8 January 2008
Car insurance provider Direct Line has announced that customers forced to claim after having their vehicle vandalised will be able to retain their no-claims bonuses.
The new offer comes following a recent study, which showed that no fewer than 7% of the UK’s 31 million car owners had been victims of vandalism.
Moreover, the likelihood of having cars keyed or sprayed with graffiti or having tyres slashed - all common acts of vandalism covered by the new Direct Line offer - was found to be higher for people living in certain types of properties.
Those living in terraced housing or in flats, who often do not have access to a garage, were found to have a likelihood of vandalism of 10% and 9%, respectively.
Tony Chilcott at Direct Line commented: "Unprovoked damage to your car is frustrating and distressing enough, without having the added worry of paying for the damage.
"Customers will now get a good deal better peace of mind if they’re unlucky enough to experience acts of vandalism to their car."
Further research into vandalism in the UK showed that an astonishing one third (32%) of car attacks go unreported to police, because victims felt that they "would not take action".
The no-claims offer begins with immediate effect.