If your insurance card and registration were stolen, one of the first things to do is make a police report. This report should prove the date, time and location of the theft or loss in case someone does try to use these or any other documents of yours that may have been stolen.
Before placing your insurance card in your car, make copies (or take photos) of both sides and keep them safe at home. If your insurance card is stolen or lost, report it to your insurance agent, request a new one, or print it online if that’s an option.
- Making a police report is one of the first things to do if your insurance card and registration have been taken.
- You must notify your insurance agent and ask for a new insurance card if your insurance card is stolen or lost.
- If your registration is stolen, notify your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and request a new one.
- State regulations differ about how to report and obtain new registration paperwork.
- In other jurisdictions, like California, you must apply for a duplicate registration after reporting the theft of your registration card with the California DMV.
As for your registration being stolen, you must inform your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) about the theft and get a replacement document. If the registration sticker on the plate or the license plate itself, then you will need to see how long it will take to get a replacement and if there is a temporary tag, registration, etc., that you can put on your car so that you will not have trouble with law enforcement.
State guidelines vary for reporting and receiving replacement registration documents.
For instance, in New York State, you must go to a police station and have the police complete form MV-78B (Report of Lost or Stolen Motor Vehicle Items). This form is available only from New York State police, not the DMV. If the police report indicates that the items were lost in a crime, there is no fee to replace the items. You then bring this form to a DMV office and follow the instructions that the DMV lists online.
In other states, such as California, you must apply with the California DMV for duplicate registration after you report your registration card as stolen.
Regardless of your state, you must contact your DMV to get your registration replaced and have it reported stolen.
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Laura Longero
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Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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