Does Car Insurance Cover Vandalism?
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Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She covers topics ranging from car insurance to healthcare costs.
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When Will My Car Insurance Cover Vandalism?
How Is Vandalism Covered by My Insurance?
How Much Is Covered if My Car Is Vandalized?
If Basic Insurance Does Not Cover Vandalism, What Will?
When Will My Car Insurance Cover Vandalism?
In general, car vandalism is covered if you have comprehensive coverage as a part of your auto insurance policy.
Sometimes referred to as "other than collision coverage," comprehensive coverage reimburses you for physical damage to your vehicle from sources other than a collision. In the case of vandalism, this could mean activities such as:
- Body defacement (i.e., purposeful scratching or denting of the vehicle's body)
- Breaking windows and lights
- Slashing or stealing tires
Comprehensive coverage can help you recover the cost of repairs in these types of vandalism situations.
How Is Vandalism Covered by Car Insurance?
When you report to your insurance company that someone has vandalized your car, they'll open a claim and investigate the incident. Upon confirming that your car was in fact vandalized and that you have comprehensive coverage, your policy will help you pay to repair the damage.
Your insurance company may work with you to have your car repaired by an approved repair shop in your area, and they'll pay the repair shop directly for the repairs. Or, your insurance company will provide you with the option to choose your own repair shop and get reimbursed for the cost.
How Much Is Covered if My Car Is Vandalized?
If your car insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage, it will cover damage caused by vandalism minus your deductible. Your deductible is the amount you agreed to pay for physical damage to your car before your insurance coverage kicks in. A typical comprehensive deductible might be $250 or $500.
The amount of your deductible will be subtracted from the cost of repairs that the insurance company will pay. That's why it's not always worth it to file a claim for minor damage; if the cost of damage is less than or only slightly more than the deductible, filing a claim isn't usually the best choice.
If Basic Insurance Does Not Cover Vandalism, What Will?
Only comprehensive coverage included in your auto policy will reimburse you for vandalism-related vehicle damage. In addition, homeowners or renters insurance may cover you for items stolen from your car during a vandalism-related incident.
What Do I Have to Pay if My Insurance Doesn't Entirely Cover the Vandalism?
If you have comprehensive coverage, you'll have coverage for the cost of repairs after your deductible.
It’s important to note that comprehensive insurance will not cover any personal items stolen from the vehicle. In that case, you'd need to check your home insurance or renters insurance for coverage for those items.