Does auto insurance cover tire theft?
Car insurance does cover stolen tires if you have comprehensive coverage. This type of coverage pays for damages to your vehicle not related to an accident. Learn how to get your tires covered so you're not stuck paying for new ones out of pocket.
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Brad Larson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brad Larson has been in the insurance industry for over 16 years. He specializes in helping clients navigate the claims process, with a particular emphasis on coverage analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Political Science. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designations, as well as a Utah Property and Casual...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Sep 4, 2024
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Sep 4, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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It’s a nightmare scenario: You walk out to your car to go to work or run errands and you find all four of your tires missing and your vehicle on concrete blocks.
To say this situation is a massive hassle is a bit of an understatement. In addition to being undrivable, you now must arrange to have four tires put back on your vehicle. And, of course, you have no way to drive your car with stolen tires to a local tire shop.
If imagining this unfortunate experience has you wondering what to do if your tires get stolen and whether or not insurance covers stolen tires, read on to learn more.
Stolen Tires and Insurance
Since you probably would rather not be on the hook to replace your tires, you may wonder if you can claim tires on insurance. Fortunately, car insurance does cover theft of tires if you have the correct type of policy in place. For example, suppose you only have the minimum liability insurance your state requires or only have that plus collision insurance. In that case, you will only be covered for property damage and injury if your vehicle is involved in a car accident.
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Comprehensive Does Cover Theft
If you want to guard against car tire theft or other types of theft, you’ll need comprehensive insurance. Comprehensive car insurance will cover damages to your car that happen in situations not involving a collision. This includes damages from a tree falling on your car during a storm, vandalism, and even theft.
Since stolen tires are a type of theft, filing an insurance claim about stolen tires under your comprehensive coverage should cover the cost of replacing them. If the crooks also took your wheels, comprehensive insurance should also cover this loss.
Keep in mind that your deductible will determine how much you will have to pay out of pocket to replace your tires. If you have a low deductible and expensive tires, your car insurance policy should cover most of the replacement cost. However, if you have a $1,000 deductible and the tires cost $750, you’ll have to pay for the new tires out of pocket.
Replacing four stolen tires can be a costly expense. According to Consumer Reports, the average cost for one tire is $167, or $668 for a full set of four. Of course, these prices will vary greatly depending on how large your tires are and what type of vehicle you drive. For instance, an all-season 15-inch tire made for sedans costs less than a 20-inch tire for a pickup truck or SUV.
What to do if Tires are Stolen
The first thing if your car is missing tires is to call the police. It’s important to get an officer to your home or workplace to file a police report. You should also take some photos with your phone to have on hand, as this will help back up your claim that your tires have been stolen. Once the police report is ready, ask for a copy so you can present it to your insurance company along with the photos. Also, when you go to purchase new tires, be sure to keep the receipt to give a copy to your agent.
Make Sure Your Car Insurance Covers Tires From Theft
Don’t wait until you find a tire-less vehicle in your driveway to determine if your car insurance covers tire theft. As with many things in life, a proactive approach is best to be sure you understand your car insurance policy.
If you’re concerned about tire theft, contact your insurance agent to go over your policy to ensure that you have comprehensive insurance and be at least partially covered if criminals swipe your tires and/or your wheels.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does insurance cover stolen rims or wheels?
Yes, comprehensive coverage generally includes coverage if your wheels or rims get stolen.
Are snow tires or specialty tires covered in case of theft?
Yes, snow tires and specialty tires are typically covered under comprehensive insurance in the event of theft.
Does comprehensive coverage for tire theft have any limitations or exclusions?
It’s important to review your policy for any limitations or exclusions specific to tire theft coverage. Your insurance provider can provide detailed information on the coverage terms.
Will filing a claim for stolen tires affect my insurance premium?
Filing a claim for stolen tires may affect your insurance premium. It’s best to consult with your insurance provider to understand how filing a claim could impact your rates.
Are rental car tires covered if they get stolen?
Rental car tires are generally not covered under your personal auto insurance policy. Rental companies typically offer separate insurance coverage options for tires and other damages.
