As a Mississippi car owner, you never know when you may need to use your insurance to file a claim. With multiple policies, it can be challenging to stay on top of every situation that your insurance covers. As an example, if someone were to break into your vehicle, would your insurance cover it?

Understanding how your insurance coverage works and scenarios where it will step in can help reduce the stress of a situation where you need to file a claim. A Mississippi independent insurance agent can help you understand your home and auto insurance policies and assist you in finding additional coverage if you need it. 

If Something Is Stolen from My Car Parked at a Grocery Store, Which Insurance Covers It?

It may seem logical that if something is stolen from your vehicle, your auto insurance would cover the stolen property, but actually, your Mississippi homeowners insurance is what would protect you in this situation.

Auto insurance only covers damage to your vehicle. When it comes to your personal property, whether it's in your car or your home, the personal property coverage in your home insurance policy is what covers your belongings.

If someone were to break into your vehicle at the grocery store, breaking your windshield and stealing your briefcase with your laptop in it, comprehensive auto insurance would cover the broken windshield, and home insurance would cover the stolen laptop, assuming you had the right coverage.

How Does Car Insurance Work in a Theft?

Mississippi auto insurance can be made up of a variety of coverages. Liability coverage is required by law, but the most common optional coverages include collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist, medical payments, and personal injury protection. 

In regard to theft, comprehensive coverage is the policy you would file the claim against. Under comprehensive coverage, you would receive the following benefits: 

Since most auto insurance coverages are optional in Mississippi, having the right coverage can ensure that you don't have to pay out of pocket if your vehicle is broken into or stolen. 

If My Car is Parked at Home, Does My Home Insurance Cover It Instead?

Deciding whether to file a claim through your home insurance policy or your auto insurance policy depends entirely on the nature of the claim, not where your vehicle is located. 

Scenarios where you would file a claim with your homeowners insurance:

• You have personal property inside your vehicle that is stolen from your car while your car is parked at your home.
• You have personal property inside your vehicle that is stolen from your car when your car is away from your home.

Scenarios where you would file a claim with your car insurance:

• Your vehicle is stolen from your home
• Your vehicle is stolen while you're away from your home
• Your vehicle sustains damage from a break-in or theft while at your home
• Your vehicle sustains damage from a break-in or theft while away from your home

A Mississippi independent insurance agent can help you understand which insurance to file a claim with should you need to.

How Does Home Insurance Work in a Theft?

Mississippi home insurance is similar to auto insurance in that it contains multiple coverages. Standard homeowners insurance includes property damage coverage, personal property loss, personal liability, and added living costs. You can purchase add-on policies as needed as well. 

Regarding theft, any losses due to theft are typically included in personal property protection. This pertains to theft within the home or your vehicle that is parked outside your home or in your garage. Should you need to file an auto theft claim with your home insurance, it would cover the costs to repair or replace any stolen property that was in your vehicle. It would not cover any physical damage to the car.

Does Renters Insurance Include the Same Protection?

Renters insurance will not cover your vehicle if it is damaged during a burglary. It also would not cover your car being stolen. It will cover any personal property inside the car, just like a home insurance policy would. 

The biggest thing to understand here is the lower protection limit under a renters policy. It differs by policy, but usually, personal property is covered up to 10% of your policy limit for renters insurance. If your personal property limit is $50,000, property stolen from your car in a public place would be covered up to $5,000.

How Common are Car Burglaries and Thefts?

Unfortunately, car burglaries and theft are common across the nation. Newer vehicle safety measures and features have helped lower the rates in recent years, but the stats are still surprising.

Do You Have to File a Claim at All?

Just because your vehicle is broken into does not mean you need to file a claim. Sometimes it is more inconvenient and expensive to go through insurance. 

An agent can help you determine whether it's worth filing a claim, but typically it will depend on what your deductible is. Suppose your vehicle is burglarized and the only damage is a broken window. In that case, it may be less expensive to repair the window outside of insurance than to file a claim where you'd need to pay your deductible. 

It's usually worth looking into filing a claim when the out-of-pocket amount greatly exceeds your deductible. If your vehicle is stolen and is worth $20,000, it would likely be more affordable to file a claim than pay out of pocket for a replacement vehicle. 

How Can a Mississippi Insurance Agent Help?

Theft can be a car insurance or home insurance claim, and knowing which policy to file through can feel overwhelming. A Mississippi independent insurance agent is an expert in home and car insurance and can help you understand your coverages and the claim process. If you're concerned about vehicle theft or burglary and want to secure coverage, an agent will shop multiple quotes for you. They'll break down your options and guide you in obtaining coverage that fits your needs and budget.