Vandalism car: will it be reimbursed?

Report of vandalism to a car 

If your car has been vandalized, it is important to always file a police report. Filing a report allows the police to track down the perpetrators, enabling you to seek compensation from them for the damage you have suffered. If vandalism is a frequent problem in the neighborhood, the police can also take additional measures and mobilize the community to prevent vandalism. In cases of vandalism, it is not necessary to call 112 unless you catch the perpetrators in the act. In that case, the police can respond urgently to apprehend the perpetrators immediately. You can file a report of vandalism to your car at the police station, but you can also file a report online. You won’t need to visit the police station; you can simply file the report from home on your computer or laptop. If you wish to claim from your insurer, filing a report is absolutely necessary. 

If you have third-party liability insurance with limited comprehensive coverage, you will usually be reimbursed for damages, but only under the following conditions:
• You have windshield damage. 
• Vandalism occurred as a result of riots.
• Your car has been damaged due to a break-in or attempted break-in.
• Your car was used for joyriding.

Any other acts of vandalism involving the car, such as flat tires, broken mirrors, or scratches on the paintwork, are only eligible for reimbursement if you have comprehensive car insurance. 

What about the deductible and no-claims years? 

In most cases, when filing a claim for vandalism damage to your car, you will be subject to a deductible. The amount of the deductible depends on your specific insurance policy and insurance company. The amount of the deductible can be found in the policy terms and conditions. This may also mean that it is more practical not to file a claim. For example, if the damage is less than the deductible. In this case, you are better off covering the damage yourself. Claiming for damage caused by vandalism to your car also affects your no-claims years. This can cause you to drop a few notches on the no-claims discount scale.The extent of the damage is not taken into account here. It is again wise to carefully consider whether the amount of the claim is worth losing your no-claims years. 

Car vandalism: the perpetrator has been identified —what now?

If the perpetrator of the vandalism to the car is known, it becomes somewhat easier to recover the damages. This is because you can then file a claim directly against the perpetrator. However, it should be noted that the perpetrator must be financially able to compensate you for the damages or that his liability insurance is willing to reimburse you for the damage. If the perpetrator is unable to reimburse the damage or if their insurance company refuses to cooperate, it is possible, in exceptional cases, to appeal to theMotor Traffic Guarantee Fund. The condition for this is that the vandalism to the car was caused by another vehicle and that this vehicle is uninsured or has been reported stolen. Is the perpetrator under 14 years of age? In that case, you must file your claim with the parents or the parents’ liability insurance.

Car vandalism: the perpetrator is unknown —what should I do now?

If the perpetrator of vandalism to your car is unknown, you cannot claim compensation from them. In that case, you can file a claim with the Motor Vehicle Guarantee Fund. Two conditions apply: the damage must have been caused by a motor vehicle, and a third party must be held liable for the damage, even if that party is unknown. Your damages will only be reimbursed if you have done everything possible to track down the perpetrator. You can prove this, for example, by filing a police report. If you meet these conditions, the Motor Vehicle Guarantee Fund will reimburse you for the vandalism damage to your car.

Damage to car due to vandalism ?

Damage to your car due to vandalism is, of course, incredibly annoying. If someone has deliberately scratched your car or kicked the mirror off, it is totally beyond your control. Destruction or damage done intentionally is categorized as vandalism. Unfortunately, in many cases you end up paying for the damage yourself, unless you are properly insured. In any case, always contact your car insurance company after damage caused by vandalism. If the damage to the car was caused by children up to the age of 14, the parents of these children are fully liable. Here, it does not matter whether the damage was caused intentionally or not. There is of course a difference between a child intentionally scratching a car or accidentally scraping past it with his bicycle, but for insurance purposes this does not matter.