What to Do If Your Car Is Stolen: A Step-by-Step Guide
What to Do If Your Car Is Stolen: A Step-by-Step Guide
It's a horrible moment — walking out to find your car simply isn't there. What you do in the first few minutes genuinely affects the chances of getting it back, so here's a clear, practical order to work through.
Call 999 immediately
Report it to the police first, before anything else. Give them your registration, make, model, colour, and roughly when and where you last saw it.
If you have a tracker, act on it straight away
TrackManager customers can call their dedicated 24/7 stolen vehicle line on 0203 835 3234 — this is answered directly by TrackManager, and they can begin live monitoring and liaise with police immediately. You can also log into your account to share your vehicle's live location with police yourself.
Contact your insurer
Most policies expect you to report a theft promptly. Have your policy number, the crime reference number from the police, and your vehicle details ready.
Get in touch with us
Whether or not we fitted your system, we're happy to help however we can — contact us or see our Support page for guidance specific to your system.
Speed matters here. The sooner police and your tracker's monitoring team are both actively looking, the better the odds of recovery — this is exactly why the order above starts with 999 and your tracker's own emergency line, not a general enquiry.
Once the Immediate Steps Are Done
Keep a note of your crime reference number somewhere safe — you'll need it for your insurer and for any follow-up with police. If your vehicle is recovered, it may be held as evidence for a period before you can collect it; the investigating officer will be able to tell you what to expect.
Reducing the Chances of It Happening Again
If your vehicle didn't have a CAN-bus immobiliser fitted, it's worth reading our guide on how relay theft actually works — the majority of keyless vehicle thefts happen this way, and it's specifically what a proper immobiliser is designed to stop.
Quick Questions
Should I call the police or my tracker company first?
Call 999 first, always — then contact your tracker's emergency line straight after, ideally within the same few minutes.
What if I don't have a tracker fitted?
Still call 999 immediately and report it. Provide as much detail as you can — registration, description, and last known location — to help police act quickly.
Is it too late to fit security after a theft?
For the stolen vehicle, unfortunately yes — but it's a good moment to consider fitting a tracker and immobiliser to any replacement vehicle from the outset.
Considering Better Protection?
An immobiliser and tracker combination gives you both prevention and recovery.
