Does car insurance cover slashed tires?

There’s not much that’s more upsetting than coming out to your car to find that your tires have been slashed. When this happens, you will need to replace the tires before you’re able to drive.

However, you have to look at whether auto insurance covers the cost of replacing the tires when they have been slashed. Unfortunately there’s no such thing as slashed tires insurance.

One of the first things to explore is what a basic insurance policy will cover. If you choose to get the minimum level of coverage required by the state, you will have liability insurance for property damage and bodily injury. (For more information, read our “What does liability car insurance mean?“).

Slashed tires are considered an act of vandalism and therefore won’t be covered inside a basic insurance policy. If you only have basic coverage, you would be responsible for replacing the tires on your own.

If you are concerned about your vehicle’s safety and want better auto insurance, compare at least three to four policies today and find the best auto insurance for you. Enter your ZIP code above.

How an Act of Vandalism Is Covered

An act of vandalism is considered to be anything that is done to your car without your knowledge. In addition to tires being slashed, it also includes broken windows, keyed doors, and more.

Vandalism is a non-driving related incident and is therefore covered under comprehensive coverage.

In most states, comprehensive insurance coverage is an add-on that is not required by the state. The only reason it might be needed is if a lienholder deems it mandatory because of the nature of the loan.

If you want auto insurance to cover the slashed tires, you would need to have comprehensive coverage on your policy. When searching for coverage, it’s a good idea to look at quotes that include comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage is generally only a few dollars more per month. Having comprehensive coverage pays off in the end if you ever have to file a claim.

Filing a Claim With Insurance

When you find that your tires are slashed, you will need to file a claim with insurance as soon as possible. The insurance company can then begin conducting their investigation. (For more information, read our “Car Insurance Claim Under Investigation“).

If your tires were in fact slashed as an act of vandalism, the insurance company should take care of the costs if you have comprehensive coverage.

However, there are going to be instances when your coverage is denied because the tires were not slashed. Such instances include:

• Slashing your own tires after getting a flat
• Driving over tire spikes
• Not following traffic laws which result in tires tearing

You will often be required to have an appraiser look at the tires. The insurance company will be able to determine if the tires were slashed or if something else happened.

As such, it’s of the utmost importance that you are completely honest from the beginning as to how the tire damage happened.

How to Determine How to Proceed With Slashed Tires

Any time you file a claim with the auto insurance company, you are required to pay your deductible. This deductible varies from policy to policy.

Some people set their deductible low and pay a higher premium. Others choose to set the deductible higher as a way of getting a lower premium.

Once you file a claim, you will know the cost of replacing the tires once you go to the appraiser. If the cost of replacing the tires is $600, then it’s more cost-effective for you to pay a $500 deductible and let the insurance company take care of replacing the tires. (For more information, read our “What is a $500 deductible in car insurance?“).

However, if you have a $1000 deductible, it’s better for you to replace the tires on your own.

Much of this is going to depend on how many tires were slashed and what kind of vehicle you drive. Larger cars, such as SUVs, often have larger tires that are more expensive.

In the end, auto insurance will cover slashed tires if you have comprehensive coverage in place. Depending upon your deductible and the cost of replacing the tires, it may or may not be worth it for you to go through the insurance company to handle the replacement.

Ultimately, it’s important to get the right coverage so that you have more options when something happens to your vehicle.

The Bottom Line

Before making any final decisions on your insurance company, it is important to learn as much as you can about your local insurance providers, and the coverages they offer. Call your local insurance agent to clear up any questions that you might have.

Questions to consider asking include, “What is the best coverage plan for me/my family/my situation?” “What are the minimum coverage requirements in my state and what form of coverage do you recommend?” “Do you offer any bundle discounts if I take out both my auto insurance and home insurance with you?” and “What is the average rate of insurance quotes you offer?”

Before making any big insurance decisions, use our free tool to compare insurance quotes near you. It’s simple, just plug in your zip code and we’ll do the rest.

Looking for better auto insurance with comprehensive coverage? Enter your ZIP code below and start comparison shopping today.