Car insurance
Vandalism to your car: what does insurance cover?
Which insurance will cover the costs of damage to your car caused by vandalism? What damage is included – and what is excluded? Comparis explains what you need to know.
03.07.2025
iStockphoto/simonkr
1. Which insurance covers vandalism to your car?
Damage caused by vandalism is usually covered by partial casco insurance. However, insurance companies define exactly what damage counts as vandalism. In some cases, they also exclude specific types of damage.
Good to know: other terms for vandalism include malicious damage or malicious actions of third parties.
Which car insurance do I need?
Are you unsure if your insurance provides all the cover you would like? Before taking out car insurance, check which benefits you need.
2. What counts as vandalism to your car?
Insurance companies define in their general conditions of insurance what damage is considered to be property damage to the car. In principle, wilful or malicious damage is considered vandalism. This includes:
Broken aerials, windscreen wipers and decorative elements. Decorative elements are adornments on the car that have no other function.
Broken or smashed wing mirrors
Slashed tyres
Harmful substances being poured into the fuel tank
Painting or spraying the car with paint
Slitting a convertible soft top
Good to know: the lists in the general conditions of insurance are usually exhaustive. This means that cover is not provided for any damage caused by vandalism that is not listed.
Situations excluded from cover
Some insurance companies exclude cover for damage caused by vandalism in certain situations. These include, for example, acts of war and civil unrest. Exception: you can prove that you have taken measures to prevent damage from being caused.
3. Who pays if my car is scratched?
If someone scratches your vehicle's paintwork, partial casco insurance usually does not pay. Some insurance companies even exclude this damage.
Depending on the insurance company, full casco insurance and stationary damage insurance usually covers scratches. Contact your insurance company to find out which cover includes malicious scratches.
Important: if your fully casco insurance covers damage, you will usually lose your bonus level. It is therefore worth paying for minor damage yourself.
This article was first published on 12.02.2013
