As unfortunate as it is, vandalized vehicles are a reality of everyday life. Whether it’s a hit and run, key damage, door dings or damage from a break-in, here are some things you can do if you’ve been a victim of vehicle vandalism.
Assessment
Step one is to thoroughly examine the damage and take photos with your phone. Take pictures of the vehicle from several different angles so you get the full scope of damage.
Walk around the entire vehicle to make sure there are no other areas of the vehicle that have been damaged.
Check to see if there are witnesses or any evidence left behind in the immediate vicinity.
It’s important not to clean or move anything from the scene so you have an accurate record for the incident report.
Contact the Authorities
The next step is to call the police to report the incident and get an official documented record on file. This is an important step which will more than likely be required if you file an insurance claim to repair the damage.
Once the police officer arrives on scene, explain the circumstances in detail. Provide your insurance information, registration, and driver’s license, in addition to specific timeframes of the incident.
Filing a Claim
Once you have the police report, contact your auto insurance claims department. If you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, you have a good chance of your insurance paying for the repair costs.
Remember that there’s a deductible for comprehensive coverage so after you pay the deductible, the insurance claims adjuster will work up a settlement to cover the remaining repair costs.
If there was a break-in and some of your personal property was stolen, be sure to include this information in the police report. You’ll need to contact your homeowners or renters insurance company to file a claim for stolen personal property.
If banking, credit card or other sensitive personal information was stolen, reach out to the credit card companies and bank to notify them of the incident. Contact the credit bureaus to notify them that your personal information has been stolen so they can red flag account activity for fraud.
If the damage isn’t significantly more to repair than your deductible, it may make more sense for you to just pay for the repairs out of pocket. Filing an insurance claim could raise your insurance rates.
Autobody Repairs
Your insurance company may require you to get 2-3 estimates to repair any auto body and/or paint damage. While they may make recommendations, you should be able to choose the body shop of your choice to make the repairs.
Vandalism Prevention Tips
Take precautions to help protect your vehicle from being a target for vandalism.
- Remove/hide valuables from sight
- Park in a well-lit area
- Always lock vehicle and keep keys with you
- Install a car alarm / display security decals on windows
Conclusion
If you are a victim of vehicle vandalism, reach out to the autobody and vehicle paint professionals at Downtown Collision, conveniently located in Santa Rosa.