What Happens If Someone Hits Your Parked Car?
Discovering damage to your vehicle can be frustrating, especially if you were not there when it happened. If someone hits your parked car, there are several steps you should take.
If the Driver Left Their Details
If the driver who hit your parked car left their name, phone number, and insurance information, the claims process becomes much easier. Contact the driver to confirm the details they provided and take a photo of the note in case it gets lost or damaged.
You should still gather your own evidence. Take clear photos of the damage to your vehicle, the surrounding area, and the position of your car. If any nearby homes or businesses have CCTV cameras, ask whether they captured the incident. Witness statements can also help support your claim.
Once you have the other driver’s information, contact your insurer and report the incident. Your insurer will usually contact the other driver’s insurer to recover the cost of repairs. If the other driver accepts responsibility, your insurer may handle the claim as a non-fault claim.
Even when the accident was not your fault, your insurer may ask you to pay your excess initially. Once they recover the costs from the other driver’s insurer, they will usually refund your excess.
If the Driver Drove Away
This is considered a hit-and-run. You should:
- Take photos of the damage
- Check for CCTV or dash cam footage
- Speak to witnesses
- Report the incident to the police
- Contact your insurer
Will Your Insurance Cover It?
The cover you receive depends on the type of policy you have. Comprehensive car insurance usually covers the damage to your parked car, even when the other driver does not come forward or cannot be identified.
Third party only and third party, fire and theft policies generally do not cover damage to your own vehicle, so you may need to pay for repairs yourself unless the other driver’s insurer accepts liability.
Your insurer may also provide additional benefits, such as a courtesy car while your vehicle is in the garage or access to approved repairers who guarantee their work.
Before you make a claim, compare the repair cost with your policy excess and consider how a claim could affect your premium at renewal. For minor damage, paying for repairs yourself may sometimes cost less in the long run.
Uninsured Driver Promise
Many comprehensive car insurance policies include an uninsured driver promise. This feature protects your No Claims Bonus and allows you to recover your excess when an uninsured driver causes the damage.
To qualify, you usually need to provide the uninsured driver’s registration number and enough evidence to show that they were responsible for the incident. Your insurer may also ask you to report the accident to the police.
The uninsured driver promise can save you money and prevent a non-fault incident from affecting your discount. However, each insurer sets its own terms, so check your policy documents to confirm exactly how the feature works.
Rooster Can Help
If someone hits your parked car you can call Accident Assist and we will sort it for you. With Accident Assist and access to all your policy details in one app, Rooster makes dealing with incidents much easier.
Download the Rooster app today.
