What if Someone Keyed My Car?

Article summary

• What to do first: Check the extent of the damage and take photos.
• Filing a police report: Most police departments can take a report online or by phone. Be sure to get your case number for future reference.
• Dealing with your insurance company: Report the vandalism to your insurance company as soon as possible and ask about your deductible.
• Knowing what may be covered: If you have comprehensive auto insurance coverage that generally helps pay for damage from vandalism, minus your deductible.
• Understanding your payout: The insurance payment will vary depending on your policy’s deductible and the cost of repairs to fix the damage (e.g., sanding, painting, etc.).

You park your car to do the weekly grocery shopping, or you return to your vehicle after working all day, only to discover that your car or truck has deep scratches from being keyed and damaged. The physical damage to the vehicle is one thing, but it is also upsetting because the act was deliberate and targeted.

What should you do first if someone keys your car?

Your first instinct will likely be to try to rub the scratch away, hoping it’s not as bad as it looks. It’s important to resist this urge to clean, buff or repair the damage. Instead, before you do anything else, document the damage with the following steps to ensure you have all the information you need for law enforcement and/or your insurance company.

1. Assess the damage: Inspect the scratch without rubbing, cleaning or buffing it. You want to get a sense of the depth, length and location of the scratch or scratches. Also, check to see if there is any other nearby evidence of the vandalism, such as other scratched vehicles, discarded sharp objects or cameras that might contain video proof.
2. Document the damage: Photograph close-up details, the full vehicle and the surrounding area. Provide close-up photos of the vehicle panels, and whether the scratches affect only the top "clear coat" or extend deeper into the paint.
3. Take notes: Record when and where the car was located when you found the damage and anything unusual nearby.
4. Gather evidence: Look for witnesses, security cameras or parking-monitoring footage that could be useful to police for investigating the vandals.

Should you file a police report for a keyed car?

Though it may seem like a minor crime or stressful to deal with, reporting the vandalism of your personal property is an important next step after finding your car keyed. It will potentially stop other vandals and will also be helpful in your insurance claim.

A police report becomes an official record of the vandalism. This document will be used by your insurance company when they review your claim.

The good news is that many police departments accept reports online or by phone, so it is easy to submit the information to law enforcement. After reporting, be certain to save the report or case number to provide to your insurer.

If you happen to suspect or know the person who keyed your car, it’s important to not confront the suspected person but rather provide evidence to the police so that they can follow up on the lead.

Preserve any witness testimony, camera footage or other evidence and provide it to law enforcement so that they can handle the situation. Depending on the circumstances and local laws, the person responsible for the damage may be required to cover the cost of repairs. In any event, it’s important to let law enforcement do their job.

Does car insurance cover a keyed car?

If someone keys your car, this is typically considered an act of vandalism, which could be covered under your comprehensive insurance coverage. Typically, your comprehensive deductible amount will apply and in some cases the cost to repair may be lower than your deductible amount. For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible under comprehensive and the estimated repair costs come to $850, you would be responsible for the full repair amount. However, if the amount is over the $1,000 deducible threshold, you’d get compensation for anything over $1,000.

If you only carry liability insurance on your vehicle, a keyed car would not be covered. If you’re unsure what coverage you currently have and want the protection of having comprehensive coverage, be sure to review the specifics of your insurance policy with a AAA Insurance agent to ensure you have a clear picture of what’s covered.

Your comprehensive deductible typically applies in vandalism-related scenarios, so it’s important to weigh the cost of fixing the damage out-of-pocket versus involving your insurance company.

Should you file an insurance claim for a keyed car?

If you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, that’s great, but it may not mean you should make a claim with your insurance company. Consider these factors before making a claim.

1. Get estimates: Fine reputable body shops that can do the repairs. Work with them to get a couple of written repair estimates before deciding whether to make a claim.
2. Compare estimate with deductible: Next, look up your comprehensive deductible amount and then compare the repair costs with the comprehensive deductible.
3. Understand the repairs: Often, the scratches may be shallow enough to require less work, while deep damage through the clear coat and paint can require refinishing and therefore be more expensive.
4. Make the final decision: Once you know the costs and repair work needed to bring your vehicle back to your standards, decide whether paying for the repairs out of pocket or filing a claim makes the most.

Here are a few examples to consider to make your repair decision:

• Scenario 1 – You’ve received a repair estimate of $800. Your comprehensive deductible is $500, meaning you’re responsible for the first $500 worth of repairs. You might decide it is simpler to pay for the repair out-of-pocket rather than filing a claim.
• Scenario 2 – You’ve received a repair estimate of $2,500 with a deductible of $500. It might be worth filing a claim to see if the remaining $2,000 will be covered by your insurance company.

How much does it cost to repair a keyed car?

The cost to repair damage from keyed car vandalism depends on several factors. Here are some that may make a difference in the final cost.

• Scratch depth: A light surface mark may affect only the clear coat and could require polishing or a less extensive repair. A deeper scratch that cuts through the paint or exposes metal may require sanding, repainting and refinishing to help prevent corrosion.
• Size and location: Longer scratches and damage that crosses multiple body panels generally require more labor and materials. Repairs may also be more involved when the damage is near trim, body lines or other detailed areas.
• Paint and finish: Matching the vehicle’s color and finish can affect the final price. Metallic, pearl or specialty finishes may require additional blending, so the repaired area matches the surrounding paint.

Be sure to get a professional estimate. Because damage can look different in photos than it does in person, ask qualified repair shops for written estimates before deciding how to proceed. The estimate should identify the recommended repair and the panels that need work.

How can you help prevent car vandalism?

Here are some tips on how to protect your car or truck from potential vandalism. Follow these tips as well for overall safety in parking.

• Park in well-lit, visible areas when possible near other parked cars and in areas of regular foot traffic.
• Choose monitored garages or lots and park within view of security cameras.
• Consider a dashcam with parking-monitoring capability that can capture useful video footage if an incident does occur.

These precautions won’t guarantee that your vehicle will not be vandalized, but they may make it a less convenient target and improve the chances that suspicious activity is noticed or recorded. Wherever you park, stay aware of your surroundings and avoid leaving valuables or other attention-getting items visible inside the vehicle.

Finding out your vehicle has been vandalized is never fun. However, if you do your research, you can be prepared to act should you find yourself in the situation. Gather evidence, know your policy and determine if a claim is right for you.