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What happens if someone keys my car?

A malicious key scratch can set you back a fair amount.

As far as petty acts of vandalism go, a jagged line in your vehicle's paint job can be incredibly frustrating.

Fixing the damage to your car can also be expensive, potentially cost you hundreds. However, depending on how much the damage costs, it might not always be worth claiming on your car insurance.

What to do when someone keys your car

As with any act of malicious damage or other vandalism, you should start by taking a picture of what's occurred. Next, find out whether there were any witnesses to the incident, be they human or security camera, to assist you in identifying the perpetrator. Since vandalism is a crime, you should also call the police and report the date, time and location of the incident, making a note of the incident number. Tracking down the culprit could save you a lot of money.

It's also important that you immediately call up your insurer to start a claims process, whether or not you decide to actually go through with it. As always, the sooner the better! Have a licensed repairer provide an estimate for the damage caused so you can get a good handle on the costs involved.

Finally, after considering the issues outlined below, decide whether to go ahead with the repairs (and potentially the claim).

Does insurance cover someone keying your car?

Generally, most if not all comprehensive car insurance policies will cover this kind of vandalism as a malicious act of damage to your vehicle, barring any stipulated exclusions that might apply. You will likely be able to claim the damage from the keying on your policy if you want to.

If you don't have comprehensive cover or your excess is more than the cost of repairs, you'll be left to foot the bill yourself.

How to make a claim for someone keying your car

To make a claim for this sort of incident, you should follow the standard procedure laid out by your insurer. Get as many details as possible, find witnesses and let your insurer know as soon as you can after discovering the damage. While a police report may not be required by your insurer, it's in your best interests to call it in because finding the culprit could recoup you the cost of repairs without needing to go through with the claim.

Does getting your car keyed raise your insurance?

Sadly, the answer is probably yes. Most insurance companies will count any claim against you and raise your premiums depending on what you're claiming for. While the price increase from an incident like this would be far less than an accident where you're to blame, it will still drive your premiums up. The effect could be far worse if you've made another claim within the past year or two, since consecutive claims have a greater impact.

Should you claim on your insurance?

The answer to this question largely depends on the extent of the damage. If the scratch is short and relatively shallow, it may require a simple touch-up: a job you could potentially do yourself or have it done for a couple of hundred dollars. If it's extremely mild or hard to notice, you may even choose not to worry about it at all. If, on the other hand, the scratch is severe, for example going all the way down through the layers of paint to the metal of the car, a professional repair job may cost you up to $1,000 or more.

In many cases, the excess on your car insurance will be greater than the cost of repairs, making a claim pointless. But even if your insurance will get you some money back, consider the long-term cost of making a claim. The small payout you get now may be outweighed by the accompanying premium rise in the future. In all but the worst cases, making a claim on your insurance for a key scratch may not be the most cost-efficient course of action.

Protect your ride from damages with comprehensive car insurance

Name Product Roadside assistance Accidental damage Storm Choice of repairer Agreed or market value
Budget Direct Comprehensive
Optional
Optional
Agreed or Market
Finder's summary: The 2023 winner of our Best Value Car Insurance award. It's cheaper than most, plus you can lower costs by adding age restrictions.

⭐ Current offer: 15% off your first year's premium when you take out a policy online. T&Cs apply.

Who it might be good for: Anyone who wants a good value policy.
Youi Comprehensive
Optional
Agreed or Market
Finder's summary: The 2023 winner of our Best Features Car Insurance award. Plus, it's one of the only insurers to automatically include roadside assistance.

Who it might be good for: Those who want good customer service with lots of inclusions.
Australia Post Comprehensive
Optional
Agreed or Market
Finder's summary: Covers a little more than other insurers. You don’t need to pay an excess for windscreen repairs and cover applies to anyone who uses your car.

⭐ Current offer: Get $100 off your first year's comprehensive car insurance premium when you buy online. T&Cs apply.

Who it might be good for: Multiple people using one car.
Bingle Comprehensive
Market
Finder's summary: Our data shows it’s the cheapest comprehensive policy. It just covers the basics such as damage to your car, theft and storms – it doesn’t go in for add-ons and extras.

Who it might be good for: Those wanting a low-cost, no-frills policy.
QBE Comprehensive
Green Company
QBE Comprehensive
Optional
Agreed or Market
Finder's summary: Our best-rated Car Insurer for Customer Satisfaction in 2021/2022 and Green Insurer for the last 3 years.

⭐ Current offer: Save $75 when you purchase a new comprehensive policy online. T&Cs apply.

Who it might be good for: Those who want a trustworthy insurer and more cover than other brands, such as 3-year new car replacement (e.g. they'll give you money for a new car for up to 3 years if yours is written off).
Kogan Comprehensive
Optional
Agreed or Market
Finder's summary: Kogan comes with all the perks that most comprehensive car insurance policies include, but you'll also be entitled to some benefits from its online store. This usually comes in the form of a gift voucher or discount if you buy online.

⭐ Current offer: Get $115 off first year premiums when you purchase Kogan Comprehensive Car Insurance online + $10 monthly kogan.com credit. T&Cs apply.

Who it might be good for: Kogan shoppers and those after a good range of policy options.
Qantas Comprehensive
Optional
Optional
Agreed or Market
Finder's summary: You need car insurance so why not get one that lets you earn Qantas Points? It's good value too (it's underwritten by the same insurer as Budget Direct). .

⭐ Current offer: Earn up to 50,000 Qantas Points with every Qantas Car Insurance policy you take out by 5 December. T&Cs apply.

Who it might be good for: People who want more bang for their buck with Qantas Points.
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