Car insurance protects drivers from many unexpected situations, but few people ever consider what happens if their vehicle is damaged by gunfire. Imagine parking your car overnight only to discover bullet holes in the door or windshield the next morning. In such a shocking and stressful scenario, you’ll likely ask yourself: Does my insurance cover this type of damage?
The answer is yes, car insurance can cover bullet holes, but only under certain policies. Liability insurance won’t help since it only covers damage you cause to others. Collision coverage also won’t apply because bullet holes are not the result of an accident with another vehicle. Instead, the protection comes from comprehensive insurance, which covers vandalism, theft, natural disasters, and other non-collision events.
This makes comprehensive coverage essential for anyone worried about vehicle damage from crime or random acts of violence. Since bullet holes fall into the category of vandalism or malicious mischief, most insurance companies treat them the same way they would treat broken windows, key scratches, or graffiti.
Which Type of Insurance Covers Bullet Holes?
Not every car insurance policy covers bullet holes. To understand what protection you have, you need to know how each type of coverage works.
- Liability Insurance: This is the minimum coverage required in most states. It pays for injuries or property damage you cause to others. Unfortunately, it does not cover damage to your own vehicle, including bullet holes. If someone shoots your car and you only carry liability coverage, you’ll be stuck paying out of pocket.
- Collision Insurance: Collision covers damage caused by hitting another vehicle or object, such as a tree or guardrail. Since bullet holes are intentional damage and not caused by a crash, collision does not apply either.
- Comprehensive Insurance: This is the coverage you need. Comprehensive insurance protects against non-collision damage, including vandalism, theft, fire, falling objects, natural disasters, and gunfire. If your car is hit with bullets, your comprehensive coverage will pay for repairs after you meet your deductible.
This is why drivers who only carry the state minimum or collision coverage may be surprised to find out they have no protection against vandalism like bullet holes. If you live in a high-crime area or simply want complete peace of mind, it’s wise to add comprehensive coverage to your policy.
For comparison, consider other damage types. If your car is keyed, slashed with a knife, or spray-painted, comprehensive covers the repairs. The same rule applies to bullet damage. Just like scratches and dents are covered when vandalism occurs, bullet holes fall into this category.
Bullet Holes as Vandalism (≈300 words)
From an insurer’s perspective, bullet damage is not random mechanical failure, it is intentional human-caused harm. This places it in the category of vandalism or malicious mischief.
When you file a claim for bullet holes, most insurance companies will require:
- A police report: Since gunfire involves a crime, insurers want documentation from law enforcement.
- Photo evidence: Pictures of the bullet holes and surrounding damage are essential for the claims process.
- Claim details: You’ll need to explain when and where the damage occurred, even if the shooter is unknown.
Insurers may pursue subrogation if the shooter is caught. For example, if police identify the person responsible, the insurer may attempt to recover repair costs from that individual’s liability policy or personal assets. However, most cases go through the car owner’s comprehensive coverage because criminals often lack insurance.
Bullet damage also overlaps with other types of vandalism claims. Just like insurers cover graffiti, broken mirrors, or slashed tires under comprehensive, bullet holes qualify. This is similar to how rodent damage or hail damage is treated: if it’s beyond your control and not a collision, comprehensiveness is the solution.
This classification matters for cost and claims. Vandalism claims are generally considered less severe than at-fault accidents, so while they may affect your insurance record, they don’t carry the same penalty as reckless driving or DUI-related claims.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair Bullet Holes?
The cost to repair bullet holes depends on the severity of the damage and the location of the impact. A small dent in a door panel may be relatively inexpensive, while structural damage can be very costly.
Here are some average repair costs:
| Damage Type | Average Repair Cost |
| Small dent & paint chip | $200 – $500 |
| Door panel replacement | $1,000 – $1,800 |
| Windshield replacement | $250 – $1,000 |
| Hood or trunk damage | $700 – $1,500 |
| Frame/structural damage | $3,000+ |
| Interior upholstery damage | $500 – $2,000 |
If your car sustains multiple hits, costs can rise dramatically. For example, replacing several panels may exceed the actual cash value (ACV) of your car, causing insurers to declare it a total loss. In this situation, your insurer would pay you the market value of the vehicle rather than repairing it. This process is similar to how insurers handle total loss claims.
