Car Keyed? Pity The Perpetrator
Maybe your like
- Sign Out
- Car Finder
- Reviews
- Advice
- News
- Experts
- Car Culture
- Vehicle Types
- Video
- Podcasts
- Newsletters
Have you ever had your car keyed? A lot of people have, but for those fortunate enough to have escaped this crime, let me explain. Keying is the act of scratching someone’s car with a car key or other metal object such as a screwdriver. “Keyers” usually leave single or multiple scratches, some of which are zigzag — with depths that vary with the ferocity of the attack.
Article contentAdvertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentWhy would someone do such an evil deed? Well, it seems there are several reasons. It might be animosity between two people who know each another or perhaps a short-tempered person who perceives a slight — such as another person parking his car too close in a crowded parking lot. In the first case, it is a coward’s action; the second, well, take a pill and grow up. But there is another reason people key cars and this one I find particularly heinous. It’s jealousy.
Article contentArticle contentArticle contentAs readers might be aware, I picked up a new Lotus Evora a couple of weeks ago. It is a very pretty car and draws a lot of admiring glances and comments from both motorists and passersby. It seems it has also drawn the wrath of someone who is personally affronted that someone he does not know — and likely will never know — has a car nicer than his. Within two weeks, my Evora had its first set of deep scratches — along the rear quarter panel. This attack occurred in one of two places — and the first I find unlikely. It was a high-end restaurant with a parking lot that was filled with BMWs, Jaguars, Mercedes and Cadillacs. This parking lot is frequented by people who are more likely to admire the car than key it. In fact, they are likely to have been the recipients of keying themselves. The other, more likely spot where the damage probably occurred was a strip mall parking lot, where the more common form of transportation was rusty Ford Granadas and 20-year-old Civics with duct tape for rear quarter windows.
Advertisement 1This advertisement has not loaded yet.Trending-
How to get a $5,000 federal EV rebate on a car not on the eligibility list
Shopping Advice -
Lorraine Explains: If Canada has so much oil, why are we paying more at the pump?
Lorraine Explains - Canada's cheapest vehicles in every segment for 2026
- Kia ditching Niro EV, refocusing on hybrids: report
- See more
Driving
Learn more about AuthorShare this article in your social network-
-
-
-
Share this Story : Driving- Copy Link
-
Tool Test: Freeing Rusted Bolts with the Vevor 1kW Magnetic Induction Heater
Flameless alternative to torching rusted bolts works better than expected, but keep the MAP handy
with Video September 5, 2025 Gear Guide
- Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
-
Gear Guide: Thule SnowPack M Ski and Snowboard Rack product review
If you're planning to hit the slopes this winter, the Thule SnowPack M is a good choice, but we run down a few other great options
with Video August 24, 2025 Gear Guide
-
Best Wireless Car Chargers
A list of the best wireless car chargers available on sale today.
with Video September 8, 2024 Gear Guide
-
The LEGO and F1 partnership brings new young fans to the sport
The patent for LEGO’s interlocking brick system expired in 1978, the same year that Mario Andretti won the F1 championship, the last time an American driver would do so. Closing in on a half a century later, the two brands are world-spanning juggernauts, nearly at the level of Nike or Apple in terms of recognition. Globally, F1’s always been big, but its surge in popularity in North America is more recent, and for it to tie up in a partnership with LEGO is bound to raise the profile of both.
with Video September 6, 2025 Car Culture
-
Gear Guide: Wolfbox and MotoMaster Booster-pack air-compressor product reviews
If you want a tool to fix both flat tires and dead batteries, consider these Wolfbox MegaVolt16 and MotoMaster MB22C two-in-one units
with Video October 23, 2025 Gear Guide
Choose TrimMakeMy Picks
You can only pick 5 vehicles to compareEdit your picks to remove vehicles if you want to add different ones.
Edit My PicksYou have reached the limit of vehiclesYou can only add up to 5 vehicles to your picks.
OkLooks like you've reached your saved article limit!
Looks like you've reached your saved article limit!
-
Tag » Why Do People Key Cars
-
Why Do People Key Cars? [Explained] - Autosphile
-
Why Do People Key Cars? | All Car Leasing Blog
-
Why Do People Key Cars? And How To Fix - It Is My Car
-
Why Do People Key Other People's Cars? What Is The Motivation?
-
Why Do People Key Scratch Cars? : R/AutoDetailing - Reddit
-
Why Would Anyone Ever “Key” Someone's Car? | By Floyd Mori
-
Why Do People Key Cars? - Page 1 - Speed, Plod & The Law
-
Car Keying Why People Do It And How To Have It Repaired
-
My Car Has Been Keyed – What Should I Do? | ComparetheMarket
-
Someone Keyed My Car! How To Fix Keyed Cars With Ease
-
Why Do People Key Cars???? - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion
-
Why Do People Key Cars? - Mazda3 Forums