More often than not, the car key is a deliberate act of aggression towards someone else, and the aggressors often think they will not be discovered. Here are some reasons why cars are locked.
Jealousy
It's sad but true that jealousy is one of the leading causes of car lockout. People who are jealous of others may resort to frustration, discouragement, or vexation, and the car key is just one of the ways they do this. It could be a neighbor who doesn't like the way things are going for you, or even a co-worker who feels like you're stealing the boss's attention.
By accident
It is possible for people to repossess a car by mistake. Most of these happen when people are moving around cars in narrow, busy or crowded areas. People with keys or sharp objects in their hands in these situations can accidentally touch car surfaces when they lose their balance or are pushed against cars. That's why it's important to park your car in designated parking areas that provide enough space between each car.
Crazy/Drunk
As we all know, drunkenness removes a person's inhibitions, so a person who secretly wants to be mischievous can end up committing many foolish acts while intoxicated. Also, drunkenness can give people the courage to settle scores by opening cars.
Vandalism
There are some people who love to vandalize other people's property, unfortunately. For these people, it's not personal; they don't need to know you or have a problem with you. When they see an opportunity to seize a car or do other acts of vandalism such as slashing tires, breaking side mirrors or spraying graffiti, they go for it.
Quarrel
Most cases of car keys are the result of arguments. Conflicts and disagreements with neighbors, co-workers, other drivers on the road, or even relatives can lead to planned acts of auto vandalism, such as car keys. The car key can be an act of revenge or intimidation.
Does auto insurance cover a locked vehicle? Making a claim
Car keys are considered vandalism in many states in the U.S., and many comprehensive auto insurance options cover vandalism. Therefore, unless the auto insurance policy states otherwise, it should cover a keyed vehicle.
When you make a claim on your keyed car, you must first obtain a police report because the insurance company will request one. Take pictures of the damage before you move the car from the scene. Once you receive the police report, contact your insurance agent to officially report the claim. Afterwards, ask the insurance company's adjuster to assess the damage. Ask if the insurance company has preferred body shops that it uses in such cases of vandalism. If not, get a reputable body shop that guarantees their work and connect them with the insurance company to make the repairs. You will probably be asked to pay your deductible to the body shop. Superficial scratches caused by the car key can cost as little as $150 to repair; deeper scratches, however, can even cost up to $1,500.
Car key claims do not affect insurance rates as much as other larger vandalism claims such as car accidents. Therefore, whether or not your insurance premiums increase when you file a keyed car claim will depend largely on your claims history. If you had filed another claim with the insurance company within the last two years, you will likely see an increase in rates.
Read also: WHY DON’T DIESEL ENGINES HAVE SPARK PLUGS
Options for repairing the keyed car (removing paint scratches)
You can either take the car to a professional body shop or do the repair work yourself. Body shops have a lot of experience in repairing such damage, so with them, you are assured of a flawless finish. However, it is also possible to do excellent repair work yourself with the right products and techniques. Sometimes without even having to repaint!
Take your car to a professional / workshop / paint store
It costs money to have repairs done at a professional body shop, so it's wise to have your insurance cover this. The methods used by professional body shops to repair car key scratches depend on the extent of the damage.
When repairing a light, transparent scratch, auto technicians at body shops may use a rubbing compound to cover the scratches.
When repairing scratches that have penetrated the clear coat and reached the paint, technicians are likely to sand the scratches down to the level of the base coat, then apply a new coat of clear coat. Once the clear coat is dry, they sand the area again to further smooth the surface, then apply a wax or clear coat.
When repairing scratches that expose the primer and metal surface of the car, professional technicians go the extra mile. They first clean and sand the entire body panel, apply primer, sand and clean the panel again, apply the base coat with the correct OEM paint code, and then apply a new clear coat.
DIY Method 1.) Remove scratches on most keyed cars
Doing some DIY will save you money. One of the products you should try when repairing car scratches on your own is Torque Detail's Reverse. This is an all-in-one paint detailer that removes scratches, repairs swirls, and removes water spots from your car's surface.
Understanding the layers of paint on a car
Most cars have three layers of paint. Understanding them will help you choose the right paint scratch repair procedures to perform on your car.
