Stolen Scooter or Moped: Will Insurance Pay, and How to File the Claim

Insurance pays for a stolen scooter or moped only if the vehicle had comprehensive coverage, also called other-than-collision coverage, on the day it was stolen. Comprehensive is the part of a policy that covers theft. If your scooter only had liability insurance, which is what many state laws require, there is no coverage for the theft of the scooter itself. And if it had no policy at all, renters or homeowners insurance usually will not step in for a motorized vehicle.

That makes the first step simple: find out exactly what your scooter or moped was insured for. Then report the theft quickly, because both the police and your insurer need to hear about it as soon as possible.

Which coverage pays for scooter theft

Scooters and mopeds are usually insured on a motorcycle policy or as a covered vehicle added to an auto policy. In North Carolina, for example, the Department of Insurance explains that motorcycles and similar vehicles are covered by a Miscellaneous Type Vehicle Endorsement attached to the personal auto policy. However it is written, the theft question comes down to whether physical damage coverage was included. North Carolina's motorcycle and motor scooter guide describes other-than-collision coverage as handling damage from falling objects, fire, theft, hail, glass breakage, and contact with animals.

• Comprehensive or other-than-collision coverage: pays for theft of the scooter, minus your deductible, usually up to its actual cash value.
• Liability only: pays for damage and injuries you cause to others. It does not pay for your own scooter, stolen or damaged.
• No policy at all: there is generally no insurance payment for the scooter itself.

Why renters and homeowners insurance usually will not help

Many owners assume a small scooter counts as personal property under a renters or homeowners policy. For motorized vehicles that is usually not the case. The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner says that auto theft and damage to your vehicle are not covered under a renter policy, even if it is parked where you live, and that you need a separate auto policy. The same page notes that personal items inside a vehicle are typically covered if stolen, so a helmet, jacket, or bag stolen with the scooter may be worth reporting to your renters or homeowners insurer. Some home policies treat very small, low-powered vehicles differently, so read your policy's definition of a motor vehicle before ruling it out.

Insurance rules depend on your state and the scooter's class

Whether a scooter or moped must be insured at all is set by each state, often by speed or engine size. New York is a good example. Its DMV sorts limited use motorcycles, or mopeds, into three classes. Registration is required for all three, and insurance is required for Class A, with top speeds over 30 up to 40 miles per hour, and Class B, over 20 up to 30 miles per hour. For Class C, 20 miles per hour or less, insurance is recommended rather than required, unless the moped is used as a rental. North Carolina requires all motorcycle and motor scooter operators to buy liability insurance. Either way, the legal requirement is usually liability, and theft protection is an optional coverage you have to choose.

How to file a stolen scooter claim

• Report the theft to the police right away and get a report number. Have the scooter's VIN, plate number, make, model, color, and any photos ready.
• Notify your insurer as soon as possible. New York's DMV advises reporting a stolen vehicle to both the police and your auto insurer as soon as possible.
• Gather proof of ownership and value, such as the title or registration, the purchase receipt, and records of locks, alarms, or accessories you added.
• List any personal items stolen with the scooter separately, since they may belong on a renters or homeowners claim instead.
• Handle your plates and registration the way your state requires. In New York, police can complete form MV-78B, which you bring to the DMV to surrender your registration.
• Keep notes of every call and a copy of every document you send.

What the payout usually looks like

If the scooter is not recovered, a comprehensive claim typically pays the scooter's actual cash value, meaning its value just before the theft, minus your deductible. Insurers often wait a set period to see whether the vehicle turns up before paying, and in New York you may transfer ownership to the insurer using your title if the vehicle is not recovered. Aftermarket parts and accessories may only be covered up to a limit or with added coverage, so check your declarations page and keep receipts.

If the scooter is recovered, tell the police and your insurer immediately. New York's DMV says not to use the vehicle or apply for plates until you are sure the stolen-vehicle alarm has been canceled, and to resolve any damage with your insurer before re-registering.

Bottom line

A stolen scooter or moped is covered only if it carried comprehensive, or other-than-collision, coverage. Liability alone will not pay, and renters or homeowners policies generally exclude motorized vehicles, though they may cover belongings stolen with it. Report the theft to the police and your insurer right away, document ownership and value, and follow your state's plate and registration rules while the claim is processed.