Does Car Insurance Cover Vandalism in Canada?
Has someone shattered the glass or scratched the whole side of your car? This is vandalism.
The majority of individuals frequently contemplate how auto insurance in Canada will shield your vehicle in the case of an accident when they think about it. What would happen, though, if you found out that someone had ruined your car with their own hands?
The cost of repairs might be high if your car is vandalized and suffers significant damage. Cracks, open doors with keys in them, painted hoods, and cut tires are just a few of the many ways that the cost can quickly escalate. Moreover, catalytic converters in hybrid and electric vehicles, have become a new attraction for thieves who cut them with hacksaws to later replace them with new ones, as this is expensive.
This is rather positive news because it means that you may not have to pay for everything at once. In some circumstances, your auto insurance may help you pay for the damages enumerated above. It is now high time we define what vehicle vandalism is, the coverage that you should have for your vehicle, and ways that can help prevent it from happening.
How Is Car Vandalism Defined?
Vandalism is deliberate damage or scribbling on your car. It becomes possible when you are in a public parking lot, your compound, or even on the road. Among the most frequent types of vehicle vandalism are:
- Eggs thrown at the car
- Keyed or scratched paint
- Broken windows or mirrors
- Spray paint
- Busted headlights
- Snapped antennas
- Broken windows
- Slashed tires
If you encounter any of these warning signs, you’re likely a victim of vandalism.
How Do You Prevent Vandalism In Canada?
These methods have been proven to help prevent your car from being targeted:
- If possible avoid parking your car in the compound park it in a garage.
- If finding a garage is an impossibility, then parking the car in an open lot that has lights will be the way to go. when parking outside at home, you may need to install a motion-sensor light near the parking area.
- Consider an alarm system to send the culprit running
- Convince your neighbors to assist in vigilance if there is an unlawful incident at your residence.
- It is advisable not to park your car in an area you are not very familiar with especially when you have noticed that others within the same area have had their car vandalized.
Does Car Insurance Cover Vandalism In Canada?
Coverage is the version of the maximum amount your insurance company will be willing to pay in case you make a claim. Please request from your insurance company the details of your policy coverage level.
Since vandalism is one of the most common threats to your car, you must have comprehensive insurance to meet all the costs that come with it. The intensive offer covers risks that are not related to collisions. They are used to limit the danger implied by the potential loss of your auto and to compensate for the costs of restituting or replacing the vehicle as a result of other sorts of harm or loss. This may include:
- Natural disasters and weather
- Fire damage and explosions
- Civil disturbances
- Vandalism and theft
- Damage from collision with wildlife
- Broken or shattered windows and cracked windshield
- Falling objects
In terms of auto insurance, usually, if you pay for the right coverage, then you are covered in the eventuality of vandalism. Collision is limited to paying for damages that are a result of an automobile accident while comprehensive can also cater to those that occur outside of an automobile accident like vandalism. Your deductible is the amount that you will be required to bring towards the repairs of your car before your insurance provider can support it.
If the costs of repairing the said vandalism are more than the deductible for the comprehensive coverage of the car then it’s safe to file a comprehensive claim on the car that was vandalized.
What To Do When Your Car Is Vandalized
If your vehicle sustains vandalism damage, here are a few steps you need to take:
- Inventory the damage: Evaluate the harm done and take notes. Also, check to see if anything inside the vehicle was stolen or damaged.
- Don’t touch anything: Your car becomes evidence once it’s been vandalized, so be sure to keep things as they are. If you try to fix the damage yourself, it could make matters worse and affect the police report.
- File a police report: Contact the authorities and file an official report of the incident as soon as possible. A promptly filed police report can help if you choose to file an insurance claim.
- Take photos: Don’t rely solely on the police report to document the damage. Take your own photos of anything that was damaged or destroyed.
- Contact your insurance company: Contact your insurance company to file a claim and be sure to submit all available information. They may send a claims adjuster to assess the damage. In that case, stay in touch with your agent so you know what your next steps are.
- Get it repaired: During the claims process, you’ll need to transport your car to a safe place in the same condition you found it. If your car is unsafe to drive, leave it to the professionals. You can contact Stealth Windshield Repair since they give the best car repair service in Canada.
The Cost of Vandalism
If you opt to include comprehensive cover in your policy, vandalism event is going to be covered under auto insurance. However, automatic policies generally come with an initial amount that you are expected to cover before the policy begins to pay for the claims. Hence, it might be cheaper and wiser to attend to the repairs on your own because of this deductible.
For instance, if someone damages your windshield, then preparing for the worst, you may need $550 to fix it. Since the auto insurance coverage comes with a $500 deductible on comprehensive, the maximum amount that one can be reimbursed is $50. Even if one feels that he or she is gaining something, that particular something the person is gaining is really a loss. Your insurance premiums may go up for the following three years as a result of the windshield claim, and those higher costs can easily offset the $50 payout from your insurance provider.
Does Vehicle Vandalism Raise Your Insurance?
Will filing an auto insurance claim result in higher insurance rates? is one of the main worries associated with this process. Since each insurance provider is unique, some may increase premiums in response to a claim while others do not.
If you are not at fault, your premiums may not go up in many circumstances. When setting premiums, insurance firms aim to safeguard themselves to the greatest extent feasible. In urban locations, where automobile theft, vandalism, and accidents occur more frequently, auto insurance prices are typically higher.
Final Thoughts
Ideally, it is useful to reduce the risks of car vandalism as much as possible because this often requires paying a few hundred dollars on repairs or insurance claims becomes very complicated. Therefore, hopefully, you understand how to keep away from costly vandalism damage: choose the right coverage, set your deductible, and do not leave your car across the street.
And, if you do experience an act of vehicle vandalism, contact Stealth Windshield Repair for your car repair service.
Stealth Windshield Repair provides the most reliable windshield repair services in Canada. Our company offers excellent, high-quality repairs for your vehicle’s components that are both affordable and reliable. Our skilled mechanics are famous for their great service and will expertly assess the state of your vehicle to ensure a satisfying customer experience. Trust us to ensure your vehicle will get the best repair service.