Does Car Insurance Cover Vandalism?
Last Updated on March 6, 2019
Most people that have car insurance only have a vague idea what their insurance actually covers. The language of your insurance policy is so dense and difficult to understand that almost no one even reads it and fewer are able to comprehend and remember what their policy covers. But it’s actually pretty easy to determine whether or not you are covered for a specific incident, including vandalism, by using a sort of cheat sheet for the various types of insurance. If you know what kind of a policy you have, you’ll probably know what is covered and what isn’t. Let’s start with discussing the various types of car insurance that are available.
Basic Types of Car Insurance
The first – and most common – type of car insurance is the coverage required by law to operate a motor vehicle, commonly called liability insurance. Liability insurance is very simple to understand. If you are in an accident, and you are found at fault, your insurance company will pay part or all of the cost to fix their car and part or all of the cost of their medical bills. As for the damage to your car, and your doctor bills, you’re on your own. Also, if the damage to their car (or medical bills) exceeds the amount named in your policy, you will be responsible for the additional cost.
The type that covers your own vehicle in the event that you are at fault in an accident is called collision. This means that not only is someone else covered if you hit them with your car, but your car is also covered. Both of these are up to a certain amount so check your insurance policy for details.
Comprehensive Coverage for Vandalism and Much More
Comprehensive coverage is another type of insurance that you can add onto your other policies. Comprehensive coverage protects you from things not related to your driving. Some examples of instances covered by comprehensive include car theft, damage from a tree or other environmental damage and of course, vandalism. 
Comprehensive coverage is fairly expensive so make sure that you know what you are getting into when you decide to get it – and decide if the coverage that you are getting is worth the money that you are paying.
Personal injury coverage is another form of insurance that you can choose. Remember, even if you get collision coverage, it is only going to pay for the repair/replacement of your vehicle. If you have medical bills from a collision you will be paying for them yourself unless you get personal injury coverage. It also covers passengers in most cases.
Finally, the last insurance type is uninsured motorist insurance. This covers you if you are in an accident and are not at fault, but the person who hit you doesn’t have insurance – or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your car repair and medical bills.
Vandalism Protection with Comprehensive Coverage
Every day, there are over 700 acts of vandalism on vehicles in the United States. The only way that you can protect yourself is by getting comprehensive coverage. You’ll have a deductible that you’ll have to meet but you should be fine no matter how extensive the damage if you have comprehensive coverage.
The Cost of Comprehensive Coverage
The cost will vary considerably depending on your insurance company, your coverage and the state you live in but a good rule-of-thumb to go by is $1000 per year or about $80 per month. This is of course on top of your other insurance costs. This will be added to your current insurance premiums not replacing them.
Getting Insurance for a Financed or Leased Vehicle
Keep in mind that if you are financing your vehicle there is a good chance that comprehensive insurance is already included in your insurance premiums (or your monthly car payment). Many finance companies insist on comprehensive coverage for vehicles financed, because until your vehicle is completely paid for, it is their’s, not your’s. But you should definitely check your policy and see what your deductible is for things like vandalism and how much of the bill the insurance company will pick up and how much you will have to pay.
The Final Word
So, yes you can get car insurance that covers vandalism. It doesn’t come with the ordinary liability insurance that most people get. If your car gets vandalized with just liability insurance you are going to have to repair the damage yourself out of your own pocket. Of course, this also goes for weather damage and other things (that could be covered under comprehensive coverage). Fortunately, most people don’t have to worry about vandalism in their neighborhoods but for those in areas where it happens regularly you may want to add comprehensive car insurance to your current plan so that you are covered in the event someone takes out your windows.
