Does Car Insurance Cover Vandalism Damage

Vandalism is covered if you have comprehensive coverage, but not if you only carry liability

Comprehensive coverage pays for vandalism damage to your car — broken windows, slashed tires, graffiti, dents from deliberate damage. Liability coverage does not. If you financed or leased your car, your lender probably requires comprehensive. If you own it outright, comprehensive is optional, and many people skip it to lower their premium.

The catch is your deductible. You pay that amount out of pocket before insurance pays the rest. If your deductible is $500 and vandalism damage costs $800 to repair, you pay $500 and insurance covers $300. If damage costs less than your deductible, insurance pays nothing and you cover the full cost yourself.

You will need a police report to file a vandalism claim. The insurance company uses it to verify the damage was deliberate, not wear and tear or an accident you caused. Without a report, most insurers will deny the claim.

Key Takeaways

• Comprehensive coverage pays for vandalism; liability coverage does not, so check your policy to see which you have.
• You must file a police report before submitting a vandalism claim to your insurance company.
• Your deductible applies to vandalism claims, so if repair costs less than your deductible, you pay the full amount yourself.
• If you financed or leased your car, your lender requires comprehensive coverage, but if you own it outright, you can choose to carry only liability to save money.
• Some insurers offer a $0 deductible for glass-only damage like broken windows, so ask your agent what options exist on your policy.

How to tell if your policy includes comprehensive coverage

Log into your insurance company's website or app and pull up your current policy document. Look for a section labeled "Coverage" or "Your Coverage." You will see line items for liability, collision, and comprehensive. If comprehensive is listed with a dollar amount or deductible, you have it. If it is not listed at all, you do not.

You can also call your insurance agent or the customer service number on your insurance card. Tell them you want to confirm whether your policy includes comprehensive coverage. They can answer in under a minute.

If you do not have comprehensive coverage and want to add it, you can do so at any time. There is no waiting period. Your agent can add it over the phone, and it usually takes effect the same day or the next day. Your premium will increase, but you can choose your deductible — higher deductibles cost less per month but mean you pay more when you file a claim.

What counts as vandalism versus what does not

Vandalism is intentional damage caused by someone else. Broken windows from a rock thrown through your windshield, spray paint, slashed tires, dents from a key or crowbar, and mirrors torn off are all vandalism. Comprehensive coverage pays for these.

Damage from an accident you caused — hitting a pole, backing into a fence, colliding with another car — is not vandalism. That is covered by collision coverage, a separate part of your policy. Wear and tear, rust, fading paint, and mechanical failure are not covered by either.

Theft is also separate from vandalism. If someone steals your car or items from inside it, that is a theft claim, not a vandalism claim. Comprehensive coverage covers theft as well, but you file it differently and the insurance company investigates it as a separate type of loss.

Filing a vandalism claim step by step

First, file a police report. Go to your local police station or call the non-emergency line and report the vandalism. Provide details: when you discovered it, what was damaged, and whether you saw anything that might identify who did it. The police will give you a report number. Write it down — you will need it for your insurance claim.

Next, take photos of all the damage. Photograph the vandalized areas from multiple angles and in good lighting. If the damage is to your car's exterior, photograph the whole car as well to show its condition. Save these photos on your phone or computer.

Contact your insurance company. You can file a claim through their website, app, or by calling the claims number on your insurance card. Have your police report number, photos, and policy number ready. The claims adjuster will ask you when you discovered the damage, what happened, and whether you filed a police report. Give them the report number.

The insurance company will either send an adjuster to inspect the car or ask you to get repair estimates from a body shop. Once they approve the claim, you can take your car to a repair shop. You pay your deductible at the time of repair, and insurance pays the rest directly to the shop.

Deductibles and what you will actually pay

Your deductible is the amount you choose to pay yourself when you file a claim. Common deductibles are $250, $500, $1,000, and $2,500. The higher your deductible, the lower your monthly premium. The lower your deductible, the higher your monthly premium.

If you choose a $500 deductible and vandalism damage costs $1,200 to repair, you pay $500 and insurance pays $700. If damage costs $300, you pay the full $300 yourself because it is less than your deductible. Insurance pays nothing.

Some insurance companies offer a $0 deductible for glass damage only — broken windshields, windows, or mirrors. This means you pay nothing for glass claims, but your deductible still applies to other vandalism like dents or graffiti. Ask your agent whether this option is available on your policy.

What to do if you do not have comprehensive coverage

If you own your car outright and do not have comprehensive coverage, you pay for vandalism repairs out of pocket. There is no insurance claim to file. You can get repair estimates from body shops and pay for the work yourself.

You can add comprehensive coverage to your policy at any time. Call your insurance agent or log into your policy online. Tell them you want to add comprehensive coverage and choose a deductible. Your premium will increase, but you will be covered for future vandalism, theft, weather damage, and animal collisions.

If you are considering adding comprehensive coverage, think about the cost of repairs in your area and how often vandalism happens in your neighborhood. If you live in a high-crime area or have had vandalism before, comprehensive coverage may be worth the extra premium. If vandalism is rare where you live, you might decide the savings on your premium outweigh the risk.

Vandalism claims and your insurance rates

Filing a vandalism claim usually does not raise your insurance rates. Because vandalism is not your fault — you did not cause the damage — most insurance companies do not penalize you with a rate increase. This is different from an accident claim, which often does raise your rates.

However, if you file multiple vandalism claims in a short time, your insurer may increase your rates or decide not to renew your policy. If you live in an area with frequent vandalism, ask your agent whether filing a claim is worth it or whether paying out of pocket might be cheaper in the long run.

Some insurance companies offer accident forgiveness or claim forgiveness programs that protect you from rate increases after your first claim. If you have this coverage, a vandalism claim will not affect your rates at all. Check your policy or ask your agent whether you have it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a police report to file a vandalism claim?

Yes. Insurance companies require a police report to verify that the damage was intentional vandalism and not something you caused. Without a report, most insurers will deny your claim. You can file a report at your local police station or by calling the non-emergency line.

Will filing a vandalism claim raise my insurance rates?

Usually not. Vandalism is not your fault, so most insurers do not raise rates after a single vandalism claim. However, multiple claims in a short time may trigger a rate increase. If you have accident forgiveness or claim forgiveness on your policy, a vandalism claim will not affect your rates at all.

What if the vandalism damage costs less than my deductible?

You pay the full cost yourself. Insurance does not pay anything when repair costs are below your deductible. For example, if your deductible is $500 and damage costs $300, you pay $300 out of pocket.

Can I add comprehensive coverage after vandalism happens?

No. Insurance does not cover damage that happened before you added the coverage. You can add comprehensive coverage now to protect against future vandalism, but it will not pay for damage that already occurred. Coverage changes take effect the day you add them.

What is the difference between vandalism and collision coverage?

Vandalism is intentional damage caused by someone else and is covered by comprehensive. Collision covers damage from accidents you cause or are involved in, like hitting a pole or another car. Both are separate parts of your policy.