Insurance: compensation for theft or attempted theft of a vehicle

Verified 11 February 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If your car is stolen or attempted to be stolen, the insurance will not automatically compensate you. In fact, the guarantee against theft is not mandatory in the car insurance contract. Therefore, you will only be compensated if you have purchased the Flight Warranty. The items covered by this warranty depend on the contracts. Thus, the warranty may or may not include the vehicle accessories. To be compensated, you must follow the procedure set out in the contract.

The purchase of flight insurance is not mandatory.

This warranty provides compensation for theft or attempted theft of the vehicle or accessory.

In order to receive this compensation, you must have purchased this guarantee when you signed your contract.

The conditions for compensation depend on the circumstances of the accident suffered by the vehicle.

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Traces of break and enter

To be compensated for the theft of your vehicle, you must demonstrate by physical evidence that there was an attempt to steal by break-in.

This can be for example a forced lock (or anti-theft), or traces of manipulation of electrical wires or contacts if the vehicle has been found, or having in your possession all the keys, if the vehicle has not been found.

If the vehicle is found without these traces of break-in (intact anti-theft, unforced locks...), the insurance may refuse to compensate you by considering that the theft is not proven.

All other evidence (testimony, expertise) must be provided.

In the event of a continuing disagreement between you and your insurer, only a court may decide:

  • If the dispute is for an amount less than or equal to €10,000, it will be the court or the community court
  • If the amount of the dispute exceeds €10,000, it will be the court
Who shall I contact

Stolen vehicle found

The insurance compensates you for the following 2 elements:

  • Vehicle recovery costs (if justified, or with prior agreement of the insurer)
  • Amount of repairs, within the limit of the value of the vehicle defined in the contract, and subject to deduction of any frankness

However, if the vehicle is found without these traces of break-in (intact anti-theft, unforced locks...), the insurance may refuse to compensate you by considering that the theft is not proven.

Stolen vehicle not found

The loss is usually considered permanent 30 days after flight.

When this period has passed, you can ask your insurer for a refund of your vehicle.

The compensation paid will be equal to the market value of the vehicle, unless the contract specifies another value.

Example :

  •  Replacement value to say expert, which shall be determined by an expert on the basis of the price of the vehicle, its age, maintenance condition and mileage
  • New value (for car under 6 months)
  • Agreed value, specified in the contract

Vehicle found after compensation

If you have already been compensated for the theft of your vehicle, and it is found afterwards, you can decide to keep the amount of compensation and abandon the vehicle.

You can also decide to take the vehicle back and refund the compensation, if it has already been paid to you.

The theft insurance contract is generally limited to the vehicle, excluding accessories or objects carried.

To cover this type of risk, therefore, additional guarantees are often needed.

Theft of personal items

In principle, you will not be compensated for stolen items inside the vehicle.

To be compensated, you must have a special guarantee against the theft of objects inside the vehicle, especially if it is a caravan theft or door robbery.

You will then be reimbursed for the value of stolen objects, after deducting their age, if a break-in is observed, and under certain conditions (vehicle parked in a closed place at night, for example).

Valuables will be covered if the terms of your contract so provide.

Check your agreement for the terms and conditions that apply to you.

Theft of vehicle accessories or parts

Except where otherwise provided, parts and accessories added as an option shall be compensated only if the theft was committed in a garage or a shed, after break-inescalation or violence.

Thus, the theft of wheels, batteries or a bodywork element is often not reimbursed.

You must have a special warranty and, for accessories inside the vehicle, you will only be compensated in case of a break-in.