There is nothing worse than discovering that your pride and joy has been broken into overnight. The good news is that if you have a Comprehensive motor insurance policy through P&N Bank, you may be covered for certain items due to a break-in.
We’ve put a list together of some typical things that could be covered as part of a break-in, plus some tips to help prevent car break-ins in the future.
Whilst the information in this article is true and correct at the time of publishing, we do highly recommend you read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for full details of the inclusions of your car insurance policy.
My car has been broken into! What’s the first thing I should do?
Firstly, take a breath. The most important thing is that you are safe. Once you have had a chance to come to terms with the car break-in, there are few steps that we suggest you complete.
To start with, you should inform the police that your car has been broken into and keep a copy of the report details provided to you – in order to make a claim you’ll likely need these details. Secondly, to help with the claims process, it’s recommended to take photos of any damage to your car and to keep hold of any damaged property or items so that your insurance provider can inspect or assess the damage, if required. The next step is to contact your insurance provider to make a claim. If you hold a policy with us, you can find more details about how to claim here.
Help! My laptop was in the car, and it’s gone!
If personal items are damaged in an incident or stolen from your locked car, your insurance policy may cover the cost to repair or replace them. There may be a limit of how much is covered, so it’s best to check your policy details for more information.
With P&N Bank Comprehensive Car Insurance from CGU, you have cover for personal items up to the value of $1,000 (including GST) if they're stolen from your locked car*. It’s worth noting that stolen money, cheques, financial transaction cards are not typically covered.
Due to the break-in my car isn’t drivable, what happens now?
The good news is that you may be able to access a hire car after theft or attempted theft. CGU also offer this to comprehensive policy holders and the cover includes the cost of a hire car from the time of the theft or attempted theft up to $100 per day (including GST) for up to 21 days*.
The hire vehicle must be similar to your own vehicle and CGU can help you arrange the hire vehicle.
Tips to avoid future break-ins
While car break-ins can sometimes be unavoidable, here are a few hints and tips to help you avoid it happening in the future.
- Laptops, wallets, phones, sunglasses, and any other valuables shouldn’t be left in plain sight in your car.
- If you have visible tools in your vehicle, consider a lockable toolbox and, again, try and keep anything valuable out of plain sight.
- Never leave your car unlocked, even if you’re just running back into the house for something you have forgotten.
- It’s best to keep your car locked up in a garage, but if you don’t have one, parking your car in a well-lit area near motion sensor lights is a good option too.
- Consider getting a car alarm installed if you don’t have one already and look at other anti-theft devices such as tyres clamps or steering wheel locks to help prevent your vehicle being stolen.
In need of insurance for your car? We offer three levels of cover to choose from, and you can get a quote online, in minutes. Alternatively, you can give our friendly team a call on 13 25 77. They’re more than happy to help.
*Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. Police & Nurses Limited (P&N Bank) ABN 69 087 651 876 AFSL 240701 acts under its own AFSL and under an agreement with the issuer Insurance Australia Limited trading as CGU Insurance ABN 11 000 016 722, AFSL 227681. Any advice provided is general advice only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs (“your personal circumstances”). Before using this advice to decide whether to purchase a product, you should consider your personal circumstances and the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination.