Discovering your vehicle has been keyed is much like finding someone tracked mud throughout your entire house. Yes, it’s not the end of the world, but it sure can dampen your day.
Unfortunately, vehicle keying is common. In fact, according to government statistics, deliberate vehicle damage is among the more widespread vehicle crimes perpetrated against American households, with roughly 15 percent of Americans falling victim to it.
Whether it’s pointless vandalism or a targeted act, it’s maddening to find out your vehicle has been keyed. The damage produced to your vehicle by vandals scraping a key (or any other sharp object) against it is ugly and can be costly to repair.
Here, then are some tips on what steps need to be taken if your vehicle is keyed.
Assess the damage
Now that you’ve articulated a few choice words, it’s time to become a vehicle inspector.
- Begin at one end of your vehicle and work your way to the other.
- Use your phone’s flashlight to pore over every inch of your vehicle’s surface.
- Pay added attention to the spots that are hard to see, such as under the door handles.
- Investigate for uneven paint, faint lines or little patches where the color seems off.
Keep in mind, scratches could be superficial or quite deep, exposing metal. So, take your time and examine the vehicle thoroughly. If you know how deep the damage is, you can communicate better with an auto repair shop.
Document the incident
After completing the damage report, it’s imperative that you document the incident. Take pictures of all the scratches from various angles so that you have a clear, concise documentation of what took place. Also, make note of the date and time it happened.
You should also find out if there are any surveillance cameras close by that may have captured the incident. If you find any, ask the local government or business owner for a copy of the footage.
Contact the authorities
Yes, vandalism is definitely a crime and should be reported to the authorities. Contact your local police department and file a report about the occurrence even before you search for “keyed vehicle repair.” Offer them all the information and evidence you’ve secured.
If the culprit was captured on camera, share that, too. This might help to find and prosecute the perpetrator.
Even if they are not able to track down the guilty party, you’ll still receive a crime reference number, which is necessary if you want to make an insurance claim.
Can I press charges?
If you can discover who vandalized your vehicle, you should be able to prosecute them for it. Without any evidence, however, you’ll find it tough to do so. That’s where home security cameras and dash cams come in handy.
Likewise, if your vehicle was keyed in a public space, it may have been captured on CCTV. As mentioned above, if you notice a CCTV camera in the area where the incident occurred, you could approach the local government or the business owner of the camera to see if they have footage of the crime. This can help in finding and prosecuting the offender.
Notify your insurance company
After the police, you’ll want to get in touch with your insurance provider to check if your vehicle insurance policy includes vandalism. If you have comprehensive coverage on your policy that specifies coverage against theft, vandalism and weather-related damage, then you can most likely file a claim if your vehicle is keyed. If you only have liability coverage, your keyed vehicle will not be covered through your insurer.
Bottom line: You are best served to discuss the situation with your insurance agent.
How to repair a keyed vehicle – DIY methods
The least costly option is to purchase a scratch repair kit and buff the damage away yourself. Be sure the scratch is clean, dry and debris-free before you start, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to obtain the best outcome. You can realize an acceptable result this manner if the scratch isn’t deep and you know what you’re doing.
However, if you want a more “like-new” look or the scratch is deep enough to see exposed metal beneath, it’s more sensible to pay a professional. Skipping a proper repair job could bring about rust damage or corrosion. This is particularly true if your vehicle is new or only a few years old.
Find a trusted body repair ship
If the scratch is deep or if you want your vehicle to look “new” again, it’s best to contact a qualified vehicle body repair shop. Locating a dependable repair shop can be difficult at times, particularly if you’ve never had to do so before. With all the annoyance that accompanies vehicle vandalism, the last thing you need is a low-quality repair job.
Consider Becker Body Shop for a trustworthy keyed vehicle repair. With years of experience in the industry, state-of-the-art equipment and skilled technicians, we guarantee precision and excellence in every repair.
How to prevent your vehicle from being keyed
If you’re worried about your vehicle being vandalized again, there are a few things you can do to help prevent it:
- Leave your vehicle in a garage when not being used.
- Park where it’s well-lit and busy.
- Applying protective films or coatings to your vehicle’s exterior can act as a blockade against keying.
- Allow space between your vehicle and other parked vehicles – this offers would-be vandals less cover.
- Think about installing a home security system if your vehicle is parked at home.
It might also be worth mounting a dash cam that can be used when your vehicle is parked. Although a dash cam might not stop your vehicle being keyed, it could help capture the culprit.
Conclusion
Vehicle keying is a frustrating and senseless act of vandalism. While you may not be able to prevent it from taking place, should it happen, you can rely on the professionals at Becker Body Shop to get your vehicle looking like new again.
A leading auto body and collision repair center, we serve Hummels Wharf, Selinsgrove, Shamokin Dam, Sunbury, Northumberland, Lewisburg, Winfield, Danville, and the Susquehanna Valley. Our fully trained staff of auto repair technicians treats each project as it if were their own car, taking care of every step of the process from the auto body estimates and car dent removal and keying repair, to full car restoration.
You can feel good about putting your car in our capable hands. We firmly believe you deserve the best.
