Published 11 September 2025
Everything you need to know about car theft
The sound of a car alarm doesn’t always mean theft is imminent, so let’s take a look at some other causes...
In this article, we'll take a look at:
- What causes a car alarm to sound?
- What do you do if your car is stolen?
- How to protect your car from theft
Why does my car alarm keep going off?
We’ve all been there: It’s the middle of the night and you hear a car alarm going off. Your first thought is “that annoying sound has ruined my sleep”, closely followed by “oh no, please don’t let it be my car!”.
Other than an attempted break-in, car alarms can be triggered by a whole host of other reasons, such as:
- Low Battery - If you car battery is low, it may not send the right voltage to your alarm system which can set it off.
- Faulty parts - Your car may have sensors dedicated to detecting someone trying to steal your car, but when they become faulty or too sensitive, that may lead to your alarm going off for no reason.
Alternatively, if the alarm isn't installed properly, or one of it's parts is faulty, you could experience your alarm going off at random.
Does my car have an alarm?
You’ll find the answer to this in the owner’s manual, which is probably buried in your glovebox somewhere! You could also look for a light on the dashboard, which flashes to show the alarm system is armed. If you’re not sure, you can ask your mechanic who could tell you during your next service or MOT.
How to turn off a car alarm
You’ll need to check your manual, as all car makes and models can be different, but if you don’t have it to hand, try using your key to lock or unlock your car.
But what if your car alarm was triggered because of an actual theft? Well, we’re here to help you navigate what can be a stressful time…
What to do if your car is stolen
Call 101 and report it to the police. They’ll ask you for:
- Your vehicle registration number.
- The colour, make and model of the car.
- Any details about the theft.
- You’ll then get a crime reference number which you’ll need to give to your insurer when you make a claim.
Next, call your insurer to make your claim:
- You’ll need to give your insurer the crime reference number you got when you called the police.
- Your insurer will let the DVLA know that your car has been stolen, so no activity relating to the car is attributed to you while it’s out of your hands.
- If your car isn’t recovered, you’ll need to let the DVLA know that you no longer own the car. They’ll usually then refund you any remaining vehicle tax.
Does car insurance cover theft?
It depends on the level of car insurance you have, but you can check this in your policy documents. Third-party insurance is the minimum requirement for car insurance in the UK and won’t cover you if your car gets stolen. Third party, fire and theft cover or comprehensive cover will cover you for a stolen vehicle.
How to stop your car being stolen
There’s no quick fix to avoid theft or vandalism of your car, but there are a few things you can do for peace of mind, and to make it that bit harder for potential thieves:
- Remove all valuables from the car and leave nothing on show that could be of interest to thieves. Even those pounds for your supermarket trolley can be enough for an attempted break-in.
- Fit a thatcham-approved alarm system with tracking, Things like immobilisers and anti-grab sensors can also help with tracing your car if it's stolen and deter thieves.
- Keep your key in a signal-blocking pouch if your car has keyless entry system - this will stop thieves using the signal from your key to silently break in to your car.
- Always lock your car, even if you're only nipping into a shop or are at home in view of your car. Leaving your car unlockedd could invalidate your insurance.
- look into some additional anti theft devices such as steering wheel or brake locks, GPS tracking for your car and dashcams.
So, whether it’s a false (car) alarm, or a real-life car theft, make sure you’ve got the right level of cover with Allianz Online Car Insurance.
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