Keyed Car and Other Vandalism Prevention Tips

If you ask a car owner what the most common reasons for filing an insurance claim are, they'll probably say car theft or accident-related damage. Many people ignore the possibility of vandalism.

Perhaps it's because we tend to associate vandalism with a misbehaving neighborhood kid smashing a side mirror with a baseball bat, throwing eggs, or snapping off an antenna—small and inconvenient but relatively inexpensive to repair. The truth is that auto vandalism is a major issue that frequently results in hundreds or even thousands of dollars in claims and repair costs.

Most of these suggestions may seem obvious, but given the millions of dollars paid out in vandalism-related insurance claims each year, they're worth remembering.

Don’t Leave an Obvious Spare Key 

You'd be surprised at how many people stash a spare key in a wheel well or under the floor mats. If you need a spare key, keep it in a lockbox or carry it in your wallet.

You should also never leave your car unlocked, even if you're only going to be gone for a few minutes. You're simply inviting someone to tamper with your belongings and the interior of your vehicle.

Park It Inside

You might want to clear out some of that old junk in your garage and put your car in there at night. Because most vandals are looking to cause a little trouble, keeping your vehicle in a locked garage works as a great deterrent to vandalism. They're not interested in putting in a lot of effort.

What do you think a young delinquent will do if they need to key a car and have the option of breaking into a locked building or simply walking down the street to do so?

If parking in a garage is not an option, you can take some simple and effective precautions.

Light It Up

If you must park outside at night, you should avoid drawing attention to your vehicle, but you may want to consider taking some steps that draw attention when necessary.

Try to park in an open, well-lit area. If you must park on the street, try to do so under a street lamp. If you're parking in a driveway, get the brightest motion-sensor light you can find. When it comes to lighting, drawing attention to your car also draws attention to anyone who comes close to it—such as a vandal.

Install a Car Alarm (or a Fake One)

Consider installing a high-quality motion-activated car alarm that does not go off when hit by a gentle breeze but makes a loud noise when it does.

Some owners believe that car alarms are pointless because most people ignore them, but a vandal who is lurking near one that is blasting at 120db won't be there for long.

Because the best car alarm systems can be costly, you may want to consider a fake alarm. Install a wireless blinking red light on your dashboard. If a thief or vandal sees that little blinking light, they're likely to move on to the next car.

If you can't afford a fake alarm, consider purchasing a security system decal, preferably one for a legitimate security company.

Hide Your Stuff

Make your vehicle less appealing to thieves and vandals. Leave nothing valuable visible or on the seats, even if it's tucked under a concealing jacket or blanket. If you have a garage door opener and park outside, bring the opener inside with you. Lock your valuables in the trunk or glove compartment, hide them under a seat, or take them with you. Give a thief no reason to break your window.

Install an Immobilizer

An immobilizer is a piece of electronic equipment that prevents your vehicle from being hotwired. To start the car, a special key or token is required. According to studies, installing immobilizer devices can reduce vehicle theft by up to 50%.

Be Friendly

It never hurts to get along with your neighbors. First and your vehicle. Second, if they like you, it's much less likely that one of them will want to vandalize your property. Even that isn't always enough—kids will be kids. However, you may be able to work out the insurance claim with the parents while also assisting the child.

Use Common Sense

The most important tip of all is to always use common sense. If possible, avoid parking in a bad neighborhood. Leave your car unattended for extended periods of time. Common sense may not allow you to avoid all of the bad people out there, but it may deter those who are currently present.