Vandalised cars ‘cost owners more than £1.9bn each year’

Shocking new figures have exposed the level of vehicle vandalism in the UK, with the yearly repair bill topping £1.9 billion.

Research by car insurer Churchill has revealed that almost three million motorists have their cars targeted each year – with the total cost of criminal damage increasing by 9.5 per cent from 2016 to 2017.

The firm questioned 2,005 drivers nationwide. The resulting report found that drivers in Plymouth were most at risk, with 26 per cent of drivers there claiming that their cars had been vandalised. That figure was slightly above Sheffield, at 25 per cent. Surprisingly, London only took third place, with 23 per cent of drivers suffering vandalism.

Vehicle vandalism includes bodywork being dented, keyed or graffitied, as well as windows being smashed or tyres being deflated. The average cost to fix damage caused by vandalism was £661 – a bill that many standard insurance policies won’t cover without payment of an excess and loss of the no-claims bonus.

The figures collected by Churchill were obtained by quizzing drivers – a more accurate representation of the true numbers than would have been gained from police data, as the firm says that 34 per cent of victims didn’t report the damage to the police.

However, separate data obtained via freedom of information requests to 35 police forces brought to light the difficulty of closing a vehicle vandalism case. More than 60 per cent of police force investigations into criminal damage to motor vehicles were closed without ever identifying a suspect.

Although vehicle vandalism to a value of less than £5,000 is theoretically punishable by a maximum fine of £2,500 or three months’ imprisonment, many of those responsible only received cautions for their wrongdoing. Of those cautions issued, a fifth were handed out to minors.

With police struggling to identify culprits, many victims feel they could do the job themselves. Of the 18 per cent of UK drivers who’ve had their vehicles vandalised, 41 per cent believe they know who committed the crime.

Respondents blamed neighbours in 10 per cent of cases, but love interests had their part to play, too. Five per cent of vandalism incidents were blamed on current or former partners, and a further five per cent on love rivals.

Steve Barrett, head of car insurance at Churchill, commented on the findings. “”A moment of anger or mindlessness on the part of the vandal can cause victims long-lasting stress and worry and, as our research shows, can cost motorists dear.

“It’s an extremely unfair act and while not all cases will result in a conviction, we strongly advise victims report vandalism to the police. If repairs aren’t made to even small scratches and dents, the condition of the vehicle will deteriorate which could significantly impact the resale value.”

by Tom Wiltshire