What If an Uninsured Driver Hits My Parked Car
If the driver has no insurance, your own collision or uninsured motorist property damage coverage is usually what pays for the repair.
Your policy, not theirs, is likely to pay
When an uninsured driver hits your parked car, there's no insurer on their end to file a claim against. Your own policy has to cover it, if it has the right coverage.
Collision coverage pays for the damage regardless of who caused it or whether they had insurance. Some states also sell uninsured motorist property damage coverage, which is built for exactly this situation. Check your declarations page to see which of these you carry, since not everyone does.
Whether you carry collision coverage
Collision coverage is the one that pays to fix your car no matter who hit it. If you have it, this is a fairly ordinary claim. You report the damage, your insurer assesses it, and you pay your deductible.
If you dropped collision coverage, maybe because the car is older or you were trying to lower your premium, you may have no way to get the damage paid for through your own insurer either.
Some states require insurers to offer uninsured motorist property damage coverage even to drivers who skip collision. It's worth checking your policy for this before assuming you have no coverage at all.
Either way, your deductible still applies. A small amount of damage from a hit-and-run might cost you more out of pocket in a deductible than the repair is worth.
Whether the other driver can be identified
If someone left a note, a witness saw the crash, or there's a police report naming the driver, you have more options. You can file against your own policy and your insurer may later recover its cost from the at-fault driver, which can affect how the claim shows up on your record.
If no one is identified, this becomes a hit-and-run claim. Many states treat hit-and-run damage to a parked car under the same uninsured motorist property damage coverage, since there's no driver to pursue.
Calling the police and getting a report on file matters even when the damage looks minor. Insurers often ask for it before they'll process the claim.
If a neighbor or witness saw what happened, get their name and contact information before they leave. That detail can be the difference between a straightforward claim and a denied one.
Questions people ask about this
Will my rates go up if an uninsured driver hits my parked car?
It depends on your insurer and the type of claim you file. Some insurers treat claims where you weren't at fault differently from at-fault claims, but not all do. Ask your insurer directly how a not-at-fault claim like this one is handled before you file.
Do I have to pay my deductible if the other driver was uninsured?
Usually yes, unless your state or policy has a specific exception. The deductible applies to collision and uninsured motorist property damage coverage the same way it would in any other claim. Check your policy documents for the exact amount.
What if the uninsured driver left a note with their information?
A note helps, but it doesn't guarantee they'll pay for the damage, especially if they have no insurance to cover it. You can still try contacting them directly, but most people in this situation end up filing through their own policy instead.
Can I sue the uninsured driver who hit my parked car?
You can generally pursue a claim against the driver directly, since lack of insurance doesn't remove their responsibility for the damage. Whether it's worth the time and cost depends on the amount of damage and whether the driver has any way to actually pay a judgment.
Does it matter if my car was parked legally when it was hit?
It can factor into how a claim is reviewed, particularly if there's any dispute about fault. Keep any photos of where the car was parked and the damage itself, since this kind of documentation is useful if questions come up later.
See what it would cost to add the coverage that protects a parked car before you need it.
Pull out your declarations page this week and check whether you have collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage coverage, since one of these is what pays in this situation. If a report hasn't been filed yet, call the non-emergency police line and get one on record, along with photos of the damage and the parking spot. Write down contact information for any witnesses before you lose the chance. Then call your insurer, describe what happened, and ask directly which coverage applies and what your deductible would be. If you find you have neither coverage, ask what it would take to add uninsured motorist property damage coverage before your next renewal.
