How Many Tires Does Car Insurance Cover If Slashed?

Returning to your vehicle to find one or more tires deliberately punctured or destroyed can be infuriating and expensive. Will your car insurance help pay for replacements if you are the victim of tire slashing vandalism?

Many drivers have misconceptions about insurers covering a certain number of slashed tires. You may have heard insurance will pay for four tires, but not three. Or that they’ll cover two, but no more than that.

These myths aren’t accurate. Your auto policy’s coverage for tire vandalism has nothing to do with the number of tires affected. What matters is the types of coverage you have.

This article will explain how insurers evaluate tire slashing claims, what impacts your coverage, and how to get the best protection.

Does Car Insurance Cover Slashed Tires?

Standard auto insurance policies consisting only of liability and collision coverage do NOT provide coverage for slashed tires or other vandalism damage.

That’s because basic liability only pays for harm you cause to others, not to your own vehicle. Collision only covers accident-related damage from impacts.

To get coverage for tire slashing, you need comprehensive auto coverage. Comprehensive protects against non-collision damage including:

• Theft
• Vandalism
• Weather events
• Fire
• Floods
• Civil unrest
• Collisions with animals
• Explosions
• Falling objects

Comprehensive insurance will reimburse you for the cost of new tires if yours are deliberately punctured, cut, or destroyed by vandals. It doesn’t matter if it’s one tire or all four.

Without comprehensive coverage, you’ll pay for replacements completely out of pocket if your tires are slashed.

What Comprehensive Covers for Slashed Tires

With a comprehensive policy, you’re covered for:

• Cost of new tire(s) equivalent to your punctured ones
• Labor for tire installation and wheel balancing
• New valve stems or tire pressure monitors if damaged
• Removal and disposal fees for destroyed tires
• Towing if vandalism caused your vehicle to become undrivable
• A rental car while your car is being repaired

You’ll pay your comprehensive deductible, then your insurer covers eligible costs above that amount. If your deductible is $500, that’s your out-of-pocket expense.

Comprehensive also provides coverage regardless of where tire slashing occurs. You’re covered whether it happens on a city street, in a parking garage, or in your own driveway.

How Insurance Companies Evaluate Tire Slashing Claims

When you file a claim for slashed tires, your insurer will investigate to confirm vandalism caused the damage before paying the claim. Things they will look at include:

• Police report – Filing a report on the vandalism provides important documentation. Try to include photos as evidence.

• Repair facility inspection – The shop examining your tires will determine if punctures were caused by deliberate slashing versus road hazards. Different damage patterns can distinguish vandalism from normal wear and tear.

• Claims history – If you’ve filed comprehensive claims for slashed tires before, more scrutiny may be applied to ensure this is again vandalism and not fraud or negligence.

• Deductible – A higher deductible saves money on premiums but means you pay more out-of-pocket when using your coverage. Insurers may evaluate if it’s worth filing a claim when your deductible is close to the damage cost.

As long as you have the recommended comprehensive coverage and provide evidence of vandalism like police reports, you should get reimbursed for tire replacement costs beyond your deductible.

Factors That Impact Coverage for Slashed Tires

Several elements determine how much coverage you get from comprehensive for vandalized tires. These include:

Comprehensive deductible – As mentioned above, this is what you pay out-of-pocket before insurance kicks in. The lower your deductible, the less you pay yourself for repairs.

Market value of your tires – Insurers won’t necessarily pay to replace slashed tires with brand new models. They determine coverage based on current market value, which is depreciated for tire age and wear. Your payout reflects what your used tires were worth when damaged.

Policy limits – Comprehensive policies have coverage limits, usually equal to your car’s current cash value. If you reach policy maximums due to frequent claims, you won’t have any coverage left until limits refresh.

Insurer claim practices – Some insurers offer new tire replacements more readily while others adhere strictly to depreciated market value. This impacts your potential reimbursement.

Working with your insurer and repair facility to submit evidence of vandalism and loss will help maximize claim payouts. Higher, customized policy limits also improve coverage.

Will Insurance Pay for More Than 2 or 4 Slashed Tires?

A common misconception is that insurers will cover up to two or four slashed tires, but no more than that. In reality, the number of punctured tires is irrelevant.

As long as you have comprehensive insurance, you’re covered for any tires that vandals damage. One slashed tire or all four punctured will both be equally covered.

There’s no magic number that triggers or limits coverage. Don’t let myths about insurers counting how many tires were vandalized stop you from filing a valid claim.

Steps to File a Claim for Slashed Tires

Follow these steps if you become the victim of malicious tire slashing:

• Move your vehicle to a safe location if possible. Avoid driving on damaged tires.
• Document damage through photos and video before attempting repairs.
• File a police report on the vandalism and get a copy for your records.
• Take your vehicle and tires to a repair shop for inspection. Have them verify slashing versus normal wear and provide an estimate for new tires.
• Contact your insurer to start a comprehensive claim. Provide your documentation.
• Pay any applicable deductible you owe to the repair facility. They’ll invoice the insurer for the balance.
• Ask about coverage for a rental car if repairs will take long.
• Consider increasing your deductible or comprehensive limits if they fell short.

Promptly reporting and documenting the damage will help expedite the claims process so you’re not stuck without a drivable car any longer than necessary.

Preventing Tire Slashing and Vandalism

While perfectly careful drivers can fall victim to tire slashing at random, there are some prevention methods:

• Park in busy, well-lit areas whenever possible to deter vandals. Avoid isolated spots.

• Install security cameras to monitor your vehicle, especially overnight. Capture license plates or identifying features if an incident occurs.

• Use locking lug nuts on wheels. This makes it harder for thieves to quickly steal tires and wheels.

• Don’t engage with road rage drivers who may follow you and vandalize your property when out of sight. Drive to a police station or other public area if you suspect you’re being followed.

• Report previous vandalism to authorities and your insurer so they’re aware and can watch for patterns.

Comprehensive insurance combined with common sense precautions offer the best protection against malicious tire and vehicle damage. Don’t settle for basic liability-only policies that leave you unprotected.