In recent months, Tesla vehicles have been keyed, spray-painted, had their windows smashed, tires slashed and set ablaze.
According to the FBI, incidents have been reported in at least nine states since the beginning of the year. Law enforcement officials attribute this violence to people expressing their frustration with Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s foray into politics and his work with the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
This uptick in Tesla vandalism could be more than just a legal matter – it might increase your insurance costs. If insurers see an increase in claims, they could raise premiums to offset that risk.
Tesla owners can expect auto insurers to monitor vandalism incidents and the costs involved.
“Carriers don’t really release these details to us, but the actuaries and underwriters take all of that data into consideration when formulating the rates and the underwriting guidelines,” says Greg Martin, president of Think Safe Insurance. “The number of claims on these vehicle types, along with the cost of repair(s), may impact the comprehensive rates and eligibility with carriers all over as the number of claims for these types of vehicles increase(s), and they will review the cost of repairs for them as well.”
What’s happening: A rise in Tesla vandalism
In early 2025, media outlets reported increasing vandalism incidents against Tesla vehicles, charging stations and Tesla showrooms. The FBI has attributed much of this violence to individuals protesting Musk’s work with President Donald Trump.
Since the beginning of the year, there have been reports of incidents such as Tesla vehicles being keyed to cars being burned in service station parking lots. One owner in California reported having a cement block thrown through his windshield. In March, a dealership in Ontario, Canada, reported to police that 80 vehicles were vandalized. The damage included punctured tires and deep scratches.
How vandalism affects car insurance premiums
Like other property crimes, vandalism represents a risk for car insurers. That risk can be geographic, such as when a particular city or neighborhood has higher levels of vandalism and theft than others, or it can be focused on a particular make and model of car.
When insurers become aware of increased claims, they adjust their strategy. This could mean raising premiums, not insuring in a particular area, or not covering certain makes or models. An example of this happened with Kias in 2022 and 2023, when insurance companies increased the rates for Kia and Hyundai vehicles or, in certain areas, stopped selling new policies.
Vandalism and theft are covered by the comprehensive portion of your car insurance policy (minus the deductible and up to coverage limits). No matter what make or model your car is, filing a claim can result in higher premiums later.
In addition to the frequency of vandalism, insurance companies also consider the cost of repairing a particular type of car. This can be a double whammy for Tesla owners, as Teslas are already more expensive to repair than traditional cars.
A 2025 report on collision repairs in EVs by Mitchell, a company that provides property and casualty and collision repair industries with data and research, found that battery electric vehicles (BEV) were generally more expensive to repair after a collision than vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE). The average claim severity for a BEV is just over $6,200, while for an ICE, it is just over $5,000.
However, when just looking at Teslas, Mitchell found that Teslas are more expensive to repair after a collision than BEVs as a whole. It also found that Teslas were four of the five BEVs with the highest collision claims.
Explore average Tesla insurance rates by model
Why are Teslas more expensive to insure?
There are several reasons a Tesla can be more expensive to insure. EVs, in general, are more expensive to repair; their relative newness is often cited as a reason. Fewer aftermarket parts are available, and many require specialized equipment and training to fix. EVs may also be built using materials that are more difficult to repair, such as aluminum.
One of the most expensive parts of an EV is its battery. A study from 2021 found that the cost of the battery can comprise up to a third of the EV’s total cost. So, any damage to the battery can be quite expensive to repair, and some insurers may just declare the car totaled.
Teslas in particular can be more expensive to insure because of their high repair costs and because they are crammed with expensive sensors, cameras, and processors that support a complex self-driving function.
In their paper, “Exploring the impacts of autonomous vehicles on the insurance industry and strategies for adaptation,” published in the World Electric Vehicle Journal, authors Xiaodin Lin, Lee Chen-Ying, and Chiang Ku Fan note that insurers face a problem with the lack of data on autonomous vehicles like Teslas when setting premiums.
