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Incidents of vandalism against Teslas have risen along with anger against CEO Elon Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency has led efforts to drastically slash the federal government’s workforce. But experts say that while an extended run of vandalism could end up raising insurance premiums, it’s too early – and insurance is too complicated – to tell what will happen. “It isn’t something drivers need to be worried about happening today,” Bankrate insurance expert Shannon Martin said. “But it is something they need to keep their eye on in the future, especially potential Tesla owners.” Insurance for Teslas has always been pricier than similar classes of cars, either gasoline- or electric-powered. That’s because Teslas’ advanced technology and pricey batteries cost more to repair, according to Insurify, a company that compares American insurance rates for consumers. A damaged Tesla costs about $1,300 more to repair than a gasoline –powered car, according to Insurify – and those pricey repairs factor into how much insurers charge Tesla drivers for their premiums. According to Bankrate data from this month, the average premium for full coverage of a Tesla Model 3 sedan is $3,495 per year, a premium for a Tesla Model Y SUV is $3,771, and the full-size Model X SUV is $5,459. The electric Ford F-150 Lighting pickup truck, in comparison, costs an average of $2,942 to similarly insure, which is slightly higher than the national average of $2,678 for all cars. Out of the 50 most popular cars in the United States, the top four most expensive to insure are all Teslas, according to Insurify. Premiums could go up if there are more claims filed for vandalism. However, it would take a lot more vandalism incidents to get to the point of higher insurance rates or even being denied coverage. Right now, the incidents are sporadic and anecdotal – with documented vandalism in the Pacific Northwest, the Northeast and around the country – but drivers who had their vehicles vandalized will be impacted first. Car insurance is complicated Many factors go into the price of a car insurance premium, from the make and model of the vehicle to whether it’s regularly parked outside. Vandalism does contribute to car insurance rates,
