How do you deal with insurance after someone hits your parked car?

Do you know what to do if someone hits your car and drives away? Coming out of the grocery store to find a major dent on your fender or your door can be incredibly frustrating for anyone but knowing how to handle it can at least make the process of dealing with your insurance easier.

Of course, discovering that you’ve been the victim of a hit and run can leave you asking questions like, “I have affordable car insurance, but someone hit my parked car and didn’t leave any of their information. Who should I call?” You might also be wondering, “What would happen to my car insurance quotes if someone hit my parked car?”

If you need car accident insurance claims advice, you’re in luck. Keep reading to learn what to do when someone hits your parked car.

Enter your ZIP code to receive free car insurance quotes if you’ve caught yourself saying, “Someone hit my parked car, and now my rates are too high.”

What should drivers do if they’re the victims of a hit-and-run?

If you’ve discovered that a driver has hit your car and driven off, you should first call the police and report, “Someone hit my parked car and left.” After that, you can speak to anyone who witnessed the event and ask for their contact information. If your car was hit in a parking lot, you could ask the businesses that share the lot if they have video cameras that may have picked up the incident.

Be sure to note the date and time you discovered the damage because if you do happen to find the person who hit your car, you’ll need to have more backing up your claim besides the statement, “Someone hit my parked car and drove off.”

Read more: Does hitting a parked car affect car insurance rates?

If you aren’t able to learn who damaged your vehicle, you’ll need to move on to the next step of reaching out to your insurance company.

Contacting Your Insurance Company After a Hit-And-Run

Drivers who are victims of a hit-and-run may be left scratching their heads and wondering, “How do I make a car insurance claim for a hit-and-run?” If someone has hit your car and left none of their insurance information behind, unfortunately, you’ll be left holding the short end of the stick. The question, “Should I file a claim with my auto insurance or theirs?” doesn’t really apply in this scenario.

You’ll need to call your insurance company and file a collision claim even though you personally did nothing to harm your vehicle. If the damage is extensive and you need a repair, you will have to pay your deductible to get financial assistance with the repairs.

Naturally, the next thought on your mind may be, “Will there be an increase in my car insurance rates because someone hit my parked car?”

Hopefully, your rates wouldn’t rise too much if someone were to hit your car, but filing a claim does increase the likelihood that you could face paying higher insurance rates. Thankfully, insurance companies offer discounts to keep your rates low. You can review this list to make sure that your rates stay reasonable even if you do become the victim of a hit-and-run:

Common Types of Car Insurance Discounts

This information may have you asking, “Must I file a claim with my car insurance company if someone hit my parked car?” If you’ve ascertained that the damage to your vehicle is less than your collision deductible, you don’t have to file a claim. You can simply pay for the repairs out-of-pocket.

Where Do Hit-And-Runs Happen the Most?

Hit-and-runs can happen anywhere — even on back country roads. However, it is most common to hear of someone becoming the victim of a hit-and-run while their car was parked along the street or in a parking lot.

Some states do have more reckless drivers than others though:

10 States with the Most Reckless Drivers

The information contained in the chart above is a great example of why location plays such an important role in your insurance rate calculations.

Case Studies: Dealing with Insurance After Someone Hits Your Parked Car

Case Study 1: John’s Hit-and-Run Incident

John came out of a store to find a significant dent on his car’s fender, with no information left by the responsible driver. He immediately called the police to report the incident. John also spoke to nearby witnesses and collected their contact information. He inquired with the businesses in the parking lot if they had video cameras that might have captured the incident.

Case Study 2: Emily’s Hit-and-Run Claim

Emily discovered that her parked car had been hit, and the other driver had fled the scene without leaving any information. She contacted her insurance company to file a collision claim. Despite not being at fault, Emily had to pay her deductible for the necessary repairs. She wondered if her car insurance rates would increase due to the incident.

Case Study 3: Sarah’s Independent Out-of-Pocket Vehicle Repair

We explore Sarah’s prudent decision-making process regarding her parked car, which incurred minor damages that fell below her collision deductible. Sarah opted to personally cover the costs of the repairs instead of initiating a claim with her insurance provider. This case highlights her responsible approach towards managing the incident.

Someone Hit Your Parked Car: The Bottom Line

No one ever wants to deal with a hit-and-run, but if it should you ever have to report, “Someone hit my parked car and left” you now know how to deal with it. You should file a police report, ask anyone present in the area if they saw what happened, and take copious notes.

While you may have to file a collision claim with your own insurance, employing discounts can keep your rates low even if you have a smudge one your claims history.

If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run, you way be worrying, “Can I still buy car insurance if someone hit my parked car?” You’ll be happy to know that you can shop for car insurance online no matter what has happened to your vehicle.

Enter your ZIP code to get free quotes from insurance companies near you if you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I need new insurance because someone hit my parked car.”