How to file a car insurance claim for vandalism
A full-coverage policy provides compensation for property damage losses, like acts of vandalism. But filing a claim can make your rates increase, and you may need to pay a deductible. If the damages are significant, filing a claim may make sense. But with limited damage, it may be cheaper to handle the repairs yourself or skip them altogether.
For instance, it may not be cost-effective to file a comprehensive claim if your car has a small scratch from someone keying it. On the other hand, if your car was covered in spray paint during a riot, it’s probably best to file a claim for coverage.
Talk to your agent or get quotes from local repair facilities to see if paying out of pocket is more affordable. If you decide to file a claim, the process varies a bit between insurers but typically requires the following steps:[3]
1. Contact the police
Call the police to report the vandalism and file an official police report.
2. Report the incident to your insurer
Contact your insurance agent or insurance company to schedule a damage assessment. You can usually do this by phone, email, or using your insurer’s mobile app.
3. Document the vandalism
Collect as much information as you can for your insurer, including photos and videos of your vehicle and its surroundings, details of the event, and witness contact information.
4. Get a damage estimate
Your insurer will likely require you to have a repair shop assess the vehicle’s damage to get an estimate for repair or replacement costs.
5. Pay your deductible
If your insurer improves your claim, pay your deductible and wait for your insurance company to send you a check to cover the cost of repairs.
Sometimes insurers deny claims or offer a lower settlement amount than expected. If this happens, you can dispute the claim on your own or consider hiring a lawyer to help.
Do you have to pay a deductible when you file a vandalism claim?
You may need to pay a deductible when you file a vandalism claim, but not always. For instance: If something or someone smashed in your window, and you have no-deductible glass insurance, you may not need to pay anything before your insurance kicks in.
You can usually choose your deductible amount when you sign up for comprehensive car insurance coverage. Your deductible amount affects premium rates. Higher deductibles usually have lower monthly premiums, while lower deductibles usually lead to higher premium rates.[4]
It’s a good idea to research average costs for the types of damage most commonly created by vandalism, like repairing paint scratches and broken glass. Remember that deductibles, monthly premiums, and increases for comprehensive policies may still be cheaper overall than paying for extensive damages out of pocket.
Will filing a claim for auto vandalism raise your insurance rates?
Filing a vandalism claim will likely result in a rate increase. Insurance companies typically raise insurance premiums when you file any type of claim, including unavoidable types of damages from criminal acts, like vandalism.
But some insurance companies won’t raise rates for a first-time claim. These perks are typically features of a specific policy, such as accident forgiveness for new policyholders.
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