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latino13 · Jul 28, 2010, 06:50 AM

Law

ScottGem · Jul 28, 2010, 07:37 AM

Was a police report of the theft filed? Basically you file a claim under your insurance? Have you done that?

twinkiedooter · Aug 8, 2010, 09:12 AM

If you have full coverage or liabiity and comprehensive your claim would be honored provided you filed a stolen car report in a timely manner. After so many days and your car is not recovered you would be paid for your car by the insurance company - probably book value.

If you had only liability coverage you're out of luck here.

My Jeep was stolen and reported stolen. It was found about 2 weeks later about 60 miles away. Towed to a storage yard. I had to go and get paperwork from the Police Department, then go to the impound yard and pay an arm and a leg to get it out. Daily storage fee. When I got the car back the windshield was smashed in obviously hit by a heavy object and needed replaced. My insurance paid for the windshield replacement and nothing else. They didn't pay for the towing and daily storage fee. Yep. Had to pay for that myself even though I had "full coverage" on my car. The police explained to me that if they let the victim of the stolen car off the hook for the towing and storage fees what's to stop the "victim" from doing this again and again. Sounds unfair but that's the law. The owner of the vehicle pays the towing and storage fees - not the criminal who stole the vehicle.

ebaines · Aug 9, 2010, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by twinkiedooter

The police explained to me that if they let the victim of the stolen car off the hook for the towing and storage fees what's to stop the "victim" from doing this again and again. Sounds unfair but that's the law. The owner of the vehicle pays the towing and storage fees - not the criminal who stole the vehicle.

That's a stupid explanation by the cops. A better explanatoin is that the owner of the vehicle is ALWAYS responsible for paying towing and impound fees of their car. Doesn't matter why the car was towed - could be for being parked in a tow zone, or for too many parking tickets, or because the driver (who may not be the owner) is hauled off for DUI, or whatever. The impound lot can not run some sort of mini court system to try and determine whose responsible for the car being towed - that would be totally impractical - so the owner pays. Of course you could always sue the criminal in small claims to be reimbursed for your out-of-pocket expenses. Good luck with that!