How you deal with someone who hits your parked car can vary depending on whether they stay or leave the scene of the accident. If the at-fault party stays, you may be covered under their liability insurance. If the at-fault party flees the scene of an accident, you may be covered under either collision coverage or uninsured driver coverage. Knowing what to do in each scenario can help you ensure that you get the correct car insurance coverage. It may also help to know what steps to take in each situation.
What kind of insurance covers a parked car?
Depending on the situation when someone collides with your parked car, you may be covered with one of three different types of coverage: liability for property damage at fault, collision coverage or coverage for property damage to an uninsured driver. In certain cases, comprehensive coverage may cover damage to your parked vehicle, if your parked vehicle was damaged in some other way.
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coverage type |
How to start |
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Comprehensive coverage |
Comprehensive insurance, also called “non-collision” insurance, covers vandalism, theft, broken glass, animal injury, and vehicle damage due to natural disasters. If a storm knocks down a tree limb and damages your parked car, your comprehensive coverage may pay for your car repair, minus your deductible. |
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collision coverage |
Collision coverage helps pay for damages to your car. If you hit a parked car and damage your vehicle, your collision insurance will pay for your vehicle damage, minus your deductible. Your liability for damage to your property will pay for the damage to the other person’s vehicle. If your car was damaged in a collision and you don’t have UMPD, you can file a claim under collision coverage. Your car damage may be repaired under collision coverage, less than your deductible. |
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Uninsured Driver Property Damage Coverage (UMPD) |
UMPD is available in some states and may have a state-mandated discount applicable. You might pay if someone hits your parked car and doesn’t have insurance. It would be helpful if the driver at fault left the scene of the accident without providing their insurance information in a hit-and-run—usually when the at-fault party could be identified. You may also have the option to purchase a UMPD. If someone crashes your vehicle and they don’t have enough property damage liability to cover the full cost, your uninsured motorist coverage may pay the remainder. |
What do I do when someone hits my parked car?
When someone hits your parked car, you should treat it the same way you would any other accident. Take these steps if you hit your parked car or have an accident:
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Decide if you need to move your car. If your car is already parked, you may not need to remove it from the road after a collision.
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Assess the damage to your vehicle and any possible injuries. Once you know everyone is okay, take pictures of your damaged car.
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Call the police. If there are injuries, an ambulance may be required to provide medical care. The police can also help facilitate the exchange of information. Obtain the names and badge numbers of the responding officers for an incident report later.
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information collection. This includes the name and contact information of the persons involved and any witnesses. Ask for a driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. Type the information or take a photo with your phone to file a claim. Note the time of day, accident location, and weather conditions.
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file a claim After you have all the information, you can file a claim online, over the phone, or through a mobile app, depending on the insurance company.
There are a variety of scenarios you may find yourself in when dealing with someone who crashes into your parked car. How you approach the process for each situation can look different, as explained below.
Someone hit my parked car while I was in it
If someone hits your parked car while you are in it, have yourself assessed to see if you have any injuries. Call the police, especially if you feel you need medical attention. Even if you don’t immediately feel injured, you may feel the effects of the car accident later. It is not uncommon to go to bed and wake up the next day with a cuticle or other minor injury.
Once you are ready to file a claim, you can file it under other driver liability insurance. The bodily injury liability portion will take care of your injuries while the property damage liability coverage will repair damage to your car.
Depending on your state, you will get medical payments or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which you can apply under your private injury insurance. PIP also provides coverage for lost wages and other accident-related expenses.
Someone hit my parked car and left a note
If someone hits your parked car and leaves, but also leaves a note, you should contact the police. Provide the information left by the at-fault driver and obtain a police report number to present to the insurance company.
If the note only includes the person’s contact information, but doesn’t provide insurance information, you may need to contact them to obtain it. If the note provides insurance information, you can contact the company directly to file a claim under the property damage coverage for the at-fault driver.
You can also file an insurance claim under your own collision insurance or property damage coverage for uninsured drivers, if they don’t have insurance. If you file with your insurance company, you may have to pay the deductible coverage to get your car repaired.
Someone hit my parked car and I was injured
If you were injured after someone hit your parked car, you should assess yourself to see how severe your injury is. Contacting the police can help you get medical attention if needed.
Get driver’s insurance information so you can file a liability insurance claim. You can cover your injuries under bodily injury and damage to your vehicle under property damage liability.
If you have PIP or medical payment coverage, you may also be able to apply for medical expenses and other accident-related costs you may incur.
Hit and run parked car
If someone crashes into your parked car and leaves the scene without noticing, it will be considered a hit and run. You should check for security cameras or any witnesses who may have seen the incident. If you park near a store, they may have security cameras that captured what happened, which can be used to determine who hit your parked car.
Walk around all sides of your car to see the damage. Take photos or videos from every angle before moving the vehicle from its parking spot.
If you have collision insurance, you can file a claim to repair the damage. However, hit-and-run accidents may also be covered under uninsured drivers’ property damage insurance. If you have both types of coverage and are not sure which coverage will apply, your insurance company and claims adjuster will help you determine which coverage applies to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you hit a parked car, your property damage liability insurance will pay for the damage you cause, up to your coverage limit. This is one of the reasons why almost every state requires a certain amount of liability insurance, because it helps protect the other party if you cause damage or injuries.
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Most states have minimum insurance requirements for all registered vehicles, even those that are parked and not being driven. Whether you park on the street, in your driveway, or in a garage, having the right insurance coverage will protect your parked car. If your car is stored in your garage and not driven for extended periods of time, you may consider putting your car into storage if your insurance company offers that option while it is not being driven.
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Submitting a claim to your insurance company for any reason can increase your insurance rates, including if someone hits your parked car. Insurance rates may increase even more if you are responsible for a collision with someone else’s parked car. Consider getting a quote for the cost of repairing your car damage before filing a claim to see if the cost outweighs the potential impact on your policy, especially if you have to pay a deductible. For example, if your car needs $700 to repair but you have a $500 deductible, you can decide that paying $200 isn’t worth it if your insurance rates are going to rise over the next three to five years.
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