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You can get your car’s scratched paint or other body damage covered by your insurance if someone keys your car, but only if you add coverage that’s not legally required for driving. You also need to decide whether the cost of fixing the scratch is worth repairing or filing a claim.
Yes. Car insurance will cover repairing your car after it’s been keyed if you have a comprehensive policy. Comprehensive coverage protects you from car damage that’s outside your control like vandalism, theft, fire or storms.
If someone keyed your car, fixing the cosmetic damage could cost you hundreds of dollars if the scratch goes down to the metal. On the other hand, there’s no point in filing a claim if your deductible costs more than the cost of repairs.
Instead, you can get a repair quote for the damage, and consider paying out of pocket rather than going through the hassle of an insurance claim.
Possibly, though rate increases after comprehensive claims tend to be much smaller than rate increases after a collision. However, the effect could be far worse if you’ve made another claim within the past year or two, since consecutive claims have a greater impact.
If you’re debating whether or not to file a claim, call your insurance provider and ask how your rates will be affected.
You can see if the repairs cost more than your car insurance deductible to help you decide whether to file a claim. If your deductible is $500, it’s likely that the repairs cost more than your deductible and won’t be worth a claim.
Many small scratches to your paint don’t need to be fixed unless you don’t like how it looks. Or if the scratch is short and relatively shallow, it may need a touch-up, a job you potentially could do yourself or have done for a couple of hundred dollars. You also won’t need to worry about your car rusting if the scratch is on any plastic parts.
But if the scratch goes through the layers of paint to the metal of the car, a professional repair job may cost you several hundred dollars or more.
For scratches that you’re not sure about, you can have a mechanic or body shop evaluate your car — leaving deep scratches alone could leave your car vulnerable to rust.
To make a claim for this sort of incident, you should follow the standard procedure laid out by your insurer. If you’re not sure how your insurer processes claims, call or check the website. Most providers will let you file a car insurance claim online.
Get as many details as possible, find witnesses and let your insurer know as soon as you can after discovering the damage. While a police report may not be required by your insurer, it’s in your best interests to call it in. Finding the culprit could help you recoup the cost of repairs without relying on your insurance.
After someone keys your car, you’ll want to report the situation to the police and decide whether to contact your insurance company. It can be difficult to prove who keyed your car, but capturing the incident on camera or having a witness can help your case.
Getting your car keyed sucks, especially when you have to pay out of pocket to get it fixed. If you have comprehensive coverage, you can file a claim to pay for the damage — but it might not be worth it if the damage is minor.
For severe metal-exposing damage, a comprehensive car insurance policy can cover the cost of vandalism and any other accident that’s keeping you off the road.
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