DS's car vandalized :(

[luvthatdisney]

Our DS just turned 20 and was out last night with some friends. They went to a birthday party and he had to park in a field next to a subdivision (where the party was). The house was down hill from the field and you could not see the field from the house. DS and his friend stayed about 20 minutes and felt the party was a bit lame (his words) and the two of them decided to leave.

As they were walking up the hill, he heard his car start up. His car has a distinct sound (it is a small japanese car ) and he knew immediately someone was trying to steal it. So he started running, the guys saw him coming and jerked the car's computer (ECU) and the entire wiring harness out of the car and ran to a waiting car and left. When DS got to the car he noticed the drivers side window was broken out and the stereo was also missing. Since the ECU had been removed the car will not run, so he was stranded.

He called us very upset and crying, he does not handle stress well (we already knew that!). We had him call the police and we drove there as well. Come to find out 2 other cars had their windows broken. DS also had some miscellaneous things taken from the car (bookbag, cds, and a old dirty shirt).

We do have comprehensive coverage on his car, but we have never used it. I know it will not pay for the misc stuff stolen and probably not the stereo either, but I hope it will cover the window, car computer, and the wiring. Has anyone encountered this type of damage and how long did it take the insurance company to fix everything???

I have already filed a claim with the insurance company online, but it stated we would not hear anything until the next business day. DS started a new job today (on 5 hours of sleep) and had to take my car - so now I have nothing to drive. We will also not be able to get the police report for 3 days. This is just a pain in the rear, just trying to figure out what to expect and make sure I do everything I need to.

 

[golfgal]

Your car insurance will cover the car parts and your home owners insurance will cover the "stuff". Depending on your company you may only have to pay one deductible since it is the same 'loss". I know with our company that is how it would work.

As far as how long it will take to fix, depends on how busy the garage is. It could be done in a few hours (I don't know how hard it is to replace the computer thing but can't be too hard if they guys just ripped it out). Typically for a straight forward claim it takes as long as it takes the garage to get it fixed.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

I am sorry this happened to your son, it feels awful. And the advantage to the thief selling used damaged pieces is a small percentage of the cost to the target.

DS17 had his windshield cracked in High School parking lot. We paid cash to replace rather than make a tiny claim that might make rates go up. He thinks it may have been aimed at another kid with same make model color and age(old!) car. It was a pain with broken glass slivers on the driver's seat.

My car was keyed in the High School parking lot where I work. Will probably do touch up crayon rather than make a claim.

Worst was when Husbands car was in process of being stripped while in our driveway. Someone was targeting Mazda RX-7 insured by USAA in Tacoma. They destroyed lock with a screwdriver and stole some cassette tapes before our dogs scared them off. Police told us some other RX 7 had been stripped ie wheels stolen in addition to everything else. Car insurance fixed it.

 

[golfgal]

I am sorry this happened to your son, it feels awful. And the advantage to the thief selling used damaged pieces is a small percentage of the cost to the target.

DS17 had his windshield cracked in High School parking lot. We paid cash to replace rather than make a tiny claim that might make rates go up. He thinks it may have been aimed at another kid with same make model color and age(old!) car. It was a pain with broken glass slivers on the driver's seat.

My car was keyed in the High School parking lot where I work. Will probably do touch up crayon rather than make a claim.

Worst was when Husbands car was in process of being stripped while in our driveway. Someone was targeting Mazda RX-7 insured by USAA in Tacoma. They destroyed lock with a screwdriver and stole some cassette tapes before our dogs scared them off. Police told us some other RX 7 had been stripped ie wheels stolen in addition to everything else. Car insurance fixed it.

Glass claims around here are covered at 100% (no deductible) and are comp claims so they don't raise your rates. Vandalism is also a comp claim, you pay a deductible but they don't raise your rates.

 

[luvthatdisney]

Glass claims around here are covered at 100% (no deductible) and are comp claims so they don't raise your rates. Vandalism is also a comp claim, you pay a deductible but they don't raise your rates.

Thanks guys for the info!! I am glad to hear our rates will not go up. We are not going to claim the stereo or cd's (they were old) as we can get a new stereo for $100 and it appears we would have to file that on our homeowners. After having our homeowners cancelled 20 years ago after 2 claims (hurricane damage and a busted water pipe that warped kitchen floor) we have not claimed anything since. It would have to be catastrophic for us to claim something on homeowners.

Big lesson for DS to learn. Just glad he is okay!

 

[abdmom]

Many car insurance policies include a rental car while yours is out of commission.

 

[golfgal]

Many car insurance policies include a rental car while yours is out of commission.

This is true too. Depending on the coverage you purchase it might not cover the full cost of the rental car, we only have $20/day coverage by choice, mainly because I know I can get a rental car for under that and also because I may or may not need a rental car and don't want to pay the extra premium.

 

[DawnCt1]

Someone attempted to steal out DSs car out of the driveway a couple of years ago. They would have gotten away with it if they hadn't got hung up on the mail box across the street. In the process they caused about $3K in damage. His insurance covered it all. He had just washed it the day before and it was gleaming.....except for a large palm print and five fingers on the windows. The police dusted them and they caught the guys a couple of months later. DS got a check for his $500 deductible.

 

[Art 1]

That's too bad, I know how he feels and it's not good.

 

[luvthatdisney]

Insurance company just called and they will be replacing the glass Wednesday. Have to see about the other items tomorrow as there is another rep that handles that. We have a $100 deductible, but the cost of all of the items damaged/stolen (that ins will cover) is going to be about $600maybe a little more.

I hope we will be able to get a rental car, don't really care what it is just need to get DS to work and school. Not sure how we are going to work that out if we can't. I guess I will find out tomorrow.