Car break-in, now what?

Suppose you return to your car and you find a broken window, along with an empty space where your golf clubs used to be! As you call the police, it occurs to you — Is this covered under my personal auto policy?

While an auto insurance policy, that contains comprehensive coverage, typically helps protect you in the event your car is stolen, and typically pays for repair costs if your car is damaged due to a break in, this policy usually doesn’t have coverage for replacement of personal property stolen from your car. It is a common misconception that the stolen items will be covered by your auto insurance policy but the coverage is often found somewhere else.

What you may not know is personal property coverage, found on your homeowners policy, usually protects these personal items, even if the theft happens away from your home. So, if your personal property- a golf bag full of clubs, for instance- is stolen from your car, your homeowners or renters policy may help pay for its replacement. Do keep in mind, items kept away from your home may have a lower coverage limit than items stored in your home, depending on the circumstances.

You may also be wondering- What about items that you purchase and installed in your car after market, like stereo equipment? Coverage for after market equipment can increase the value of your car, leaving gaps in coverage in the event they are damaged or stolen. To help protect a sound system you have installed in the car, after purchasing the vehicle, you should speak to your insurance agent about adding additional coverage to your auto insurance policy.

This article provides generic information only, for specific coverage questions on your policy please contact your Bouvier Agent at 860.232.4491 or www.binsurance.com.