In bigger cities, many gangs and hustlers target high priced vehicles in order to steal parts. They will often have toolkits that allow them to strip the most expensive parts off of a car within minutes. If they are working with an entire team, your rims and tires could be missing by the time you get out of the grocery store from 15 minutes worth of shopping. Since the theft rate is fairly high in certain areas of large high-crime cities (i.e. Detroit, Michigan), it is important to have the appropriate type of insurance in case your rims are stolen – or in street slang, “jacked.”

Do you have comprehensive coverage?

If you have a fully comprehensive cover, you will likely be insured.

In the event that you get customized rims and tires, and both end up being stolen, it is important to make sure that you have adequate insurance coverage. There are certain types of insurance policies that will NOT provide protection for stolen rims and tires. If you do not have comprehensive car insurance a.k.a. insurance for anything other than collisions including: animal damage, Acts of God, weather damage, fires, theft, and vandalism – then you probably aren’t going to get reimbursed for stolen rims and tires. However, if you know with 100% certainty that you paid for a fully comprehensive policy, you should be able to get full compensation for replacement rims and tires.

What if you don’t have comprehensive insurance?

If you declined to get comprehensive insurance for your vehicle, it is highly unlikely that you will be reimbursed for stolen rims and tires. The basic car insurance requirements for your state will generally only cover you for liability and property damage in an accident but will NOT cover you when items are stolen from your vehicle. Really the only way to get reimbursed from any theft is by purchasing the right coverage – in this case you need comprehensive.

How to get reimbursed for stolen rims and tires

If you know that you purchased the right type of policy to get reimbursed for any theft, you will need to do a few things before you collect money for replacement rims and tires. The process is pretty simple if you are working with a quality insurance company. If you think your insurance company isn’t very good, it is recommended to use the tool at the top of the page to enter your zip code for free quotes and an insurance analysis.

1. File a police report – As soon as your rims and tires are stolen, you will want to make sure that you file a police report. The police will be on the lookout for any criminals with stolen rims. Additionally, your insurance company will need to review the police report before they issue you insurance money on your claim. So make sure the first thing you do is call the police and report the problem.

2. File an insurance claim – The next step in the process of getting your tires and rims replaced is to file a car insurance claim. Most companies will allow you to file the claim either online, in-person at an office, or via phone. Filing a detailed claim telling your insurance company exactly what happened regarding the theft is extremely important.

3. Proof of purchase – If you still have the receipts or can find a way to show proof of purchase for your rims, it is important. Your insurance company may need this information so that they can properly reimburse you for the customized rims. Most people show their receipts and payment information with their insurers immediately after buying new rims because if they lose it, they’ll already have had it on file. If you have rims customized, insurance companies need to know how much you were charged so that they give you the appropriate amount. In this case a receipt will always help.

Why is it so expensive to insure customized cars and custom parts?

The reason that insuring customized vehicles is more expensive than average is because the cost to replace such vehicles is greater for insurance companies. So anytime you get into an accident with a customized car, the cost to replace damaged accessories is going to be significantly more in comparison to a standard vehicle. When we start talking about rims and tires, generally the bigger the size of the rim as well as the type of metal it was made from will determine the value.

If you have 26 inch rims on your Cadillac Escalade, you also have to buy even bigger tires to accommodate for the large rims. You may also need to have customization work done so that they fit on your vehicle. All of this comes at an expensive price – especially when replacement work needs to be done. Your insurance company knows the value of your vehicle and will adjust your insurance price accordingly.

What if my entire car is stolen with customized parts?

Anytime your car is stolen, you had better hope that you purchased comprehensive insurance. If you didn’t buy comprehensive coverage – which reimburses you if your vehicle is stolen – you are out of luck. It may seem unfair, but that’s the way it works – if you wanted more coverage, you could have purchased it in advance. That’s why it is extremely important to make sure that you aren’t settling for coverage that isn’t up to your standards.

I recommend that every vehicle owner with customized parts not even think twice about getting a comprehensive insurance policy. If you are spending money on customized rims and large tires, you had better make sure that if they do get stolen, that you don’t have to pay in full (out of your own pocket) to replace them. For a quick comprehensive insurance quote comparison from all of the leading insurers, simply enter your zip code into the quote form at the top of the page!

Why you may comprehensive insurance coverage for new car scratches

Comprehensive auto insurance will benefit those who wish to have the most coverage on their vehicle; covering even the smallest paint scratch. Actually comprehensive car insurance covers almost any damage to the car besides car collisions. This includes having your car stolen, damage caused by severe weather and other non-collision type damages. Clearly the benefits of signing up for comprehensive car insurance policies are excellent.

Paying the initial customary claim plus the deductible

Some companies require a customary five hundred dollar deductable after the first car insurance claim. What this means is that if your windshield gets hit by a rock on a highway, you may have to pay a specific amount initially to get it repaired. The actual windshield might cost less than what you end up paying for your initial claim payment, but in order to make a first claim; you need to pay a deductible. The deductible amount is normally around five hundred dollars which may seem steep at first, but once you have paid up, you don’t have to go through the process again. The extra money goes towards your policy anyways, so you don’t end up paying extra for no reason.

Once the deductable is paid; you will have a certain amount of claims available for free depending on the insurance company policy. Scratches on new cars will be fixed at no cost to drivers with a comprehensive cover. Clearly if you have ever gotten your vehicle scratched, keyed, or had to deal with paint damage, you would benefit from comprehensive vehicle insurance. Having the side of your vehicle scratched can be very annoying to deal with and even more frustrating if you don’t have the right insurance to cover for the damages.

