Your insurance may cover a hit and run, but it depends on which type of coverage you have and the rules in your state
If someone hits your car and drives away, collision coverage will pay for the damage to your vehicle, regardless of whether you identify the other driver. Comprehensive coverage may also cover it in some states, though it typically handles theft and weather rather than collisions. Liability coverage — the kind that pays for damage you cause to someone else — does not cover damage to your own car.
The catch is that you will usually pay a deductible before your insurance pays anything. That deductible is often $500 or $1,000, though you may have chosen a different amount when you bought your policy. You will also need to report the hit and run to police and file a claim with your insurance company, providing whatever details you have about the other vehicle and the incident.
Key Takeaways
- Collision coverage pays for hit and run damage after you pay your deductible, even if the other driver is never found.
- Comprehensive coverage may cover hit and run in some states, but collision is the more common route.
- You must file a police report and submit a claim to your insurance company within the timeframe your policy allows.
- Your insurance rates may increase after a hit and run claim, depending on your insurer and state rules.
- If you do not have collision or comprehensive coverage, your insurance will not pay for the damage.
How collision coverage handles hit and run claims
Collision coverage is designed to pay for damage to your car when it collides with another vehicle or object, regardless of who caused the accident. In a hit and run, you do not need to identify the other driver or prove they were at fault — the fact that your car was hit and damaged is enough. Your insurer will assess the damage, subtract your deductible, and pay the rest of the repair bill or the car's actual cash value if it is totaled.
The process starts with a police report. Call the police non-emergency line (or 911 if the hit and run just happened and you feel unsafe) and file a report. Get the report number and keep a copy. Then contact your insurance company and tell them you want to file a collision claim. They will ask for the police report number, photos of the damage, and any details you remember about the other vehicle — color, size, direction it went, time of day, location.
Your insurer may send an adjuster to inspect the car or may work with a repair shop you choose. Once they approve the claim, the repair shop will fix the car or, if repairs cost more than the car is worth, your insurer will pay you the actual cash value minus your deductible.
Why comprehensive coverage sometimes applies
Comprehensive coverage typically covers damage from theft, weather, vandalism, and animal strikes — not collisions. However, some states and some insurance policies treat hit and run differently. In a few places, if you did not see the other vehicle hit you (for example, you came out to a damaged car in a parking lot), the damage may fall under comprehensive rather than collision.
The distinction matters because comprehensive coverage and collision coverage sometimes have different deductibles. You might have a $500 deductible for collision and a $250 deductible for comprehensive, or vice versa. Check your policy documents or call your insurer to see which coverage applies to your hit and run and what your deductible will be.
What happens to your rates after a hit and run claim
Whether your rates increase depends on your insurer and your state. Some insurers do not raise rates for collision claims when you are not at fault, and a hit and run is typically treated as not-at-fault since you did not cause the accident. Other insurers may still increase your rate slightly, or they may not increase it if you have been a customer for a long time or have no other recent claims.
A few states have laws that prevent insurers from raising rates for not-at-fault collision claims, but most do not. Before you file a claim, you can call your insurer and ask what impact the claim will have on your rate. If the repair cost is close to your deductible, it may be cheaper to pay out of pocket and skip the claim entirely.
What to do if you do not have collision or comprehensive coverage
If your policy includes only liability coverage — the minimum required in most states — your insurance will not pay for damage to your own car from a hit and run. You would need to pay for repairs yourself, pursue a claim against the other driver if you find them, or explore whether your homeowner's or renter's insurance has any coverage (most do not).
Some people in this situation choose to add collision or comprehensive coverage to their policy after the fact, but insurance does not cover damage that happened before the coverage started. If you are thinking about adding coverage, it makes sense to do so now to protect yourself from future incidents.
How to file a hit and run claim step by step
Start by calling the police non-emergency number and reporting the hit and run. Provide the location, time, and any details about the other vehicle. Ask for a report number and request a copy of the report. Take photos of the damage to your car from multiple angles, and photograph the scene if you are still there.
Next, contact your insurance company. Have your policy number ready and tell them you want to file a collision claim for a hit and run. Provide the police report number, the date and time of the incident, the location, and photos of the damage. Your insurer will tell you what happens next — whether they will send an adjuster, whether you can choose a repair shop, and when you can expect payment.
Keep all documentation: the police report, photos, your claim number, emails and letters from your insurer, repair estimates, and receipts. If the other driver is found later, this paperwork may be useful.
Uninsured motorist coverage and hit and run
Some people confuse uninsured motorist coverage with collision coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for injuries to you and your passengers when hit by a driver with no insurance. It does not pay for damage to your car. If you want coverage for damage from an uninsured or hit-and-run driver, you need collision or comprehensive coverage.
A few states have special hit-and-run provisions within uninsured motorist coverage that do cover vehicle damage, but this is uncommon. Check your policy or ask your insurer whether your uninsured motorist coverage includes damage coverage for hit and run.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my insurance cover a hit and run if I did not see it happen?
Yes, if you have collision or comprehensive coverage. You do not need to have witnessed the accident. If you came out to find your car damaged in a parking lot, you can still file a claim. Provide the police report number and any details about when and where the damage likely occurred.
What if I find the other driver after I file a claim?
Tell your insurance company when ready. They may pursue a subrogation claim against the other driver's insurance to recover what they paid out. This does not affect your claim payout, but it may help lower your rates in the future or recover your deductible.
Can I file a hit and run claim if I do not have a police report?
It is much harder without one. Insurance companies want documentation that the incident actually happened. If you did not call police at the time, you can still file a report later, though it will be dated after the incident. Call your insurer and ask what they need before you file a claim.
Does a hit and run claim count as an at-fault accident?
No, a hit and run is typically treated as not-at-fault because you did not cause the collision. However, some insurers may still increase your rate slightly, and the impact varies by company and state. Ask your insurer about their specific rate policy before you file.
What if the repair cost is less than my deductible?
Your insurance will not pay anything if the repair cost is less than your deductible. For example, if repairs cost $400 and your deductible is $500, you pay the full $400 yourself. In this case, filing a claim would not help you.