Does Full Coverage Car Insurance Cover Vandalism?

When vehicle damage occurs, many individuals wonder if their car insurance policy will provide financial protection, especially in cases of vandalism. The term “full coverage” is often used, but its meaning can be misleading, particularly concerning incidents like vandalism.

Demystifying “Full Coverage” and Vandalism

The phrase “full coverage” is commonly used, yet it does not refer to a single, standardized insurance policy. Instead, it typically describes a combination of various coverages purchased together, often including liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance. While liability coverage addresses damage or injuries you cause to others, and collision coverage handles damage to your vehicle from an accident with another object or car, it is comprehensive coverage that specifically addresses vandalism. Vandalism involves malicious or deliberate damage to property. This damage is intentional and not the result of a collision or natural wear and tear.

Comprehensive coverage is sometimes called “other than collision” coverage because it protects against incidents outside of your control. This coverage is designed to cover damages that are not related to a traffic accident. Therefore, having “full coverage” implies the inclusion of comprehensive insurance, which is the actual policy feature relevant to vandalism claims.

Scope of Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage offers protection for your vehicle against a range of non-collision events. Beyond vandalism, it typically covers damage from incidents like theft, fire, and explosions. Natural disasters, such as hail, floods, windstorms, and earthquakes, are also commonly included under comprehensive policies. Damage from falling objects, like tree branches, or contact with animals, such as hitting a deer, also falls under this coverage.

Specific examples of vandalism covered by comprehensive insurance often include spray paint damage, slashed tires, broken windows, or key scratches. If personal belongings inside the vehicle are stolen during a vandalism incident, the damage to the car itself (like a broken window) would be covered, but the stolen items generally are not by the auto policy. Comprehensive coverage typically does not cover intentional damage caused by the policyholder. It also excludes normal wear and tear, mechanical breakdowns, or damage resulting from a collision, which falls under collision coverage.

Steps to File a Vandalism Claim

Your safety should be the first consideration, ensuring the area is secure before assessing the damage. Documenting the damage thoroughly is an immediate next step, which involves taking clear photographs and videos from various angles to show the extent of the harm. This visual evidence is important for both police reports and insurance claims.

Next, you should file a police report with local law enforcement as soon as possible. Many insurance companies require an official police report to process a vandalism claim. Provide the police with all relevant details, including your documentation of the damage. After contacting the authorities, reach out to your insurance provider to initiate the claim. You will need to provide them with the police report number, your policy information, and details about the incident.

Understanding your policy’s deductible is important, as this is the amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage begins. For instance, if repairs cost $1,000 and your deductible is $500, you would pay $500, and the insurer would cover the remaining $500. Your insurer may send a claims adjuster to inspect the damage, or they might ask you to obtain estimates from repair shops. Once the claim is approved and the deductible is paid, the repair process can begin, aiming to restore your vehicle.