Smarts proving an easy target for vandals

Insurer analysis shows small cars suffering most damage

SMALL cars are most at risk of being vandalised according to new analysis of insurance claims.

Topping the table for the most vandalised brands is Smart, with one in every 100 Fortwos and Forfours being deliberately damaged, a report by Churchill Insurance reveals.

Next up is MINI, with one in every 1,000 owners saying their cars had been tampered with. Alfa Romeo, BMW and Mazda owners were among other small car owners that frequently complained of vandals attacking their cars.

The research analysed insurance claims between 2013 and 2017, and found a claim for vandalism is made every 22 minutes in the UK.

The data also revealed vandals are most likely to inflict cosmetic damage, with 15 per cent of all vandalism-related claims blamed on scratches and similar incidents. A further 12 per cent involved damage to front bumpers, with an equal proportion of claims being made for dinged doors.

Churchill’s head of car insurance, Steve Barrett, said: “We advise victims to report vandalism to police, even if the damage is only minor.”

This isn’t the first time Smart cars have hit the headlines after being targeted by vandals: in 2014, a series of Smarts were turned upside down in San Francisco, while in 2009 several were pushed into Amsterdam’s canals.