Does auto insurance cover tire theft?

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 to a local tire shop.

If imagining this unfortunate experience has you wondering what to do when your tires are stolen and whether or not insurance covers stolen tires, read on to learn more.

Are stolen tires covered by insurance?

Since you probably would rather not be on the hook to replace your tires, you may wonder if you can file a claim for stolen tires with your car insurance company. 

Fortunately, auto insurance typically covers tire theft 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 Car Insurance Covers Theft

If you want to guard against stolen tires 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 a comprehensive car insurance claim 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.

Tire Theft Is Expensive

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 should I do if my tires are stolen?

The first thing you should do is 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.

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Make Sure Your Car Insurance Will Cover Tire 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.