Besides paint scratches on my new car, how else is comprehensive insurance beneficial?

There are definitely other cases though when comprehensive automobile insurance is beneficial to have. For example, if your vehicle gets stolen and you don’t have comprehensive insurance, you will likely end up with zero reimbursement for the theft. On the other hand, if you happen to have a comprehensive policy, you will generally get reimbursed for roughly the full estimated value of your vehicle. Depending on your insurance company and level of coverage that you purchased, they may even pay more than what you expected.

Determining whether your car is worthy of a comprehensive policy

It is typically advised to decide if your car is worthy of a comprehensive insurance policy. Some cars are clearly old, used, beat up, and don’t need comprehensive coverage for paint scratches. However, if you want insurance for new car scratches, you know that having a fully comprehensive policy will be helpful in picking up expenses to get your vehicle fixed.

Why you should buy comprehensive insurance

Not purchasing comprehensive car insurance for an expensive car could be devastating if significant damage is done from an area other than collision. If you currently drive a new car, then you should really consider getting a comprehensive cover. It will be more than worth it if your vehicle would get stolen, catch fire, or even get a simple paint scratch. It would be wise to think it over and really decide if the car you own is worth the extra benefits provided by comprehensive coverage.

Fixing paint scratches isn’t very complicated

If you already are dealing with a paint scratch and have adequate coverage, you should bring your car to a garage prior to filing a claim so that you can get a reliable estimate for the damages. Then contact your insurance company and get things fixed up. For individuals without comprehensive coverage, realize that it can be a great addition to your policy. On the other hand, it can be a wasted expense if your vehicle isn’t worth very much. Is your car worth it or would you rather go without it?

The Big Problem: Standard Car Insurance can be Limiting

Unfortunately, standard automobile insurance policies do not cover all expenses sustained during accidents. Even though standard insurance policies would cover the damage sustained by other parties during accidents, drivers with standard insurance policies will probably not cover for vandalism, theft, weather damage (e.g. tornado damage, hail damage, etc.), “Acts of God,” or animal damage. All of these are covered by comprehensive car insurance policies, which will require an upgrade if you are a standard policyholder.

If drivers find their cars damaged by criminals or hurricanes, their standard car insurance policies do not give them coverage. Damage sustained by accidental collisions with animals is also excluded from standard policies. As such, particularly for individuals living in high traffic areas where chance of theft and alternative damage is common, it may not be wise to drive your car without a comprehensive policy. One simple paint scratch can even cost a lot of money to repair and may not be picked up under standard policies.

How animals can damage your vehicle

Car accidents involving animals are extremely unfortunate. No one wants to drive down a highway and collide with an animal; it is a truly tragic event and can be traumatizing in some cases. Animals can cause significant amounts of damage to your vehicle when they hit your vehicle at high speeds. Examples of some animals that people often hit include: deer, coyotes, and moose. Obviously the animals you regularly see while driving will differ depending on your location, but the fact is that people do hit them.

Drivers without comprehensive auto insurance policies are fully responsible for repairs caused by animals. In other words, if you don’t have a comprehensive insurance plan, all of the payment will be out of your own pocket. Nonetheless, these scenarios are more than simply matters of money and the costs of the damages. Animal impacts can be traumatic for all parties involved, and for individuals stuck without comprehensive insurance policies, the damage can become even more significant.

Cases when animals may damage your car

If a person is driving down an empty highway and a deer wanders out into the road too soon for the driver to stop, the car is very likely to suffer severe damage. Deer are heavy animals and when a car strikes one at 65 miles per hour, not only will the animal end up hurt, but the car will also sustain damage based on the sheer weight of the animal. Chances are high that the front bumper will dent, headlights will break, the hood will warp, and the windshield will shatter.

Other than collision or “OTC” events

When this happens, the driver will be held liable for the damages if the driver receives coverage from a standard policy. This is because damage sustained by anything other than what the insurance company deems a collision is considered an Other Than Collision event, or an OTC event. OTC events include several circumstances including acts of God, theft, fire damage, and animal impacts. For this reason, a driver will enjoy the benefits of greater protection and coverage under a comprehensive insurance policy that covers OTC occurrences.

Animal damage may happen when your car is parked

OTC occurrences involving animals may also occur when cars are stationary. For instance, if a family takes a car out to the wilderness for a camping trip and a bear inflicts damage on the car in a search for food, this is considered OTC, not a collision. Because insurance companies do not consider incidents involving stationary cars as collisions, standard insurance policies and basic collision coverage plans do not cover this kind of damage. Only comprehensive car insurance policies will cover damage inflicted by animals on vehicles not in motion.

Swerving because of an animal vs. actually hitting an animal

While it may sound simple, auto insurance policies that cover animal damage can become more complicated. For instance, if a driver receives coverage by comprehensive insurance and accidentally strikes an animal, the driver will receive coverage only from a car insurance claim that is comprehensive. However, if an animal causes the driver to swerve out of control and hit a post, building, or guard rail, the insurance company will consider the incident a collision and as such, the driver will receive coverage from a collision claim.

Do you have enough coverage to protect yourself from animal damage?

Different factors affect the outcome of different animal damage claims. Some individuals shy away from comprehensive coverage because of the cost, but depending on the value of the cars they drive and the likelihood of run-ins with animals in their communities, paying a little extra for comprehensive coverage and dishing out a deductible will not add up to even half the cost of a new car. Therefore, it is important for individuals to know exactly what kind of coverage their respective insurance policies offer, providing security for drivers in the event of car accidents with animals.