You walk out in the morning and the car's been hit: paint keyed down one side, a window smashed, maybe the tires cut. Here's what to do with a vandalized car, in order. Photograph it, report it, call your insurer, get the repair priced, and then decide whether fixing it is worth the money. On an older car, the honest answer is often no, and that's the part most advice skips. This note is from Cash for Junk Cars West Gary, and it covers both halves.
What to do if your car is vandalized
- Photograph everything before you touch the car: every panel, the glass, the tires, the inside.
- Report it to the police and write down the report number.
- Call your insurer and ask whether your comprehensive coverage applies and what your deductible is.
- Get a repair estimate from a body shop, in writing.
- Compare the estimate with the car's value. If the repair costs more than the car is worth to you, selling it as it is can make more sense.
That order matters. Photos and a police report are what an insurer will want to see, and you can't take the photos again once the glass is swept up.
Does insurance cover vandalism in Indiana?
It depends on your policy, so start with your insurer. The Indiana Department of Insurance describes comprehensive coverage as paying for damage to your car from perils other than a collision or upset, such as theft, fire, a windstorm and glass breakage, and notes that a deductible may apply.
Notice what isn't on that list: the word vandalism. A keyed door or a smashed window may well fall under comprehensive, but ask your agent the direct question: "Is this vandalism covered under my comprehensive coverage, and what's my deductible?" Get the answer before you book a repair.
If you only carry liability coverage, ask anyway. Comprehensive is a separate coverage, and it's the one that matters here.
Minor or serious: reading the damage
People ask what counts as minor damage. There's no official line, but in practice it splits like this.
Usually minor: a keyed panel, a dented door, one broken side window, a snapped mirror. Annoying and not cheap, but the car still drives.
Usually serious: a smashed windshield, several broken windows, slashed tires all round, damage inside the cabin, or anything that stops the car being driven safely. Water getting in through broken glass turns a small job into a bigger one within a few days, so cover it if rain is coming.
And check the parts you can't see. Start the car. Listen. If it roars when it starts, someone may have taken the catalytic converter while they were at it (that's a separate note on catalytic converter theft).
Can a car be totaled by vandalism?
Yes. When the repair cost gets too high compared with the car's value, your insurer can declare it a total loss. Each insurer has its own rules, so there's no single number to quote.
If that happens and you decide to keep the car anyway, the BMV's salvage title packet says an owner who keeps a salvage vehicle "must apply for a certificate of salvage title not later than 45 days after the settlement of loss with the insurance company." Ask your insurer for the settlement date in writing.
Fix it, claim it or sell it
Once you have the estimate and the deductible, the choice is usually clear:
| Your situation | What usually makes sense |
|---|---|
| The estimate is below your deductible | Pay for the repair yourself; there's nothing to claim |
| The estimate is well above the deductible and the car is worth keeping | Make the claim and fix it |
| The estimate plus the deductible is close to what the car is worth | Sell it as it is |
| The car was already on its way out | Sell it as it is and skip the repair |
The third row is the one nobody talks about. Say the car is old and running rough anyway. You'd pay the deductible, wait for the shop, and end up with a repaired car that's still old and still running rough. Selling it as it is puts money in your hand now and ends the problem.
Selling a vandalized car in West Gary
If you land on "sell it," you don't need to fix anything first. We buy vandalized cars as they are in Tolleston, Brunswick, Westside and Black Oak, and the body damage page lists what to tell us. Towing is free, you're paid at pickup, and we can often pick up the same day.
Before the car goes:
- Keep your photos and the police report number, in case the insurer asks later.
- Take everything personal out of the car, including the glovebox and trunk.
- Have the title ready. Missing? Indiana wants either the title or a BMV certificate of authority for a junk car, so tell us which papers you've got and we'll sort out the route on the call.
When you're ready, send the car's details and we'll call you with an offer.