle if you cause an accident.
How much you pay for full-coverage auto insurance depends on multiple rating factors, including your driving record, your age, where you live, the make and model of your vehicle, and more. Here are full-coverage auto insurance rates from some top national insurance companies.
Full-Coverage Rates by Insurance Company
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
How to prevent car break-ins
A break-in can happen anytime and anywhere. But you’re more likely to be the victim of a break-in if you leave your keys in the car, leave valuables visible in the vehicle, or park in a deserted location.
Whether you’ve been the victim of a past break-in or you’re guarding against your first, follow these easy steps to improve your vehicle’s security:[3]
Practice secure parking habits
Always park your car in well-lit areas visible to both pedestrians and drivers. When possible, park in public garages or parking lots with security cameras. Never leave valuable items, like a laptop or purse, visible in your car, whether you parked in your driveway or a mall parking lot.
Utilize car alarm systems
Car alarms are an effective deterrent. The alarm sounds if there’s an attempted break-in, but even the presence of an alarm can deter would-be thieves. And having a car alarm could help lower your premium — many car insurers offer discounts for having security devices.
Consider window tinting and privacy glass
Privacy glass makes viewing items inside your car more difficult from the outside. This makes your vehicle a less enticing target for thieves looking to steal items because they don’t know if anything of value is inside.
Employ steering wheel locks and other security devices
Safety devices like steering wheel locks, brake locks, and car wheel clamps are valuable tools to prevent break-ins and motor vehicle theft. The more unappealing you can make your car to thieves, the more likely they are to move on.
Get the right insurance coverage
Homeowners and renters insurance cover the belongings in your car. Comprehensive car insurance, an optional coverage, pays for the cost of repairs caused by damage from a break-in. Comprehensive is included in a full-coverage auto policy.
Car broken into FAQs
Car break-ins are stressful, both practically and emotionally. Here’s what you need to know about why break-ins occur and how to respond.
What should you do if your car was broken into but nothing was taken?
You should document the break-in and file a police report, even if you think the culprits didn’t take anything. They may have caused damage that’s not immediately obvious, and you’ll need documentation and a police report if you have to file a car insurance claim down the road. They may also have taken personal identifying items, like a credit card — which could lead to identity theft. It’s a good idea to notify your credit card company and put a fraud alert on your credit file if you suspect personal information was stolen.
How can you tell if someone broke into your car?
It may not always be obvious that someone broke into your vehicle. Common signs of a break-in include a broken lock or glass, missing items, scratches or dents on your vehicle’s exterior, and an activated vehicle alarm.
Does comprehensive insurance cover car break-ins?
Yes, comprehensive coverage pays for vehicle damage from vandalism, break-ins, weather events, collisions with animals, and more. But if you have a liability-only policy, your insurance won’t cover a vehicle break-in.
Will insurance cover a break-in if your car was unlocked?
If you have comprehensive car insurance, it’ll cover damage to your vehicle due to a break-in, even if you left your car unlocked. Renters or homeowners insurance will generally cover any theft of items from your car, even if it was unlocked. But it’s a good idea to always lock your car when you leave it. The extra moments and noise it takes to break a car window to gain access to a locked vehicle may deter thieves.
How will a break-in claim affect car insurance premiums?
Depending on your insurance company, state, and other factors, filing a comprehensive claim for a break-in could increase your premiums when your policy comes up for renewal. Generally, any time an insurer has to pay out to cover a car insurance claim, your rates could increase.
Taylor Milam-Samuel is a writer and credentialed educator who is fascinated by how people earn, save, and spend their money. When she's not researching financial terms and conditions, she can be found in the classroom teaching.
Taylor has been a contributor at Insurify since February 2023.
Evelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
10+ years in insurance and personal finance content
30+ years in media, PR, and content creation
Evelyn leads Insurify’s content team. She’s passionate about creating empowering content to help people transform their financial lives and make sound insurance-buying decisions.
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