Does car insurance cover vandalism?

Discovering that another person has intentionally damaged your vehicle is something no driver wants to experience.

Unfortunately, car vandalism isn’t uncommon. Every vehicle owner should be aware of it. According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, reported 692 combined vandalism-related car insurance claims were filed daily in the U.S. between 2008 and 2012. And in 2020, catalytic converter thefts increased by over 325% compared to the previous year, according to a National Insurance Crime Bureau report. 

So what do drivers need to know if their vehicle is vandalized? Read on to learn about car vandalism, the types of car insurance that cover it, how to file a claim — and how to protect your vehicle from being defaced or damaged by vandals.

What is considered car vandalism?

Car vandalism, or auto vandalism, refers to intentional damage or destruction to a vehicle. 

Although vandalism can include a wide range of destructive acts, some common examples include the following:

• Smashed windows, mirrors, or lights
• Stolen or slashed tires
• Scratched car paint caused by keys or other sharp objects
• Stolen parts, such as the catalytic converter
• Exterior damage caused by spray paint or a heavy object such as a hammer

Depending on the extent of the damage, vandalism-related repair costs can range from inexpensive to costly.

Read more: Does car insurance cover catalytic converters?

For example, sometimes minor surface scratches can be buffed out, so it may not be worth it to claim a scratch on your car insurance. But other damage — like stolen parts — can require expensive replacements you don’t want to pay for out-of-pocket. 

While many different types of insurance are available to drivers, choosing the right coverage under your policy could help pay for vandalism-related repairs.

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Does car insurance cover vandalism?

As a vehicle owner, you’re probably wondering, “If my car was vandalized, will insurance cover it?” The answer depends on what kind of policy you have — only comprehensive car insurance covers vandalism.

Most states require liability car insurance coverage. If you’re a driver who only carries the minimum car insurance required by the state, then your insurance company won’t pay for repairs related to vandalism. 

Collision insurance also generally won’t cover acts of vandalism. However, if you carry full coverage or have comprehensive coverage included in your policy, then it’s likely your insurer will reimburse you for vandalism-related repairs. Learn more about the differences between collision and comprehensive car insurance.

Be aware that you will have to pay a limited out-of-pocket fee called a car insurance deductible before your insurance company pays for a claim under your comprehensive coverage.

Does car insurance cover break-ins?

Yes, comprehensive coverage is the only type of car insurance that will pay for repairs for damage caused by a vehicle break-in.

Will car insurance cover the theft of items from your car? Unfortunately, no. If personal property like a purse, laptop, or stereo that isn’t part of your car is stolen in a break-in, the replacement cost of those items would not be covered by your comprehensive coverage. 

Instead, the stolen items would be covered under your homeowners or renters insurance. Check your home or renters policy to ensure it covers items stolen out of your car.

Does insurance cover keyed cars?

Although liability and collision coverage won’t pay for paint damage caused by keys, comprehensive coverage will generally cover the cost of damage related to a car being keyed.

Will car insurance cover damage from riots?

If you have comprehensive coverage, your car insurance will likely pay for damage to your vehicle caused during social unrest. 

However, insurance coverage varies by provider, so check your policy documents or contact your insurer to confirm that your comprehensive coverage includes riot damage.

How Car Insurance for Vandalism Works

The only type of insurance coverage that covers vandalism is comprehensive coverage. Although it’s optional, you can easily add comprehensive coverage to your auto insurance policy and provide additional protection beyond liability and collision coverage.

If your goal is to ensure you’re covered against vandalism, it’s important to have comprehensive coverage. First, check your current policy documents to see if your auto insurance already includes comprehensive coverage. If it doesn’t, contact your insurance agent or provider and ask about your options for adding it to your existing auto insurance policy.

What should you do if you don’t have comprehensive coverage?

Unfortunately, liability and collision car insurance generally doesn’t cover vandalism. Therefore, comprehensive coverage is the only insurance covering the cost of car vandalism repairs. 

Properly insuring your vehicle before vandalism occurs is key. We recommend that all vehicle owners with a car valued over $3,000 and/or less than a decade old carry comprehensive coverage. If your vehicle is ever significantly damaged by vandals, the monthly cost of adding comprehensive coverage to your auto insurance policy can be worth it.

How much does full coverage car insurance cost?

It’s important to note that “full coverage” isn’t a type of car insurance coverage offered by insurance companies. Instead, the term usually refers to an auto insurance policy that includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. Carrying full coverage car insurance will cover vandalism.

Although insurance rates vary based on a variety of factors, including age, gender, location, driving history, and more, the table below can help you get an idea of the average full coverage car insurance rates in the U.S.

Full Coverage Average Premiums by State

Rates can vary widely between insurance providers. To get the best rates available, shop around and compare quotes before buying a policy.

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How to File a Car Insurance Claim for Vandalism

If your vehicle is vandalized, it’s important to follow the right steps to ensure your comprehensive coverage will pay for the damages. 

Follow the steps for filing a car insurance claim if you discover that your car has sustained vandalism-related damage:

• Take photographs of the damage. After you’ve made sure the location is safe and you’re not in danger, take photos of the damage caused to your vehicle before cleaning up the scene. Take photos from various angles so your insurer can review the damage thoroughly. Some insurers have mobile apps where you can upload photos directly.

• Contact the police and file a report. Vandalism is a crime, so it’s important to contact the police and file a police report if you’re the victim of vandalism. Make sure to request a copy of the report to provide to your insurer as part of the claims process.