The repair cost also depends on the make and model of your car. Luxury vehicles or cars with special finishes will cost more to repair. Bullet holes in electronics or safety systems, such as airbags, can also significantly increase costs.
Deductibles and Bullet Hole Claims (≈300 words)
Even with comprehensive insurance, your policy deductible determines how much you pay before your insurer contributes. For example:
- If your deductible is $500 and repairs cost $1,200, your insurer pays $700.
- If repairs cost only $400, which is below your deductible, you must pay the full amount yourself.
This makes it important to consider the balance between premium cost and deductible. A higher deductible often lowers your monthly premium, but it may make small claims pointless.
Bullet hole claims often involve larger repair costs that exceed typical deductibles, so filing a claim usually makes sense. However, you should also weigh the potential effect on future premiums. While vandalism claims don’t carry as heavy a penalty as accidents, multiple claims in a short period can still lead to higher rates.
Some insurers also offer deductible waivers for vandalism if you carry certain add-ons, but this varies. Reviewing your policy carefully helps you understand exactly how bullet damage is treated.
Will a Bullet Hole Claim Raise Insurance Rates?
One of the biggest concerns drivers have when filing any claim is whether their premiums will increase. With bullet hole damage, the answer depends on several factors.
- Type of claim: Comprehensive claims generally have less impact on rates compared to collision or liability claims.
- Frequency of claims: If you’ve filed multiple vandalism or theft claims recently, your insurer may see you as a higher risk.
- Insurance company policies: Some companies are more forgiving of one-time vandalism claims than others.
- State regulations: In some states, insurers are restricted in how much they can raise rates for comprehensive-only claims.
For example, if your car is shot once in a random act of vandalism and you file a claim, your rates may not increase significantly. But if your car is repeatedly vandalized or stolen, you could see noticeable hikes.
This situation is similar to theft-related claims. Just like how car theft affects premiums, vandalism claims may increase your rates if they happen often.
The best strategy is prevention of parking in secure garages, installing alarm systems, and using dash cams can reduce your risk and sometimes earn you insurance discounts.
Steps to Take if Your Car Has Bullet Holes (≈300 words)
If your car is damaged by gunfire, here’s what you should do:
- Ensure safety: Do not approach the vehicle until you’re sure the area is secure. If the shooting is ongoing, call 911 and stay safe.
- Call the police: Always file a police report for bullet damage. Insurers usually require this as proof.
- Document the damage: Take clear photos of all bullet holes, shattered glass, and affected parts of the car.
- Contact your insurer: Notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Provide your police report number and photos.
- Get repair estimates: Visit multiple auto body shops for quotes, especially if the insurer allows you to choose.
- Review your deductible: Compare the repair cost to your deductible before finalizing your claim.
- Decide on claim filing: If the cost is minor and below your deductible, you may choose to pay out-of-pocket. If it’s major, file a claim.
Taking these steps ensures your claim process goes smoothly and minimizes delays. Filing a vandalism claim without a police report is one of the most common reasons claims are denied, so don’t skip that step.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No, liability-only coverage does not protect your own car from damage.
Yes, most insurers require an official police report for vandalism claims.
No. It is considered vandalism, which falls under comprehensive.
Yes, comprehensive covers glass damage caused by gunfire.
Yes. If repairs exceed the car’s value, the insurer may declare it a total loss.
Possibly. Comprehensive claims don’t always raise rates, but multiple claims can.
Conclusion
Car insurance does cover bullet holes, but only if you carry comprehensive coverage. Liability or collision alone will not protect your car from vandalism or gunfire. Since bullet holes are classified as intentional vandalism, insurers require a police report and may apply your deductible before paying for repairs.
While a single vandalism claim may not drastically increase your premium, repeated claims could raise costs. Prevention is always better than filing multiple claims, so secure parking, alarm systems, and careful coverage choices are important.
If you want complete protection, full coverage with comprehensive insurance is the safest choice. To make sure you’re not overpaying, compare free quotes through Alias Insurance, which connects you with top providers in the USA to help you save money while protecting your car against unexpected damage, even bullet holes.
