How to Recover Your Stolen Vehicle: A Step-by-Step Guide
Experiencing vehicle theft is a distressing and frustrating ordeal.
However, staying calm and taking immediate action can significantly improve your chances of recovering your vehicle.
In this guide, we’ll outline the crucial steps you should take when your vehicle is stolen, from confirming whether it was towed to using social media and online marketplaces to aid recovery.
Step 1: Confirm Whether Your Vehicle Was Stolen or Towed
Before assuming the worst, verify whether your vehicle was towed.
Many people panic and report their car as stolen when it was actually impounded due to a parking violation, expired registration, or other infractions.
Filing a false police report, even unintentionally, can cause unnecessary complications.
How to Check if Your Car Was Towed:
- Call Local Towing Services – Most cities have a dedicated towing hotline or database where you can check if your vehicle was impounded.
- Check Street Signs & Regulations – If you parked in a restricted area, construction zone, or private property, your car may have been lawfully towed.
- Contact Your City’s Parking Authority – Some municipalities post a list of recently towed vehicles online.
If you confirm your car was not towed, proceed immediately to report it as stolen.
Step 2: Report the Theft to the Police and Your Insurance Company
How to File a Police Report?
A stolen vehicle must be reported to the police as soon as possible.
In Australia, you can do this in two ways:
- Call the Police Assistance Line (131 444) – Available 24/7 for non-urgent crimes.
- File an Online Report – If the theft is valued under $5,000, you may report it online.
When reporting, have the following details ready:
- Date and Time of Theft
- Last Known Location of Your Vehicle
- Features, Colour, and Modifications – Vehicle make, model, colour, and any distinguishing features
- Any Extra Information – License plate number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Filing a report is essential for both vehicle recovery and insurance claims. Insurance companies require an official police report before processing compensation.
Contacting Your Insurance Company
Once the police report is filed, notify your insurance provider. However, be mindful that filing a claim may increase your premium rates.
If your car is recovered undamaged, you may want to delay reporting to avoid unnecessary premium hikes—but this is risky.
If you delay too long and your vehicle is found damaged, you may struggle to get full compensation.
Important Insurance Considerations:
- Personal Items Are Not Covered – If you left valuable items (e.g., laptops, wallets, or phones) inside, they are not included in vehicle insurance. Check your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance for coverage.
- If Your Car Is Financed or Leased – Inform your lender or leasing company immediately. They technically still own the vehicle, and some offer theft protection or financial assistance.
Step 3: Spread the Word and Investigate Leads
The police handle numerous stolen vehicle cases daily, and unfortunately, theft investigations can take time.
The best way to increase urgency and assist recovery is to actively spread awareness.
Use Facebook and Online Groups
Social media has become one of the most effective tools for recovering stolen vehicles. Many stolen cars and motorcycles have been found, thanks to online communities.
Post in stolen vehicle groups like:
- Stolen Motorcycles Australia
- COMBAT – Community of Bikers Against Theft – Stolen Motorbikes Australia
- Stolen Vehicles in Victoria, Australia
- The Facebook Stolen Dirt Bike Page – Western Australia
Your post should include:
- Clear photos of your vehicle
- Date, time, and location of the theft
- License plate number and VIN
- Any unique modifications or stickers
Check Online Marketplaces for Your Stolen Vehicle
Car thieves frequently attempt to sell stolen vehicles online with fake documentation.
Look for suspicious listings on:
- Facebook Marketplace
- Gumtree
- Car sales
Use search filters that match your vehicle’s make, model, and colour, and keep an eye out for listings with vague descriptions or unusually low prices.
If you find a matching listing, do NOT confront the seller! Instead, alert the police immediately.
Gather Evidence: CCTV and Witness Statements
- Ask Nearby Businesses or Homes for CCTV Footage – If your car was stolen from a parking lot or residential area, surveillance footage can provide crucial leads.
- Talk to Witnesses – Passersby may have seen the theft in action and can describe the suspect, their direction of travel, or even a getaway vehicle.
The more information you gather, the better your chances of finding the vehicle quickly.
Step 4: Monitor Updates and Protect Yourself Against Further Losses
Once you’ve reported the theft and spread the word, it’s time to take protective measures while you wait for updates.
Prevent Identity Theft If Documents Were Inside the Car
If you left any personal documents in the stolen vehicle—such as your driver’s license, registration papers, or bank cards—you could be at risk of identity theft.
Take these steps immediately:
- Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit File – Contact credit bureaus (like Equifax or Experian) to prevent criminals from opening accounts in your name.
- Report Stolen Credit/Debit Cards – Call your bank to cancel and replace stolen cards.
