The Process of Looking for a Lost Vehicle

Having a vehicle get lost can be a stressful process. It is one thing to lose a vehicle in an airport parking lot; however, it can be something else entirely if someone has their car lost or stolen. It is normal to worry about the prospect of finding it again. Fortunately, there is a clear process for how someone can locate a vehicle that has been lost or stolen. The first step is to remain calm.

Once someone has calmed down, the next step is to gather documents. These might include archived photos or anything else that has the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the car. Some of the places to check include the manual for the vehicle or any of the insurance documents. It is also a good idea to review the insurance plan while looking for the documents because this will tell someone whether or not the value of the car is going to be covered by insurance. If these documents are hard to find, don’t worry. Calling the insurance company and asking for the VIN number is also possible. The VIN number is required to find the missing car.

Next, think about whether or not the vehicle has a GPS tracking system. Some people might have placed a tracker on the car when they purchased it. Other people’s cars might already come with a GPS tracking system such as OnStar or LoJack. If this is the case, call these companies and report the vehicle as stolen. These companies can work with the police department to get the car back.

Next, report the car to the authorities as missing. The police serving the location where the vehicle was last seen will start the process of locating it. When talking to the police, be sure to provide the color, model, make, and VIN number of the car. Also, tell them where the car was last used or parked. Finally, the police will probably ask for a missing vehicle report to be filed.

While the police look for the car, it is also helpful to scour the online databases. There is a National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) website where people can head to look for the vehicle. There are also other places and databases that people can check for a stolen vehicle as well. Once this is done, the next step is to wait. The waiting process is often the hardest part; however, there are trained professionals involved. It is time to let them do their job.

Following these steps can help someone find a car that might have been stolen. This will provide someone with the maximum chance of recovering a stolen vehicle.