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Someone hit your parked car

If someone hit your parked car, don’t move it yet. Photograph the damage and the spot, look for a note, then report it to the police and your insurer. Collision coverage is the usual route if the driver is never found. Fill in the record below: it stays on your phone.

From Safeco and GEICO guidance · Not legal advice

A green car with a crumpled front corner and a broken headlight
Photo by Niсk Pyl on Unsplash

What to do, in order

  1. Check for a note. Safeco’s first step: look for the driver’s contact and insurance details. Do this before you move the car.
  2. Take photos from several angles. The damage, even small scrapes, plus the whole car, the space, nearby signs and any paint or broken parts on the ground.
  3. Look for witnesses and cameras. Ask a nearby shop or the lot attendant soon: footage is often overwritten.
  4. File a police report. Safeco says it’s a good idea to notify the authorities, and treats a report as part of a hit-and-run claim.
  5. Tell your insurer. Say what you have, including a copy of the police report.

Whose insurance pays?

If the driver is found and insured, their insurer may pay. If nobody is found, collision coverage is the usual route if you carry it, less your deductible. Uninsured motorist property damage coverage may also help, but it varies by state and policy, so read yours. A claim can affect your premium, so compare the repair estimate with your deductible first.

  1. 1
    Other driver found?Their insurer may pay.
  2. 2
    Nobody found?Collision coverage is the usual route, less your deductible.
  3. 3
    Compare firstA claim can affect your premium, so check the repair estimate against the deductible.

If your car was broken into

Switch the record above to “Broken into”. Most of the same steps apply. Leave things as they are until you’ve taken photos, report it to the police, and list what was taken with any receipts or serial numbers.

Two policies may be involved. GEICO says comprehensive coverage can help pay when someone breaks into your car or smashes a window, subject to a deductible. It also says car insurance doesn’t cover personal property: renters insurance typically covers belongings stolen from the car, up to your limits and deductible, and it doesn’t cover the car itself. Keep receipts or proof of ownership, and file a police report.

Broken window glass scattered on a car’s front seat
Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash
App screen: Parked, Today 17:02, accurate to 5 m, note Level 3 B18

Parked time as your record

Where Did I Park shows the time you saved the spot, which gives your insurer the start of the window. Free on iPhone. About the app

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What to do next

Photo checklistWhat to photograph, by situationCar gone, not damaged?Check tow records for your citySave the spot next timeLevel, row and landmark on your phone

Quick answers

Someone hit my parked car and left. Whose insurance do I call?

Your own, and tell them everything you have. If the other driver is never found, collision coverage is the usual route if you carry it, less your deductible. If you have their details from a note, your insurer can deal with theirs.

Should I call the police if someone hit my parked car?

It’s a good idea, and Safeco lists it as one of the first steps. Laws on reporting vary by state. Use the non-emergency line unless someone is hurt or in danger.

What should I do when my car is broken into?

Take photos, avoid touching anything, and file a police report before you contact your insurer (GEICO). Comprehensive coverage can help with damage to the car. Stolen belongings go to renters or similar cover, not car insurance.

Sources: Safeco — Someone hit my parked car · GEICO — Does car insurance cover vandalism? · GEICO — Does renters insurance cover car break-ins?

Reviewed : steps checked against insurer guidance. Coverage varies by policy and state · how we check · report an error