- Replace Your Driver’s License – Notify your local transport authority to issue a new license and flag the stolen one.
Stay Alert for Any Updates
Monitor social media, local police reports, and online marketplaces regularly. If someone spots your car, coordinate with law enforcement before taking any action.
Recovered Vehicle? Get It Inspected!
If your vehicle is found, it will need both legal and mechanical inspections before you can drive it again:
- Police Clearance – The theft status must be officially removed from the police database to avoid future legal complications.
- Mechanical Inspection – Stolen vehicles may have sustained damage or modifications during the time they were missing. A professional check-up ensures it is roadworthy and safe.
If Your Vehicle Is Not Recovered
If your car remains missing after a significant period, you may need to move on and replace it. Consider investing in a more secure vehicle with better anti-theft features, such as:
- GPS Tracking Devices
- Steering Wheel Locks
- Dash Cameras with Motion Sensors
Here is the cheat sheet we use.
If you’re on mobile, we recommend saving the images below.
Conclusion
If you complete these four steps, the chance that you will recover your motorcycle, car or any vehicle in a suitable condition, doubles.
In this game, it’s all about speed, the faster the recovery, the less potential damage there will be.
If you are worried about theft and don’t want to go through the above steps, I implore you to get your own Solid GPS tracker.
Having a wireless Solid GPS tracker anywhere on your vehicle is something you wish to never have to use. But if worst comes to worst, you will be forever thankful for this tiny Aussie-made device.
Want to learn more about safeguarding your vehicle? Explore our FAQs below for expert insights and practical security tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Solid GPS Tracker
- SIM Card
- Unlimited SIM Card Data Plan
- Solid GPS Sticker
- Charging Cord
- Instruction Manual
- 31-Day Free Trial
- 12-Month Warranty
All you need to do is download the Solid GPS app from the Google Play Store (Android 4.4+) or the App Store (iOS 13+).
You can also track your vehicle on any device connected to our website, from your tablet to your computer.
Yes, you can cancel your subscription during your 31-day free tracking period, and you won’t be charged anything.
You can easily cancel your subscription in your account settings or by contacting us via email or phone.
We guarantee that Solid GPS works in Australia and New Zealand, and we also support payments in each currency.
Yes, you can. All you need to do is connect your Solid GPS tracker to your vehicle through a standard USB port.
The battery in your tracker is rechargeable, so there’s no need to replace it.
You’ll also receive reminders to your phone and email when your tracker’s battery is low, at 30%.
Since the tracker is recharged infrequently (every 3, 6, or 12 months), it will last longer than most electronic devices, with the battery beginning to deteriorate after 500 recharges.
Your tracker is designed to be tucked away inside your vehicle, hidden, and away from any harsh elements.
However, if you’re concerned that it might come in contact with dust or water, we suggest putting it in a sealed container or a ziploc bag to give it some extra protection.
Yes, and it’s super easy to keep track of all your trackers – you can add as many as you want to your account.
To make sure each one is easy to identify, you can give each of them a unique name and colour.
This can be done quickly by heading over to the account settings section on the Solid GPS app or website.
The tracker does not make any noise and it ONLY emits light while being recharged.
Your Solid GPS tracking device uses the full Telstra & Vodafone network in Australia and Spark & Vodafone network in New Zealand, whichever has the strongest signal at that point in time.
If your tracker enters an area with no mobile coverage, don’t worry! It will save the locations your vehicle travels to and will upload where it went when your vehicle is back in an area with coverage.
The subscription covers the cost of the SIM card inside your tracker and the data it uses.
Instead of negotiating with telcos and finding the best SIM card and plan prices, we organise your SIM card for you, all for a flat competitive rate.
We’re able to achieve such a low-cost subscription because we have tens of thousands of SIM cards in our system, unlocking bulk discounts for you!
The subscription also covers the cost of the Solid GPS app, local customer support, & so much more.
We also don’t plan on and have never increased the price of our subscription.
As your vehicle moves, your tracker will update its location every 2 minutes and gradually increase the time between updates to every 10 minutes.
You can also turn on ‘Emergency Mode’ to lock the tracking intervals to every 2 minutes.
Additionally, you can set geofences/boundaries to receive alerts if your vehicle begins to move.
To see what the dashboard/app looks like, please create an account at solidgps.com/registration/, and you’ll be taken to our demo dashboard.
Yes, multiple people can download the same app and log in to the same account to view the same tracker.
You can also securely share your tracker with friends or family through our sharing feature.
For example, if you’re going on a trip, share your private tracking link with others, and they can see where you are without being able to change any settings. You can cancel this link at any time too.
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