When Tricks Aren’t Treats: Halloween Pranks and Your Auto Insurance
- Jennifer Matulich
- Oct 30
- 2 min read
Halloween is all fun and games—until someone decides your car looks like the perfect target. Toilet paper in the trees? Annoying but harmless. Eggs on the hood? That’s where “trick or treat” starts turning into a claim or no claim situation.
Here’s how to separate the spooky from the serious—and what to know about your coverages if the Halloween mischief goes too far.
The Harmless Trick: TP and Soap
If your vehicle or home gets hit with some classic toilet paper or window soap art, you can usually chalk it up to harmless fun. A little water, elbow grease, and patience go a long way. No insurance claim needed—and frankly, it’s not worth it for something cosmetic and temporary.
The Messy Middle Ground: Eggs
Eggs are a different story. The yolk and shell can etch into your car’s clear coat and paint, especially if left in the sun. If the damage is noticeable, your comprehensive coverage (often called “other than collision”) may help pay for repainting or refinishing the affected areas.
Pro tip: Snap a few photos before you wash it off, just in case you need proof for your claim.
What to check:
Does your policy include comprehensive coverage?
What’s your deductible? (If it’s $500 and it costs $400 to repaint that area of your vehicle, you’re better off handling it out of pocket.)
Have there been multiple incidents in your neighborhood? File a police report if vandalism seems to be spreading.
The Truly Spooky Stuff: Vandalism and Damage
If Halloween night turns into something more serious—keying, broken windows, slashed tires, or worse—that’s considered vandalism, and it also falls under comprehensive coverage.
Remember, collision coverage is for accidents where you hit something or your vehicle is hit by another vehicle; comprehensive is for everything you didn’t expect—fire, theft, vandalism, or even a rogue pumpkin through your windshield.
A Few Prevention Tricks
Park in a garage or well-lit driveway whenever possible.
Avoid leaving your car under trees or near the street during Halloween night.
Check your dash cam—many modern systems can record motion events.
Review your policy before a claim so you’re not left wondering after the fact.
Final Treat: Peace of Mind
Halloween pranks can make for good stories—but only if you’re protected. A quick coverage check now means you can focus on the candy, not the claims.
If you’re not sure whether your policy covers these “tricks,” give us a call or schedule a policy review. We’ll make sure your protection isn’t a costume.