Are there any measures on how to prevent tire theft or discounts available to reduce the risk of tire theft?
While auto insurance policies do not directly offer discounts for preventive measures against tire theft, certain anti-theft devices or security measures, such as wheel locks or alarms, may help deter theft and potentially lower your overall insurance premium.
Does full coverage cover theft of tires?
Full coverage insurance does cover theft of tires as part of the comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive insurance covers various types of non-collision damage, including theft of the vehicle or parts of it, like tires.
Does insurance cover tire damage?
If your tires are damaged due to vandalism or an incident like hitting an animal, comprehensive coverage typically pays for the repair or replacement of the tires.
Does Progressive cover tire damage?
Progressive covers tire damage if it’s due to events like theft, vandalism, or hitting an animal.
Does liability cover theft of tires?
Liability insurance does not cover the tire theft of tires.
Does general liability cover theft of tires?
General liability insurance protects businesses from liability in cases of bodily injury or property damage caused to others. This type of insurance doesn’t cover theft of personal property, including tires.
Does insurance cover new tires?
Yes, insurance covers 4 slashed tires if you have comprehensive coverage.
Does my car insurance cover flat tires?
Typically, standard car insurance does not cover flat tires unless the flat is a result of a covered incident.
What to do if someone steals your tires?
Wondering what to do when someone steals your tires? First, you should contact the police immediately to report the theft and provide them with any details you have, such as the make and model of your vehicle, the location and time of the theft, etc. Then, take photos of your vehicle in its current state for documentation and notify your insurer as soon as possible.
Does insurance cover stolen wheels?
So, how does car insurance cover stolen wheels? Insurance can cover stolen car wheels if you have comprehensive coverage as part of your auto insurance policy.
How to keep wheels from being stolen?
Wheel locks are worth it as they replace one of the regular lug nuts on each wheel with a lock that can only be opened with a special key. Wheel locks can stop thieves to remove the wheels without the key.
What to do when wheels are stolen?
If you find that your wheels have been stolen, you should immediately report the theft to the police and document the scene with photos.
How to protect car tires from theft?
Whenever possible, park your vehicle in a well-lit, secure area. Install a car alarm that includes sensors for tire movement or tilting. These alarms can detect if the car is being jacked up, potentially scaring off the thief or alerting you and others to the theft attempt.
Does insurance cover tire replacement?
Comprehensive insurance might cover tire replacement if your tires are stolen or damaged due to vandalism or other non-collision incidents like driving over hazardous debris. In addition, if your tires are damaged as a direct result of a collision with another vehicle or an object, collision insurance may cover the cost of tire replacement.
How does car theft affect insurance premiums?
If your car is stolen, insurers might view you as being at a higher risk for future claims, especially if you live in an area where stealing tires or wheels is common, which can lead to higher insurance premiums.
How to protect your rims from being stolen?
Here’s how to prevent rims from being stolen:
- When parking on the street, try to position the wheels in a way that makes accessing the lug nuts more difficult.
- Ensure your car alarm is functional and sensitive enough to activate if someone attempts to tamper with your vehicle.
- If you park your car at home, consider installing security cameras that cover where your car is parked.
Does Geico cover stolen wheels?
Yes, Geico does cover stolen wheels on a car if you have comprehensive coverage as part of your auto insurance policy.
Does turning your wheels prevent theft?
Turning your wheels when you park your car is one of the best ways to prevent wheel theft, especially for crimes involving towing or quick maneuvers to steal the vehicle.
Does insurance cover tires and rims?
If someone stole your tires and rims, comprehensive coverage should cover the replacement. Car insurance does cover rims and tires if they are lost due to theft, vandalism, or other non-collision event.
Does insurance cover stolen car parts?
Comprehensive coverage will reimburse you for the stolen parts of your car, such as catalytic converters, batteries, wheels, tires, and even stereos, depending on your policy specifics.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Brad Larson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brad Larson has been in the insurance industry for over 16 years. He specializes in helping clients navigate the claims process, with a particular emphasis on coverage analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Political Science. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designations, as well as a Utah Property and Casual...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.