You left your keys in your vehicle and someone broke in. Are you still covered?

Leaving your keys or key fob in the car? There’s a good chance you’ve done it.

It's freezing cold or furnace-hot so you turn your car on to let it warm up or cool down. Or you run into the store, thinking you’ll be right back. You leave the keys in the ignition or drop your fob into your car’s cupholder.

But when you come back your car is gone. No matter what, it will be inconvenient. But will your insurance company cover it — even though they (and you) know that you shouldn’t leave your keys in your car?

If you have comprehensive insurance for the car (sometimes called “other than collision”), insurance is likely to cover the theft — whether the keys were left in it or not.

Check with your agent whether you have comprehensive insurance and/or whether your particular policy covers the situation.

The key to preventing theft

While car thefts fell in 2025, stealing one has become easier than ever with some high-tech tools. With a tablet, thieves can reprogram your car’s computer, start it up, and hit the road.

Antennaes offer the bad guys another way into a keyless entry car. All they need is to pick up your key fobs signal — from say, your front porch or near a window — to get in, and sometimes even start, your car. This only works when the car is near the fob, but most people park close to their home, whether on the street or in their driveway.

Your best strategy is to avoid the problem completely. 

• Keep your keys or key fobs with you, even for in-and-out errands. If you use a fob with a remote start or entry system, when you're home, keep the fob in the center of the house where the signal is harder to pick up with an antennae. There are also signal-blocking bags and boxes that can weaken the signal from your fob.
• Leave your spare set somewhere other than in your vehicle.
• If you have a garage, keep your car in it.
• Lock things up.
• Don't “puff.” Puffing is the practice of leaving a car running, with the keys in it, to warm up or cool down.

 

Call the police, report a claim

Obviously, if your car is stolen, the first thing you should do is to call the police. The second thing you should do is report a claim to your insurer.

The information included here was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, SI, and its employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with any training, materials, suggestions, or information provided. It is the user’s responsibility to confirm compliance with any applicable local, state, or federal regulations. Information obtained from or via Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, SI, should not be used as the basis for legal advice and should be confirmed with alternative sources.

5/2026