When insurers aren’t certain of the level of risk, they tend to increase premiums.
What Tesla owners should expect down the road
With the relatively high cost of repairing Teslas and increased incidents of vandalism, Tesla owners could face premium hikes down the road.
However, Michael T. Gibson, a lawyer with Auto Justice Attorney, says, “vandalism incidents would probably have to increase quite a bit to cause a rise nationwide.” He says it’s likely that Tesla owners in ZIP codes with higher incident rates will see their rates increase.
Comprehensive coverage is the part of your car insurance policy that covers vandalism. Tesla owners should verify they’re carrying enough insurance to cover any incidents that could occur.
If you’re not carrying enough comprehensive coverage, you could be on the hook for repair costs beyond your policy limits.
Tips to protect your Tesla from vandalism and control insurance costs
Tesla’s built-in security features are your first line of defense against vandalism. You can turn on the security alarm by going through your car’s Controls and Safety & Security menus or by using the Tesla app. You can also enable Sentry Mode, which will turn on the security alarm and begin recording video if the vehicle is shaken or similarly disturbed.
Some of the time-tested approaches to preventing car vandalism apply to Teslas as much as they do to any other car:
- Park in a secure garage
- Park in well-lit areas
- Park near other vehicles
Final thoughts
Should incidents of vandalism against Teslas continue to rise, there is the possibility that insurance companies will increase premiums. However, you don’t have to wait for rate hikes; you can protect your Tesla vehicle by parking in safe locations and activating your car’s security alarm and Sentry Mode.
You should also review your policy, ensure that you carry comprehensive and collision coverage and shop around to see if you can get the same or better coverage for a cheaper price.
FAQs
Does vandalism affect Tesla insurance premiums?
If you file a vandalism claim – or any type of claim – it could affect your insurance premiums going forward. But that will likely depend on other factors, including the claim cost, your claims history and the number of other incidents in your area.
We could not find data on whether recent acts of vandalism affect Tesla’s insurance premiums.
However, as Martin says, insurance companies will consider the data as it becomes available and base future premium decisions upon it.
What is Sentry Mode, and does it help with insurance claims?
Sentry Mode is a security feature built into Teslas that monitors the area around your vehicle using cameras. When turned on, if a threat is detected, such as being shaken violently or towed, the alarm will activate and begin recording the incident. You can also view the area around your car using the Live Camera function and your car’s app.
Protecting your car, such as using anti-theft devices like an alarm or Sentry Mode, can help with insurance premiums.
Is Tesla Insurance cheaper than standard car insurance?
According to our most recent data, the average annual cost of insuring a Tesla is $3,371. Your premium will depend on many factors, such as your vehicle model, location, coverage limits and driving history.
If you purchase insurance directly from Tesla, your driving habits become more significant since it adjusts your premiums based on your driving behavior. If you drive more in one month than the previous month or have any safety incidents, that can lower your Safety Score, increasing your rates for the following month. Conversely, demonstrating safe driving skills can lead to a decrease.
Will insurance companies raise rates for all Tesla owners or just those who file claims?
Gibson says unless there is a significant increase in vandalism nationwide, it will unlikely affect all Tesla owners. It will most likely affect Tesla owners in ZIP codes with exceptionally high incident numbers.
“[R]ates for an area are often determined by the number of claims that happen in an area and how much those claims cost,” Martin says.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- CNN. “Protests continue at Tesla showrooms amid talk Elon Musk could soon leave DOGE.” Accessed April 2025.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Individuals Target Tesla Vehicles and Dealerships Nationwide with Arson, Gunfire, and Vandalism.” Accessed April 2025.
- Tesla.com. “Vehicle Safety and Security Features.” Accessed April 2025.
- Tesla.com. “Safety Score Beta.” Accessed April 2025.
- WJAR TV. “Local Tesla owners express concern amid uptick in vandalism cases.” Accessed April 2025.
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