Car Stolen, Crashed, and Now Stuck in Police Hold... What Can I Do?

Over a month ago, my car was stolen. A few days later, the police spotted it and tried to stop the driver. The suspect ran, which led to a police chase, and it ended with my car getting wrecked.

There were two other people in the car who got badly hurt, so the police put a hold on my car for investigation. My car is completely destroyed, but my insurance says they can’t do anything right now because their adjuster can’t see it to assess the damage.

Both my insurance and the police have been really hard to reach, and my rental car is about to expire. I’ve never dealt with something like this before, and I don’t know what to do or if I even can do anything. Any advice or insights would be super helpful.

Police holds happen pretty often. Your insurance just needs some photos to figure out the damage and likely total your car so you can move on. Even if the car is still with the police for a long time, insurance will deal with it later. You’ve got to keep calling both the insurance and the police nonstop.

Fallon said:
Police holds happen pretty often. Your insurance just needs some photos to figure out the damage and likely total your car so you can move on. Even if the car is still with the police for a long time, insurance will deal with it later. You’ve got to keep calling both the insurance and the police nonstop.

Call the police constantly, not the insurance, haha.

Fallon said:
Police holds happen pretty often. Your insurance just needs some photos to figure out the damage and likely total your car so you can move on. Even if the car is still with the police for a long time, insurance will deal with it later. You’ve got to keep calling both the insurance and the police nonstop.

Here’s what I would do: reach out to the mayor, sheriff, or anyone in charge and explain you’re a victim of a crime. Tell them your car was stolen, and now your insurance is stuck because they can’t get proof the car is totaled.

Ask if someone can take a few minutes to walk over to the impound lot and snap some photos to send to you or your insurance company. If your insurance doesn’t accept them, you might just need someone to guide their adjuster to take a look.

Tell them it’s a simple thing that could solve this nightmare and ask them for their help!

Ezra said:

Fallon said:
Police holds happen pretty often. Your insurance just needs some photos to figure out the damage and likely total your car so you can move on. Even if the car is still with the police for a long time, insurance will deal with it later. You’ve got to keep calling both the insurance and the police nonstop.

Here’s what I would do: reach out to the mayor, sheriff, or anyone in charge and explain you’re a victim of a crime. Tell them your car was stolen, and now your insurance is stuck because they can’t get proof the car is totaled.

Ask if someone can take a few minutes to walk over to the impound lot and snap some photos to send to you or your insurance company. If your insurance doesn’t accept them, you might just need someone to guide their adjuster to take a look.

Tell them it’s a simple thing that could solve this nightmare and ask them for their help!

It really shouldn’t be this hard. I used to work with stolen vehicle claims, and the police should be helping out. Sounds like you might be dealing with a new adjuster who’s not sure what to do.

Fallon said:

Ezra said:
Fallon said:
Police holds happen pretty often. Your insurance just needs some photos to figure out the damage and likely total your car so you can move on. Even if the car is still with the police for a long time, insurance will deal with it later. You’ve got to keep calling both the insurance and the police nonstop.

Here’s what I would do: reach out to the mayor, sheriff, or anyone in charge and explain you’re a victim of a crime. Tell them your car was stolen, and now your insurance is stuck because they can’t get proof the car is totaled.

Ask if someone can take a few minutes to walk over to the impound lot and snap some photos to send to you or your insurance company. If your insurance doesn’t accept them, you might just need someone to guide their adjuster to take a look.

Tell them it’s a simple thing that could solve this nightmare and ask them for their help!

It really shouldn’t be this hard. I used to work with stolen vehicle claims, and the police should be helping out. Sounds like you might be dealing with a new adjuster who’s not sure what to do.

Yeah, I’m out of the insurance business now, but sometimes it can still be a hassle depending on the situation.

Ezra said:

Fallon said:
Ezra said:
Fallon said:
Police holds happen pretty often. Your insurance just needs some photos to figure out the damage and likely total your car so you can move on. Even if the car is still with the police for a long time, insurance will deal with it later. You’ve got to keep calling both the insurance and the police nonstop.

Here’s what I would do: reach out to the mayor, sheriff, or anyone in charge and explain you’re a victim of a crime. Tell them your car was stolen, and now your insurance is stuck because they can’t get proof the car is totaled.

Ask if someone can take a few minutes to walk over to the impound lot and snap some photos to send to you or your insurance company. If your insurance doesn’t accept them, you might just need someone to guide their adjuster to take a look.

Tell them it’s a simple thing that could solve this nightmare and ask them for their help!

It really shouldn’t be this hard. I used to work with stolen vehicle claims, and the police should be helping out. Sounds like you might be dealing with a new adjuster who’s not sure what to do.

Yeah, I’m out of the insurance business now, but sometimes it can still be a hassle depending on the situation.

Totally agree. It often comes down to the adjuster’s experience.

As an appraiser who has handled similar cases, the insurance adjuster and you should try to get in touch with the sergeant handling your case. I’d even suggest going down to the police department. Usually, they’ll send someone to meet the appraiser at the lot to allow an in-person inspection.

Ansel said:
As an appraiser who has handled similar cases, the insurance adjuster and you should try to get in touch with the sergeant handling your case. I’d even suggest going down to the police department. Usually, they’ll send someone to meet the appraiser at the lot to allow an in-person inspection.

In New York, it’s usually a detective handling cases like this, not a sergeant.

Keep pushing both your insurance and the police for updates. If communication keeps being an issue, you might want to file a formal complaint. Also, try asking your insurance for a rental extension.

I’m a Commercial Fire and Theft Adjuster, and I know a lot of impound lots take photos. Check if they can send those photos to your insurance adjuster.

You could also try contacting the District Attorney’s office for help. Sometimes they can step in.