laserjack

Sounds like an episode from Seinfeld................

Don C1

Out of curiousity was it a stick or auto? My understanding is not many manuals get stolen because many don't know how to drive sticks

TXshaggy

Slynky

In theory...yes. Sadly, most insurance companies only think of ways to avoid costs.

Savoy2001

To be honest it sucks that they found the car. I wouldn't want it back after that happened. Ugh I feel for you good luck OP.

Slynky

I understand what you're saying and to a point, I agree. ON the other hand, what if there was no OnStar? What if they found the car, say..., 3 days later. As I understand it, the OP doesn't get a new car, he gets his old car back, right? Better to have it in a few hours than a few days...

akers4000

it a auto

JALLEN4

The car was inside the building. Where else would the keys be? Dealers have an insurance policy called Garage Owner's Liability. There are a limited number of companies that sell these policies as they are specialized. They will send a loss prevention analyst to the dealership at the beginning of the policy to do a walk around looking for best policy recommendations. They will tell you to always leave the keys in cars parked in the building. The reason for this is in case of fire, a much more likely scenario than theft inside the building. In a fire there would then be an opportunity to move the vehicles before they are totally consumed.

akers4000

yes i agree

Thunder22

In a lock box, or in someone's control while the car is sitting unattended. How about some common sense?

Are you seriously also suggesting that service techs risk their lives to move cars during a fire? putting their lives at risk to save a car? that's idiotic.

Savoy2001

In that case then yes of course. I guess I'm always thinking if my car gets stolen I hope its either gone and not found or if found so trashed that it's totaled. So yes, in his case, much better to find it a few hours later if getting it back as opposed to days.

C7GSCorvette

If there is any damage to the car I would make the Dealer buy the car back. They are insured for this kind of stuff. Do you remember how much gas was in the car when you brought it in?

Slynky

I'm with you, of course. If stolen, I have replacement costs, so I tend to feel the same way--totaled or gone for good.

But we both agree that if it IS to be found, the sooner the better.

Mr. Gizmo

I would demand extended warranty, full on detail, and full on inspection of the undercarriage of the car. any scrape, ding, scratch on the outside or underneath or scuff on the interior should be made better then new -- when you leave a car at the dealer, they are required to use reasonable pre-cautions -- such as removing the keyfob when the car is unattended and placing it in a locked and insulated steel box so the radio transmitter would not allow the car to be started.

Is your car an automatic or manual transmission that was stolen? I am betting it was automatic - young thieves today can't drive manuals lol!

akers4000

yes its a auto, i dont know details about the guy that took it yet.

had about 3/4 tank of gas

Rebel Yell

Sorry to hear this happened, but It's just one of life's little adventures. I glad to hear the car wasn't stripped, or damaged in any way. I'm doubly happy to hear the asshat that took it is in jail.

JALLEN4

I am telling you common sense from someone who knows but you seem to want to dispute it. If a fire starts in a car at one end of a shop, techs at the other end are certainly capable of moving cars without risking their lives. Most fire scenarios in a shop are one engine compartment catching fire and moving cars next to it to keep it from spreading.

You need to think of never taking your car to another shop for service. First, in forty years I have never seen a shop where they remove the keys inside. Second, I will guarantee you the tech will leave the keys in the car while he goes to the parts department for parts.


Let me tell you a fact you are really not going to like but can easily find is true. The dealer legally has no responsibility to the car whatsoever. When you take your vehicle for repairs and leave it in the dealer's care, you have made a bailment for mutual benefit. The shop has the responsibility to take reasonable care, something they did on a normal course of events. When the vehicle was stolen, it was the owner's insurance companies responsibility as they insure the vehicle.

Most dealers are going to do everything within reason to satisfy the consumer... as they should. But, when you start acting as if though you are a newly minted senior partner making demands, they can tell you to call your insurance company and ask what they will pay for. This is a fact that everyone who uses a shop should be aware of but few are and most will argue the opposite...wrongly!

PatternDayTrader

A man who works with his hands tends to be pretty good at managing physical risks, but you wont see any techs saving a customer car.
You will see them pushing their toolbox out the nearest overhead door, Lol.

As they should.
Anything else is totally impractical.

Steve Garrett

Akers, I'm interested in what the dealership says about the entire incident and what they offer you.

Michael A

Wpw! What a story. Good job by OnStar and the police.

I hope it all works out for you in the end. I like the ideas of an extended warranty, and independent inspection. Sure, they may not be legally liable for those things, but it would be in their interest as a goodwill gesture for repeat business.