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Carjacking: what to do

Emergency numbers differ by country. This page uses 911, the number for the United States and Canada. Many other countries use 112, 999, or another number. Find the number for your country.

A carjacking is when someone takes a vehicle from you by force or threat. This page explains how to keep yourself and your passengers safe, and how to lower the chance it happens.

Do this now

  1. Give up the car. Hand over the keys or step out when you are told to.
  2. Do not fight, argue, or try to drive away if the person is at your door and threatening you.
  3. If children are in the car, tell the person clearly and calmly, and ask to take them out.
  4. Move away from the car, quickly and in the direction away from where it will go. Do not follow it.
  5. Get to a safe, busy place and call your local emergency number (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom).

During a carjacking

Police advice is the same in many countries: hand over the keys rather than risk being hurt. A vehicle can be replaced. You and your family cannot.

Keep your hands visible and move slowly. Do what you are told. Do not reach for a phone, a bag, or anything else unless you are asked to.

Do not try to hold on to the car. People are hurt when they get dragged or struck while holding a door or the steering wheel. If you can, step back and let the person go.

Children in the car

Tell the person at once that a child is in the car, and ask to take the child out. Do this calmly. Do not struggle over the car or the child, and do not leave a child behind if you can safely take them.

If you are in the car when it is moving

If someone forces their way in or you cannot leave, stay as calm as you can. Do not make sudden moves. Do what you are told, and watch for a chance to get out safely, such as when the car slows or stops.

Do not try to escape from a car moving at speed. Leave only when it is safe to do so, and move away from the road.

Right after

Get away from the spot and into a place with other people, such as a shop or a gas station building. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt, tell the call taker. Our bleeding guide can help while you wait.

Tell the police:

  • Where you are, and whether anyone is hurt
  • What the vehicle is: make, model, color, and plate number
  • Which way it went
  • What the person or people looked like, and whether they had a weapon
  • Whether anything important was in the car, such as a phone, a child seat, or medicine

Write down what you remember while it is fresh, and ask for a report number. Tell your insurer as soon as you can. If your keys, documents, or phone were taken, secure your home and accounts.

Lower your risk

Most police advice focuses on awareness and habits.

  • Keep your doors locked and your windows up when you drive, especially in slow traffic.
  • Stay alert when you get in or out of the car, at gas stations, at cash machines, and when you arrive home.
  • Look around before you stop. If someone is hanging around, drive on.
  • Leave space in front of your car at traffic lights so you can pull away.
  • Park in well lit, busy places.
  • If another car bumps yours from behind and you feel uneasy, keep going until you reach a busy, well lit place before you stop.
  • If you think you are being followed, see our being followed guide.

Look after yourself

A carjacking is a violent crime, and strong feelings afterward are normal. Talk to someone you trust. If fear or poor sleep lasts, speak to a doctor or counselor. Many police services offer victim support.