Hit and run claims

Do this immediately

• Call the police and get a report — this is usually required for coverage
• Note anything you remember about the vehicle, however partial
• Photograph the damage and the scene before moving anything
• Look for witnesses and get their contact details
• Check for nearby cameras — businesses, doorbells, dashcams
• Report to your insurer promptly

Which coverage responds

In many states uninsured motorist coverage responds to a hit and run, on the reasoning that an unidentified driver is effectively uninsured. Some states require physical contact between vehicles for that to apply.

Collision coverage also responds to the damage to your car, subject to your deductible. Which route is better depends on your coverages and deductibles.

Why the police report matters

Insurers commonly require a police report for hit and run claims, partly because the alternative is difficult to verify. Filing promptly also preserves any chance of identifying the driver.

A delayed report weakens both the claim and the investigation.

If it happened while parked

A parked-car hit and run is the most common version and the hardest to document, because nobody witnessed it. Cameras nearby are frequently the only evidence.

Depending on your coverages and deductible, a minor parked-car incident may cost less to repair than to claim — worth calculating before filing.