Reporting stolen vehicles

Every day cars are stolen from their owners. A car can sometimes be stolen because of carelessness on the part of the owner, for example, by leaving your vehicle unlocked or unattended in public places.

If your vehicle is stolen, you should report this to the Gardaí immediately and call your insurance company. You can find the location of your nearest Garda Station on Garda.ie.

Vehicles reported as stolen are entered into a central database that all Garda stations in Ireland can access. Vehicles reported as stolen can be monitored and tracked by the Gardaí across the country.

Call your insurance company

Your insurance company will tell you how to make an insurance claim.

It's important to be aware of the potential risks when you leave your vehicle unattended (for even a few moments) in a public place. It's also important to be mindful of parking, particularly when you park in daylight but return much later in darkness.

These are some general safety tips and way to prevent your car from being stolen:

• Park in a well-lit area if possible
• Make sure your car is locked and your car alarm is switched on, or use a steering lock
• Do not leave valuables inside the car
• Never leave your car running and unattended
• Store your keys safely, away from windows and letterboxes in your home

If you are buying a second hand car, and want to find out about the things you should check beforehand, read our page about buying a used car.