Clear coat
The outermost layer is called the clear coat. As the name suggests, the clear coat has no color. Its main purpose is to protect the base coat from harmful UV rays and environmental damage.
Base Coat
Below the clear coat is the base coat. As the main component of a car's paint, this layer provides the color of the paint.
Primer
Under the base coat is the primer. The primer is sprayed onto the metal surface of the car to allow the base coat to bond evenly to the car's surface. It is often in shades of gray or black.
Washing and drying the car
Before repairing scratches on your car's paint, you should first thoroughly clean the scratched surface to prevent dirt and debris from causing additional scratches when you make your repairs. Torque Detail's Decon soap can help you do this well. It is designed to decontaminate your vehicle's surface, removing contaminants that regular car wash soap cannot, such as iron deposits and brake dust.
Using Torque Detail's Decon Soap is easy. Using a high quality wash mitt, rub the soap into the scratched surface of the car. Once you have removed all the dirt, rinse thoroughly with water.
After washing the scratched area, use a highly absorbent microfiber towel to dry it.
Using Torque Detail Reversal
Torque Detail Reverse is ideal for light scratches on clear coat. After washing and drying the scratched surface, spray Torque Detail's Reverse generously on the area, then use a microfiber towel to rub the detailer into the scratches. After that, use another microfiber towel to remove excess detailing fluid.
DIY method 2.) How to remove deep scratches from the car (deep scratches)
If the scratches have penetrated the clear coat, you can try to repair them with a touch-up pen. There are many options for touch-up paint pens on Amazon.
First, clean the scratched surface with a cleaner like Torque Detail's Decon soap. In addition to removing grease and grime, Decon Soap also helps remove old sealants and waxes. You can also use isopropyl alcohol.
Most touch-up paint pens include an abrasive tip that you can use to remove paint chips, debris or rust from scratches. Try pushing the abrasive tip through the scratches to remove such things. After that, wipe off the dislodged paint pieces with a microfiber towel.
The next step is to apply the touch-up paint. The touch-up paint pen will likely have two applicator options: a paint tip for small, narrow stripes and a brush for larger stripes. Use the applicator that best fits the scratches and apply the touch-up paint to the scratches. Try to apply it evenly. After applying the touch-up paint, wait 30 minutes for the paint to dry.
After that, you will need to smooth the painted surface. Take some fine sandpaper (for example, 2000 grit sandpaper), soak it in water and sand the painted surface with circular motions. Be careful not to over-sand as you could easily sand through the clear coat. Once you have smoothed the surface sufficiently, use a microfiber towel to wipe it down.
The next step will be to apply a clear coat. If the touch-up paint pen does not come with its own clear coat, you will need to purchase the clear coat separately. Apply it like you applied the touch-up paint, carefully and evenly. Give it time to dry, then sand the painted surface again to smooth the surface.
To cover the remaining low spots in the scratched area, apply rubbing compound to the surface and use a pad to polish it at 1,800-1,900 rpm. Don't place the pad in one spot for too long; keep moving it up and down to get the rubbing compound in each low spot.
The final step is to apply varnish to the surface. Apply the polish to the surface of the car, then using a different polishing pad for the buffer, polish the surface at 1,800-1,900 rpm. When finished, wipe off any excess polish with a microfiber towel.
Read also: How Often Should You Wash Your Car?
Tips on how to keep cars from locking up
Here are some of the things you can do to prevent your car from being locked.
Parking perfectly centered in the parking lines
Off-center parking or double parking frustrates other motorists who may want to park in adjacent parking spaces. As a result, these motorists may retaliate by grabbing your improperly parked car. When you park perfectly in the center, in designated parking lines, you leave enough space between your car and cars parked on either side, so you are unlikely to disagree with other motorists about parking habits when you do.
Park the car in secure areas with cameras
There are far fewer car key incidents in areas secured with cameras, because car key offenders know they can easily get caught in these areas.
Park the car in a visible area
Parking your car in an open and visible area will also discourage car key use again, as car key writers fear getting caught.
Installing car alarms / dashboard cameras
A car alarm may not prevent car tampering (because the car tamperer may not know it's there), but it will help you catch the perpetrator by alerting you and those around the incident. In-car cameras will help you know who the perpetrators are.