If you are one of the unfortunate victims of vehicle theft, you may be relieved to find out that your car has been recovered by the authorities. However, your relief may turn into dismay when you discover that your vehicle has been stripped of its interior components, such as seats, dashboard, stereo, airbags, and even wiring. This is a common scenario for many vehicle theft victims, especially in California, where vehicle theft is a rampant problem.The FBI Reports over 800,000 vehicles are stolen per year. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), 11.7% of vehicles recovered were missing parts.
What Can I Do Now?
If you find yourself in this situation, you may wonder what to do next. How can you restore your vehicle to its original condition? How much will it cost? Who will pay for it? Here are some steps you can take to deal with a stolen vehicle with a missing interior.
1. Report the theft and recovery to your insurance company. Depending on your coverage, you may be eligible for reimbursement for the damage caused by the theft. However, keep in mind that some insurance policies have limits or exclusions for theft-related claims, especially for older vehicles or aftermarket parts. You may also have to pay a deductible before your insurance kicks in. Check your policy details and talk to your agent to find out what your options are.
2. Get an estimate for all the relevant repairs. We are happy to work with both you, your insurance company, and any installer you may choose. You will need to take your vehicle to a reputable mechanic or body shop to assess the extent of the damage and give you a quote for the additional repairs. Depending on the make and model of your vehicle and the parts that need to be replaced, this could range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. You may also need to factor in the cost of towing, storage, rental car, and other expenses related to the theft.
3. Decide whether to repair or replace your vehicle. Depending on the value of your vehicle and the cost of the repairs, you may have to decide whether it is worth fixing or not. If the repairs exceed the value of your vehicle, your insurance company may declare it a total loss and offer you a settlement based on its actual cash value (ACV). You can either accept this offer or negotiate for a higher amount if you think your vehicle is worth more. Alternatively, you can choose to keep your vehicle and repair it yourself or sell it for parts.
Finding Replacement Seats
Your first thought is to contact your Dealership for a new set of seats, unfortunately is doesn't work that way. Dealers will not sell a complete set of seats. You must order every part of the seat, then have them assembled - a daunting process most dealers won't even undertake. The cost of every seat part from the Dealer will put you in shock. We wrote an Informative Article Comparing a Dealership building 2011 Ford F150 Seats or purchasing the same replacement seats from us, and you won't believe the difference. After reading that Article you can imagine, whoever your Insurance Company is, they will not pay for the Dealership Route.
We're happy to help, simply Contact Us. We will work with your insurance company to source a complete set of OEM Seats in the same condition, color and options.