1 in 4 Motorists Report Having Cars Vandalised

Almost a quarter of Irish motorists have founds signs that their car had been tampered with or vandalised in the past, a recent study has found.

The survey, undertaken by AA Car Insurance, found that 26% of respondents had noticed signs that their car had been tampered with after returned to it after a period of the car being unused during the course of their driver history. While almost half of these incidents (13%) occurred over 3 years ago, the survey also found that 6% had occurred within the past 12 months.

“The costs associated with repairing the damage caused by a vandal or an attempt to break into your car can vary greatly depending on the extent of the damage. While, depending on your insurer, such damage may be covered under a comprehensive policy, many of those affected will opt to repair the damage themselves so as to avoid making a claim against their policy,” Conor Faughnan, Director of Consumer Affairs at AA Ireland stated. “The advice we would give to people is to always be careful with where you choose to park your vehicle when not in use.” 

Dublin Drivers At Greater Risk

According to the survey, Dublin based drivers were also slightly more likely than those outside of Dublin to be the victim of a vandal. Compared to the national average of 26%, a total of 32% of Dublin-based drivers reported that their car had been vandalised or tampered with in the past. 

“If possible it is always better to park on private property or in a secure car park, where one is available – even if doing so may come with some additional costs,” Faughnan added. Similarly, we would encourage people to avoid leaving valuable items on display in their car, such as a phone or laptop, which could draw unwanted attention and lead to someone attempting to smash a window or force a door open.”

A separate AA survey undertaken last year found that over 40% of motorists admitted leaving a phone in plain view in their car while parked and unoccupied in the past.