What to Do If Your Car Has Been Keyed

Have you ever gone out to your car, only to find that someone has maliciously scratched or keyed your car? The sight of that long scratch can be heartbreaking and oftentimes makes you feel violated and angry. The good news is that you don’t have to just sit there and take it. We have some great tips on what to do if your car has been keyed to hopefully catch the culprit, or at least have some evidence to support your case.

Assess the Damage

The first thing you should do if you find your car has been keyed is to assess the damage. How noticeable is the scratch? Is it deep or shallow? Did it only hit one panel of the car or several panels? Take detailed photos of the damage from multiple angles and distances, and document the time and place it occurred. This information can be helpful later on if you decide to file a police report or submit a claim to your insurance.

File a Police Report

If you believe this was an intentional act of vandalism, you should immediately file a police report. Having a police report on file could increase your chances of getting the scratch fixed and catching the culprit. Be sure to bring all the documentation you’ve gathered, and describe exactly what happened, and when and where it occurred. The police will likely ask you if you have any idea who might have committed this crime.

Look for Witnesses

If the scratch occurred in a public place, there might be potential witnesses. Talk to any witnesses who may have seen anything, and collect their contact information. If you’re able to catch the culprit with the help of a witness, that person could corroborate your story and boost your case with the police or insurance adjusters.

Contact Your Insurance Company

If you have comprehensive coverage, your insurance can cover the cost of repairing the scratch. Depending on your policy, you might have to pay a deductible, but that is often small compared to the cost of repairing the scratch. So, make sure you call your insurance company and file a claim. They will ask you to submit photos of the damage, and they might send an adjuster to assess the damage.

Repairing the Damage

Once you’ve filed the claim, you can have the scratch repaired. Head to an auto body shop, get an estimate, and then make an appointment for the repairs. Since the insurance company will likely have given you a list of auto body shops that they work with, take your car to one of these recommended shops to ensure they have experience working with your insurance company, like Touch Up Pro. Once repaired, take some more photos to document that the damage has been fixed.

Finding out that your car has been keyed can be a frustrating and discouraging experience. But there’s no reason to let the situation bring you down. Documenting the damage, filing a police report, looking for witnesses, contacting your insurance, and getting your car fixed are all things that you can do to help yourself get back to normal.

Whether it’s finding the culprit, or simply restoring your car to its former glory, these steps can go a long way in fighting back against this kind of vandalism and getting justice.

Check out: 5 Car Damages to Check for After a Minor Collision

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