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Filing a Claim for Auto Vandalism
If your car is vandalized, you need to file a claim with your auto insurance company. Filing a claim for vandalism is the same as any other type of vehicle damage claims.
File a Police Report
Prior to filing a claim with your auto insurance company, you should first contact your local police department. A police report serves as part of the proof of loss needed for your claim. Additionally, pictures should be taken of the damage that was done. This could prove vital in filing a claim at a later date as many actions the insurance company can take will depend on how long it has been since the car has been stolen.
While you are with the police, determine if anything was taken from the vehicle, if the windows were smashed or the door lock damaged as this may be indicative of a theft or burglary attempt in addition to vandalism. You may need to file a separate claim for any resulting theft associated with the vandalism to your car.
File an Auto Insurance Claim
Once the police report has been filed and you have received a copy, you should request a claim form from your insurance company. This form needs to be completed in order to initiate the process necessary for you to be reimbursed for your loss. You need to provide the insurance company with a copy of the police report and any additional documentation necessary to prove that a loss occurred.
You need to check your policy to make sure you have the coverage to compensate for losses associated with vandalism. A coverage rider for vandalism will be stated in the policy and should be prominent in the policy. If you are unsure whether or not your policy covers vandalism, contact your insurance agent or carrier.
Maintain All Documentation
You will need to complete the claim form and provide all of the necessary documentation to establish the amount of the claim. This includes all receipts for car repair, towing, rental car costs and other associated costs. Any receipt or estimates you receive should be maintained in a file in order for you to provide them with the claim form. Any original documents needed as part of your proof of claim should be kept in your file. Send only copies to the insurance company. Also, keep a copy of the claim form in case you need to transmit a duplicate copy.
