Why Halloween Night Can Be Risky for Your Vehicle
Cars are one of the most common targets for pranks and vandalism around Halloween, and while most of it is pretty harmless stuff, there’s always the possibility of vandals doing more serious damage. Let’s talk about some of the stuff that might happen, and what you can do to head it off.
Cars are one of the most common targets for pranks and vandalism around Halloween, and while most of it is pretty harmless stuff, there’s always the possibility of vandals doing more serious damage. Let’s talk about some of the stuff that might happen, and what you can do to head it off.
Let’s talk about statistics a bit:
According to the Highway Data Loss Institute, the incidence of vandalism of vehicles doubles around Halloween.
FBI records show that the time around Halloween sees the highest number of vandalism offenses all year, with the exception of New Year’s Day.
Travelers Insurance reports a 68% spike in vandalism-related claims around Halloween.
Year over year, Halloween is one of the most common times for cars to be stolen
The number of DWIs, pedestrian fatalities and home break-ins all spike around Halloween.
Common Halloween Pranks That Can Damage Cars
Obviously the worst kind of vandalism would involve dents, slashed tires, broken windows, headlights or taillights, or scratched-up paint finish. That’s the kind of damage that would mean an insurance claim and maybe even a trip to the body shop or windshield repair shop. Short of that, there’s plenty of other less serious stuff that can still be a real problem for your car.
Egging and Its Hidden Paint Damage
Tossing eggs at a car might seem harmless enough, but it can cause some definite damage to your paint. The yolks and shells are fairly acidic and in a rather short time, they can cause etching and crazing in your finish and clear coat. In addition, the shell fragments can (in some cases) cause physical damage and tick marks in the paint.
Your best bet is to clean off the egg yolk and white as soon as you can and do not let it dry on the finish. Use a good quality car shampoo; if it’s stubborn, don’t scrub too hard or use a buffer or any kind of mechanical device. A couple of coats of wax before Halloween will help the finish more easily shed anything that’s trying to attack it. If there’s any lasting damage, you should consider a police report and insurance claim (if you have full coverage).
Toilet Paper, Shaving Cream, and Other Sticky Surprises
Shaving cream is formulated to be gentle on human skin, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy on automotive paint. It contains resins, binders and mildly corrosive chemicals that can leave a mark on paint and can be difficult to completely remove if it sits for too long (the same applies for auto glass).
Toilet paper is less of a problem but it can be hard to remove if it gets wet and then dries on the finish. The problem there would mostly be in removing it without leaving fine scratches in the paint due to the grain of the paper.
If the car gets vandalized with Sharpie or spray paint, WD-40 and gentle rubbing with a soft cloth would be advisable. In extreme cases, you could try automotive rubbing compound, but be careful - if the rest of the finish is old and a little oxidized, you could end up with extra-shiny sections where the rubbing compound was used.
Simple Ways to Keep Your Vehicle Safe
Park in a Well-Lit, Secure Area
Got a security light setup at your house, or do you live in an apartment building with a well-lit parking lot? Pranksters likely don’t want to be exposed when they’re doing their thing, so take advantage of the lighting to discourage them. An even better idea is to set up a security camera or Ring camera that can help you keep an eye on the vehicle and will provide a
Use a Car Cover or Garage
This, of course, is going to be the most foolproof way around it. If someone can’t see that car, they can’t pull any mischief with it. A car that’s under a car cover is well protected, but one that’s in a closed garage is the safest of all.
How Auto Transport Can Help Keep Your Car Out of Trouble
If you’re thinking about shipping a vehicle around Halloween and you have concerns about the car’s security and protection while en route, that’s a valid issue. Open car transport is the most popular and budget friendly option we offer for transport, but it does have the drawback of leaving cars exposed to the elements and to potential Halloween pranksters.
The best answer here would be to opt for enclosed car transport, where the vehicle is put into a closed trailer and locked in, so it’s completely protected on all four sides and above. Enclosed transport does come at a slightly higher rate, but it can really be worth it - especially in the case of a classic, a rare and delicate antique or a high dollar luxury car. Incidentally, enclosed transport is the recommended option for any vehicle with very low ground clearance, such as lowriders, supercars and exotics.
Final Tips for a Safe and Spooky-Free Halloween
Halloween is meant to be a fun night for kids and adults both, and odds are everything is going to be fine with your car and your house that night. Still, it can’t hurt to take a few precautions like we mentioned above and reduce the risks. Better yet, if it’s a nice night, why not just sit on the porch or in the driveway with a big bucket of candy for the kids and have a little fun yourself (while you keep a watchful eye on the car)?
