You left your keys in your vehicle and someone broke in. Are you still covered?

Leaving your keys in the car? There’s a good chance you’ve done it.

It's freezing cold or furnace-hot so you turn your car on to let it warm up or cool down. Or you run into the store, thinking you’ll be right back. You leave the keys in the ignition or drop your fob into your car’s cupholder.

But when you come back your car is gone. No matter what, it will be inconvenient. But will your insurance company cover it — even though they (and you) know that you shouldn’t leave your keys in your car?

If you have comprehensive insurance for the car (sometimes called “other than collision”), insurance may cover the theft — whether the keys were left in it or not.

And if you're not sure whether you have comprehensive (or "other than collision") insurance or whether your particular policy covers the situation, check with your agent.

The key to preventing theft

Car thefts due to unlocked cars with the keys left inside are on the rise, according to a study by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Vehicle thefts have been rising steadily since 2019. In 2023,overall vehicle thefts hit an all-time high, with over 1 million vehicles stolen.

In 2021, over 100,000 auto thefts were facilitated by keys or key fobs left in the vehicle, up more than 19 percent from 2019. This accounted for 11 percent of all vehicle thefts that year.

Your best strategy is to avoid the problem completely. 

• Keep your keys or key fobs with you.
• Leave your spare set somewhere other than in your vehicle.
• Lock things up.
• Don't "puff." Puffing is the practice of leaving a car running, with the keys in it, to warm up or cool down.

 

Call the police, report a claim

Obviously, if your car is stolen, the first thing you should do is to call the police. The second thing you should do is report a claim to your insurer.

Grinnell Mutual auto coverages

12/2024