Does Car Insurance Cover Vandalism?

Yes, car insurance does cover vandalism. If you suddenly notice that your car has been vandalized, you can get the repair and replacement costs covered as long as you have comprehensive coverage in your auto insurance policy.

Just imagine walking back to your car in a parking lot or on the street and noticing fresh scratches, dents, broken glass, or paint splattered across it.   

Depending on the severity of the damage, vandalism repairs can cost anywhere from a small repair bill to thousands of dollars. So, that’s why it’s important to understand how vandalism coverage works, what steps to take after it happens, and whether filing a claim could affect your rates.  

What is Considered Vandalism for Car Insurance?

Typically, vandalism means someone intentionally damages your car without your permission. This type of damage can range from small cosmetic issues to serious repairs. Here are some of the most common examples of car vandalism: 

• Keyed marks or scratches on your car  
• Egging or food thrown at the car 
• Dents  
• Spray paint 
• Arson or intentional fire damage 
• Slashed or punctured tires 
• Broken headlights or taillights  
• Broken windows

If you want protection against vandalism, make sure your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage, and choose a deductible that makes sense for your budget with a reliable insurance provider.  

How Does Comprehensive Car Insurance Cover Vandalism?

If your car is vandalized, the repair costs may be covered by your policy’s comprehensive coverage (minus your deductible). If the damage is severe enough that the vehicle is considered a total loss, your insurer may reimburse you based on the car’s actual cash value (ACV), up to your coverage limits.   

Keep in mind that the comprehensive coverage is optional, so you will need to specifically tell your insurer that you want the comprehensive coverage for adequate financial protection.  

Example:

Let’s say you bought your car for $25,000. After 4 years of normal use, depreciation reduces its value, and its actual cash value (ACV) is now $18,000. Your comprehensive deductible is $500. 

Scenario 1: Repairable vandalism damage 

Someone vandalizes your car (spray paint + broken window), and the repair estimate comes to $2,200. 

• Repair cost: $2,200 
• Your deductible: $500 
• Insurance pays: $1,700 
• You pay out of pocket: $500

Scenario 2: Vandalism causes a total loss (replacement payout) 

Now imagine severe vandalism (such as intentional fire damage), and the car is declared a total loss. 

• Car’s ACV after 4 years: $18,000 
• Your deductible: $500 
• Insurance payout: $17,500

Even though you originally paid $25,000, the insurer pays based on the car’s current ACV after 4 years of depreciation, not the purchase price. If you want to offset the depreciation cost, then you can consider the new car replacement endorsement.  

The new car replacement coverage is an add-on that you can purchase with comprehensive coverage to replace it with a brand-new car of the same (or similar) make and model. 

If you’re also concerned about car theft, the good news is that comprehensive coverage typically covers stolen vehicles as well.

Does Liability or Collision Insurance Cover Vandalism?

In most cases, no, liability and collision coverage won’t cover vandalism damage to your car. Liability coverage specifically protects you from liability claims or legal costs when you’re responsible for a car accident. It only covers vehicle damage, property damage, or injuries of the other person, not yours, and that’s why liability coverage does not pay for any vandalism damage to your car. 

Collision coverage also doesn’t typically cover vandalism because vandalism isn’t usually caused by a crash or accidental impact. However, if someone deliberately rams your car with their vehicle, collision coverage may cover the damages, starting from scratches and dents to serious mechanical issues.  

If you just have liability coverage, and if your car gets vandalized, your auto insurance policy won’t cover the repair cost. So, it’s essential to consider comprehensive coverage for protection against vandalism, and to boost the scope of financial protection, collision coverage can also be helpful, depending on the situation.  

When Car Insurance May Not Cover Vandalism

While it’s helpful to know when car insurance covers vandalism, it’s just as important to understand when it won’t. Here are the most common situations where vandalism damage may not be covered. 

• Not having comprehensive coverage: If your auto insurance policy does not have comprehensive coverage, you won’t get covered for vandalism, especially with liability-only coverage.    
• Self-Inflicted Damage: If you damaged your own car, or if you have set other people up to vandalize your car, your car insurance won’t cover your car’s repair/replacement costs, as it falls under a direct policy violation due to insurance fraud.
• Missing Police Report: Car vandalism is a crime, and when it comes to criminal incidents, insurers often refer to a police report to verify the legitimacy of the claim, so without a police report, your claim may get denied.    
• Below Deductibles: If the repair cost is lower than your deductible amount, you’ll need to pay out of pocket.   
• Inactive policy: If your policy wasn’t active yet, or if the damage happened during a lapse in coverage, the vandalism repair won’t be covered.

What to Do When Your Car Has Been Vandalized?

If your car has been vandalized, it’s important to take a few immediate steps to stay safe, document the damage, and report the incident. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you handle the situation and support your insurance claim. 

Ensure Safety First

Criminal activities like car vandalism can be dangerous. If you’re inside the car, don’t get out. If it's possible, try to drive your way out. If you can’t escape from the situation, make sure to keep the doors and windows locked until help arrives.  

If you’re outside your car, immediately move to a safe location like a convenience store. If you find a security guard, there or nearby, for help, or call the police. Go to your car only when it's safe.  

Take Photos/Videos (Close + Wide Shots)

Once it’s safe, go to your car and gather evidence. Use your phone to take clear photos or videos of the damage caused by vandalism. Remember to stay calm, and don’t panic. The danger is gone.  

Focus on taking clear pictures of your car’s vandalism with close and wide shots. If there’s any surveillance camera nearby, take notes to inform your insurer about to help them verify the claim faster.  

If others have witnessed the incident, talk to them and take notes of their statement, and if they allow recording their statement, record it using your phone.  

