Has the vehicle definitely been stolen?

This may sound a little obvious, but there may be another explanation as to why the vehicle isn’t where you might expect it to be. Ask yourself the following questions:

Could someone else be using the vehicle?

If anyone else at the company uses the vehicle or has access to keys, try to find out if they’ve taken or moved it. Ask other colleagues or anyone in the area who might have information about the vehicle’s whereabouts. Is there CCTV on the premises?

Was it illegally parked?

If the vehicle was parked illegally, it may have been towed or impounded rather than stolen. Contact your local police station or call the non-emergency police line on 131 444 to check whether the vehicle has been impounded or moved by local authorities. They’ll be able to confirm its location and advise on the next steps for retrieval.

Did you definitely park where you thought you had?

It's easy to sometimes misremember exactly where you left a vehicle. Retrace your steps to double-check it’s not where it’s supposed to be.

By asking yourself these questions, you can avoid unnecessary stress and wasted time if the vehicle was simply misplaced.

How to report a stolen vehicle

If you’ve confirmed that a vehicle has been stolen, you should report it to the police as soon as possible. In Australia, you can contact your local police station or call the non-emergency police line on 131 444. The police will ask for key details about the vehicle, such as its make, model, colour, registration plate, and, if available, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). They will also need information about the company the vehicle belongs to, where it was taken from, and, if possible, an approximate time or timeframe when the theft occurred.

Having all of this information ready when you call will help the police lodge your report quickly and begin investigating sooner. The faster the theft is reported, the greater the chances of recovering the vehicle. After contacting the police, it’s also important to notify your insurance provider promptly to start the claims process.

Check your company policy

Many Australian businesses have specific procedures in place for vehicle theft. Make sure you also report the theft to your supervisor, fleet manager, or another designated contact within your company. Following your company’s policy ensures the incident is properly documented and helps coordinate any further steps, such as notifying insurers or arranging replacement vehicles.

How to find a stolen vehicle

A vehicle tracking system with stolen-vehicle recovery capabilities can be extremely useful in locating a stolen vehicle in Australia because it provides real‑time and historical location data that authorised monitoring centres and police can use to assist recovery.

If your fleet or company vehicle has a tracker, contact the monitoring centre for that system immediately and tell them you have reported the theft to police; the monitoring service can work with local officers to share live location information and coordinate recovery. Do not try to locate or confront the thieves yourself — attempting to intervene can compromise the police investigation and put you and others at risk.

Many insurers and recovery providers in Australia favour approved or professionally‑monitored systems because they improve detection and recovery outcomes. At the same time, Australian police and motoring clubs recommend physical and electronic security measures (such as immobilisers, OBD‑port locks and professionally installed tracking) as part of a layered approach to reduce theft risk.

The good news is that vehicles fitted with these systems have excellent recovery rates. Radius’ Investigations Unit has achieved a 98% success rate in recovering cars and vans, recovering more than AUD $47 million worth of assets over the past five years.

Finally, remember that trackers also act as a deterrent and a recovery aid, but their effectiveness depends on prompt reporting, fast action from the monitoring centre, and police cooperation.

Contact your insurance provider

Regardless of whether or not you have a tracker system installed, if your vehicle has been stolen, it's important to notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Let them know the police report number, if you have one, as well as any other relevant information (e.g., vehicle registration plate, insurance policy details and a description of the incident).

Does insurance cover stolen vehicles?

If the vehicle hasn’t been recovered after 30 days, you should contact your insurance company to discuss the potential for a payout. Company vehicles typically have commercial insurance policies, so the coverage options and claim procedures will likely be different from personal vehicle insurance. Review your company's policy carefully and consult with your employer and insurance provider for specific guidance.

What to look for in a theft-safe fleet insurance policy ?

A good fleet insurance policy aimed at preventing theft (or reducing loss when theft happens) will include:

• Comprehensive cover including fire & theft; not just third-party.
• Strong terms around new-vehicle replacement or “agreed value” especially for newer vehicles.
• Automatic cover for added accessories, tools, and equipment, especially those stored in the vehicle.
• Keys & locks cover, including replacement if keys stolen.
• A low excess on theft claims, or certain excess reductions if vehicles are fitted with approved theft deterrent systems (alarms, immobilisers, trackers).
• Policy wording that supports telematics, GPS tracking or stolen vehicle recovery services.
• Good claims service and repair network to reduce downtime.
• Flexibility to add or remove vehicles easily (for changing/fleet growth).
• Discounts for good risk management: secure parking, driver training, alarm installation, etc.

Notify Australian Transport Authorities after a company vehicle gets stolen

f a stolen company vehicle is not recovered or is written off, you’ll need to notify the relevant Australian authorities to update registration and cancel any ongoing fees. In most states and territories, this means contacting your local state or territory transport authority (for example, Service NSW, VicRoads, Queensland Transport and Main Roads, or Service SA).

Once the police report has been lodged and you have a police event or incident number, you should provide it to your state’s transport department when you report the vehicle as stolen or written off. This ensures the vehicle record is updated and helps prevent fraudulent use of the registration or plates.

If the vehicle remains unrecovered, your business may also be eligible for a registration refund for the unused portion of the rego, depending on the state’s policy.

What types of vehicles can trackers protect?

Stolen vehicle tracking systems are valuable for all types of Australian businesses — whether you’re a sole trader with a single company car or managing a large fleet of trucks, vans, cars, or buses. Asset tracking solutions are equally effective for trailers, construction equipment, shipping containers, and other high-value machinery.

How to protect your fleet from theft

We hope these tips have helped you understand what to do if a company vehicle is stolen and how to improve your chances of recovery. In Australia, business-owned vehicles account for a significant portion of thefts each year — with a light commercial or passenger vehicle stolen, on average, every 11 minutes nationwide. In Victoria alone, 28,922 vehicles were reported stolen in 2024, the highest number in over 20 years and a 41% increase from 2023.

These figures highlight the importance of being prepared. By adopting proactive security measures — such as GPS vehicle tracking, dash cameras, and comprehensive fleet insurance — you can significantly reduce the financial and operational impact of a theft on your business.

To learn more about how Radius can help protect your company vehicles and assets across Australia, get in touch with our friendly team today.