• File a claim with your insurance company. You should contact your insurer as quickly as possible after discovering the vandalism-related damage to your vehicle. Many insurance companies allow you to start a claim by phone. In some cases, you might also be able to open a claim online or through your insurer’s mobile app.

• Speak with the claims adjuster. After filing a claim, you’ll need to meet with an insurance claims adjuster. The adjuster will inspect the vehicle’s damage, take notes, and inform you of the next steps to take.

• Make an appointment to get your vehicle repaired. Once your insurance claim is approved, contact a mechanic to have repairs made. Some insurance companies require you to use one of their approved auto shops. Ask your insurer about their policies before having your vehicle repaired.

Will filing a vandalism claim impact my rates?

Under some circumstances, filing a vandalism-related claim might not impact your rates. However, depending on your insurer and the state where you live, your insurance rates could increase if you file a comprehensive claim.

When should you file a car insurance claim for vandalism?

Although it can be tempting to contact your insurer after discovering that your vehicle has been vandalized, filing a claim is not always necessary. Before filing an insurance claim, compare your deductible amount to the cost of repairing the damage to your vehicle.

If the cost of repairing your vehicle exceeds the amount of your deductible, then filing a claim would make sense financially. However, if your deductible is $500 and the cost of repairs to your vehicle would be close to or less than that amount, it probably wouldn’t make sense to file a claim. 

Since insurance companies generally won’t pay for repairs under comprehensive claims until you meet the policy deductible, you would be responsible for most of the repair expenses even if you filed a claim.

When to Pay Out-of-Pocket for Vandalism Repairs

Since your deductible plays a role in determining whether your insurer will pay for repairs under your comprehensive coverage, remember to compare the cost of repairs to the amount of your policy’s deductible. 

If the cost of repairs is less than or nearly the same as your deductible, it might be more cost-effective and time efficient to pay out-of-pocket for vandalism-related repairs.

Tips for Protecting Your Car from Vandalism

With daily vandalism-related insurance claims remaining high and catalytic converter thefts on the rise, it might be wise to take additional precautions to protect your vehicle. Even if you’ve added comprehensive coverage to your car insurance policy, installed alarms, or put tracking devices on your vehicle, vandalism and theft can still be a concern.

These tips can help protect your vehicle from vandalism:

• Park in a garage or enclosed parking lot. Designated parking garages and lots often have security cameras and parking attendants that can deter vandalism.

• Choose well-lit parking spaces in areas with high foot traffic. When you have to park on the street, select a space in a well-lit area with plenty of passersby. The continual presence of people and potential witnesses can act as a deterrent against acts of vandalism.

• Don’t leave personal items or valuables in your vehicle. Avoid leaving your smartphone, purse, laptop, or other electronic or valuable items in your car unattended. If you have to leave personal items in your car while parked, consider placing them in the trunk where they aren’t visible. 

• Use valet parking when other safe parking options aren’t available. When other safe parking options aren’t available, consider using valet parking. Valet services typically park vehicles in secured parking lots with security or the continuous presence of valet drivers that can discourage acts of vandalism.
• Install vehicle security cameras and anti-theft devices. Although installing car alarms and other security features like cameras and anti-theft devices won’t completely protect your car from vandalism, they can help deter vandals from approaching. If your car is vandalized or stolen, cameras and anti-theft tracking devices can help you recover your vehicle more quickly and identify the responsible parties.

Although there’s no way to protect your vehicle against vandalism completely, following these tips could reduce the likelihood of having to file a vandalism claim.

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Case Studies: Car Insurance and Vandalism

Case Study 1: Minimum Liability Coverage

John owns a vehicle and has opted for the minimum liability insurance required by his state. One day, he discovers that his car has been vandalized with deep scratches. Since John’s insurance policy only includes liability coverage, his insurance company won’t pay for the repairs related to vandalism. John realizes the importance of having comprehensive coverage to protect against such incidents.

Case Study 2: Comprehensive Coverage

Sarah owns a car and has comprehensive coverage included in her insurance policy. Unfortunately, her vehicle is targeted by vandals who break the windows and steal her stereo system. Sarah contacts her insurance company and files a claim for the damages. Since she has comprehensive coverage, her insurer agrees to reimburse her for the repairs and replacement of the stolen items, after she pays her deductible.

Case Study 3: Break-In and Personal Property Theft

David’s car is broken into, and several valuable personal items, including his laptop and purse, are stolen. David has comprehensive coverage in his car insurance policy, which covers repairs for damage caused by the break-in. However, his stolen personal property is not covered by car insurance. David contacts his insurance to claim stolen items covered by his policy.

Case Study 4: Keyed Car

Lisa discovers that her car has been maliciously keyed, causing significant paint damage. Luckily, Lisa has comprehensive coverage, which typically covers the cost of damage caused by keying. She contacts her insurance company and files a claim for the repairs. After paying her deductible, her insurer agrees to cover the cost of restoring the paintwork.

Car Insurance and Vandalism: The Lowdown

From smashed windows to stolen parts, damage caused by vandalism can be costly for vehicle owners to repair. While collision and liability coverage doesn’t cover car vandalism, the only type of car insurance that will cover the costs of vandalism-related repairs is an optional form of coverage called comprehensive coverage. 

Comprehensive insurance is optional and not required by state law. However, if you’re concerned about vandalism, you should consider adding this coverage to your auto insurance policy. Contact your pricing agent, or use our free comparison tool below to get comprehensive car insurance quotes from local companies.

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