File Police Report

After discovering your car has been vandalized, you should file a police report as soon as possible. Since vandalism is a criminal act, a police report can help support an investigation and may increase the chances of identifying the person responsible. 

It’s also important for insurance purposes, because insurers often request a police report to confirm that the damage was caused by vandalism and to verify the legitimacy of the claim. 

When filing the report, provide any evidence you have, such as photos, videos, and witness statements. If you noticed nearby surveillance cameras, include that information as well, since it may help the police or insurer review what happened. 

Contact Insurer and File Claim

After filing the police report, you should contact your insurer and inform them that your car has been vandalized and you need to claim car insurance to cover the damage. Make sure to provide the evidence you have, even if it's just the pictures and videos you’ve taken using your phone during or after the incident.  

If you’ve noticed any surveillance cameras nearby with possible footage of your car’s vandalism, you should inform your insurer about their location as well. The more documentation you provide, the easier it is for your insurer to verify the claim, which can help speed up the overall process.  

Get Your Car Repaired/Replaced

Once your claim moves forward, your insurer may ask you to provide a repair estimate from an auto repair shop or guide you to an approved repair facility. After the estimate is reviewed, you can move ahead with repairs and pay your deductible. 

If the car is declared a total loss, your insurer may issue a settlement based on the vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV), minus your deductible. In either case, the payout is typically covered under comprehensive coverage, up to your policy limits. 

Does Vandalism Claim Increase Your Car Insurance Rate?

Since vandalism is typically covered under comprehensive coverage (a non-collision claim), the rate increase is often smaller than an at-fault accident but your premium may still go up at renewal.  

According to The Zebra, your premium may rise by about $8 per month ($90 per year) after your first claim, and by nearly $15 per month ($177 per year) after a second claim. 

The table below shows the impact of vandalism claims on the comprehensive coverage of your auto insurance policy.

Source: The Zebra 

Tip: If the repair cost is close to your deductible, it may make sense to pay out of pocket instead of filing a claim.

How to Protect Your Car from Vandalism?

Your car is most vulnerable to vandalism when it’s parked on the street or left in public parking areas. According to Kelley Blue Book's (KBB) survey, 2 out of 5 Tesla owners have reported vandalism, and 61% of vandalism incidents have been reported by Gen-Z Tesla drivers. 

This proves that car vandalism is still a highly concerning threat, and it’s necessary to take necessary precautions and stay prepared to protect your car. Here are 10 practical tips to secure your car and reduce the chances of vandalism.  

• Consider Comprehensive Car Insurance Coverage: Starting with the worst-case scenario, if your car gets vandalized, if you have adequate comprehensive coverage, it can protect you by covering any repair or replacement costs.    
• Park in safer, high-visibility areas: Whenever possible, park in well-lit areas with heavy foot traffic, such as near store entrances or security checkpoints.   
• Choose secured parking when available: If you have the option, use a garage, gated parking, or paid parking lots that have attendants, cameras, or entry controls.   
• Use a loud car alarm or motion-triggered alarm: A loud car alarm or motion-triggered alarm system can scare off vandals and draw attention before they cause serious damage. Some modern alarms can also send alerts to your phone if your car is disturbed while parked.   
• Install a dash cam (preferably with parking mode): A dash cam with parking mode can record vandalism attempts, and the visible camera can also act as a deterrent.   
• Use visible anti-theft and security tools: Simple deterrents like a steering wheel lock, alarm system, or flashing security light can reduce the chances of someone targeting your vehicle.   
• Don’t leave valuables in plain sight: Even if vandalism isn’t theft-related, visible items like bags, electronics, or accessories can attract unwanted attention. Store valuables in the trunk or take them with you.   
• Keep your car locked and windows fully closed: Always lock your vehicle and double-check that your windows and sunroof are fully closed, especially in public parking spots.   
• Avoid leaving your car in the same spot for too long: Cars that stay parked in the same place for long periods may become easier targets. If you can, move your vehicle regularly.   
• Use home security cameras if you park outside: If you park in a driveway or street near your home, installing a doorbell camera or outdoor security camera can help record incidents.

The Bottom Line: Is Comprehensive Coverage Worth It for Vandalism?

Yes, comprehensive coverage is definitely worth it for vandalism, as it can help you pay expensive repair costs if it gets vandalized, and even reimburse your car based on its actual cash value (ACV) if it’s declared a total loss.  

If you don’t have adequate comprehensive coverage, and if your car gets vandalized, you may need to cover the loss out of pocket, and depending on the severity of the damage, it can be financially overwhelming.  

If you need help choosing the right coverage and determining the limits for adequate financial protection against vandalism, theft, accidents, natural disasters, and other unexpected events, you can contact us for expert advice with a free quote.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will my car insurance go up if I file a vandalism claim?

Yes, your car insurance may go up after filing a vandalism claim, but it depends on your insurer, state, and claims history. Since vandalism is usually covered under comprehensive coverage (a non-collision claim), any increase is often smaller than an at-fault accident, but your premium can still rise at renewal. 

Why do I have to pay a deductible if my car was vandalized?

Even when your car gets vandalized, you still have to pay a deductible because comprehensive coverage is designed to share the cost of a claim between you and the insurance company. Once you pay your deductible, your insurer covers the remaining repair or replacement costs (up to your policy limits). 

Is it worth going through insurance for a dent?

It depends on the cost of the dent repair compared to your deductible. If the repair cost is lower than or close to your deductible, it’s usually better to pay out of pocket. But if the damage is expensive or includes multiple issues, filing a comprehensive claim may be worth it. 

What does insurance do if your car is vandalized?

If your car is vandalized and you have comprehensive coverage, your insurance may pay to repair the damage or reimburse you if the car is declared a total loss. You’ll usually need to provide photos, file a police report, and pay your deductible before the insurer covers the remaining costs (up to your policy limits).