What to Do If Your Car Is Stolen in Australia: A Step-by-Step Guide

Walking out to an empty driveway or car space is a horrible feeling. What you do in the first hour can make a real difference to whether the vehicle is recovered and how smoothly your insurance claim goes. Here is a clear, step-by-step plan for Australian drivers.

1. Make sure you're safe

If the theft is happening now, or you feel threatened, call 000. Never try to confront the people taking your vehicle or chase it. No car is worth the risk.

2. Check it hasn't been towed or moved

Before reporting a theft, take a minute to rule out the obvious. Were you parked in a clearway, private car park or restricted zone? Check signs nearby and contact the local council or car park operator. Also check with anyone else who uses the vehicle.

3. Report it to police straight away

If the vehicle has been stolen, report it to police as soon as possible. For a theft that is not in progress, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or contact your local station. Have these details ready:

• Registration number, make, model, colour and year.
• VIN, if you have it (it is on your registration papers).
• Where and when you last saw the vehicle.
• Any distinguishing features, accessories or damage.
• Whether anything valuable was inside.

Write down the police event or report number. Your insurer will ask for it.

4. Check your GPS tracker, and share it with police

If your vehicle has a GPS tracker, open the app and check its current location and recent journey history. Then give that information to police. Do not go to the location yourself. Police can attend safely and, with live location, often move quickly.

Keep the app open and watch for updates, movement alerts and stops. Journey history is useful even if the vehicle has stopped, because it shows where the car has been.

5. Call your insurer

Contact your insurer as soon as you have a police report number. They will explain the claims process and what documents they need, and usually how long they wait before treating an unrecovered vehicle as a total loss.

6. Take care of the follow-up

• If house keys, an access card or a garage remote were in the car, change locks or codes.
• Cancel or suspend toll tags and any fuel cards linked to the vehicle.
• If a phone, wallet or ID was inside, cancel cards and report lost documents.
• Let anyone who regularly drives the vehicle know what has happened.

7. If the car is recovered

Police will let you know when a vehicle is found. Don't drive it until it has been checked: thieves can damage locks, ignition systems and wiring. Your insurer will usually arrange an assessment.

How to give yourself the best chance next time

Vehicles with a working GPS tracker can be located far more quickly, and an immobiliser can stop a car being driven away at all. Many owners now use both. Take a look at our GPS trackers and car immobilisers, or read our guide on practical ways to deter car thieves.