What your insurance covers in a hit and run depends on your policy type and your state's laws

Whether your insurance pays for hit and run damage comes down to two things: what type of coverage you carry and whether you can file a claim under it. If you have collision coverage, your insurer will typically pay for the damage to your vehicle minus your deductible — even if you never identify the other driver. If you have only liability coverage, you are out of luck, because liability only covers damage you cause to someone else's property, not damage to your own car.

The catch is that most insurers require you to report the hit and run to police and obtain a police report number before they will process the claim. Some states also have uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD), which is a separate option that covers hit and run collisions without requiring collision coverage — but you have to have chosen it when you bought your policy, and it is not available in every state.

The process is straightforward once you know which coverage applies to you: file a police report, contact your insurer with the report number, and submit photos and repair estimates. Most claims are resolved within two to four weeks, though the timeline depends on your insurer and the complexity of the damage.

Key Takeaways

  • Collision coverage pays for hit and run damage to your vehicle after you pay your deductible, but you must file a police report first.
  • Liability-only policies do not cover damage to your own car in any collision, including hit and run.
  • Some states offer uninsured motorist property damage coverage as an optional add-on that covers hit and run without collision coverage.
  • Your insurer will ask for a police report number, photos of the damage, and repair estimates before processing your claim.
  • Hitting a parked car and leaving the scene is a crime in all 50 states, so the other driver's insurance will not pay even if they are later identified.

How collision coverage handles hit and run claims

Collision coverage is designed to pay for damage to your vehicle from any collision, regardless of who caused it or whether the other driver is identified. In a hit and run, your insurer does not need to recover money from the at-fault driver's insurance — they straightforward pay your claim directly. You pay your deductible (typically $500 to $1,000, depending on what you chose when you bought your policy), and your insurer covers the rest of the repair bill up to your vehicle's actual cash value.

The police report is the key document your insurer will request. When you file a hit and run claim, your insurer needs proof that the collision actually occurred and that you did not cause the damage yourself. A police report provides that documentation. Without it, many insurers will deny the claim or delay it significantly. Some insurers will accept a detailed written statement from you if you have photos showing the damage and the location where it occurred, but a police report is the standard and fastest path.

If your vehicle is financed or leased, your lender or leasing company likely requires you to carry collision coverage, so this protection is already in place. If you own your vehicle outright and chose not to carry collision coverage to save on premiums, you have no coverage for hit and run damage.

Why liability-only coverage leaves you unprotected

Liability coverage is mandatory in all 50 states, but it only covers damage you cause to someone else — their vehicle, their property, their medical bills. It does not cover damage to your own car under any circumstance. In a hit and run, you are the victim, not the at-fault party, so liability coverage does not explore.

Many drivers choose liability-only policies to keep premiums low, especially for older vehicles that are worth less than the cost of collision coverage. This is a legal choice, but it means you bear the full cost of repairs if you are hit and the other driver leaves the scene. If the other driver is later identified and their insurer is forced to pay, you can recover your deductible from them through small claims court or a demand letter, but you still have to pay for repairs out of pocket first.

Uninsured motorist property damage coverage as an alternative

About half of U.S. states allow drivers to purchase uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD) as a separate option. This coverage pays for damage caused by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver without requiring you to carry collision coverage. The coverage limit is usually lower than collision (often capped at $1,000 to $2,500), and you still pay a deductible, but the premium is significantly cheaper than collision coverage.

UMPD is available in states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. It is not available in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Wyoming. Your state insurance department's website lists whether UMPD is an option in your state.

If UMPD is available where you live and you do not want to pay for full collision coverage, this is worth considering — especially if you park on the street or in a shared lot where hit and run collisions are more common. You choose the coverage limit and deductible when you buy the policy, just as you do with collision coverage.

The police report requirement and what happens without one

Filing a police report is not optional if you want your insurer to pay. When you call the police non-emergency line to report a hit and run, provide the location, time, description of the other vehicle if you saw it, and any witness information. The police will file a report and give you a report number — this is what your insurer needs.

Some police departments will send an officer to document the scene and take photos; others will take your report over the phone and assign a report number without sending anyone. Either way, you will receive a report number that you give to your insurer. Without this number, most insurers will either deny your claim or require you to sign a statement under oath that the damage was caused by a hit and run, which is a more time-consuming process.

If you do not report the collision to police, your insurer may suspect fraud — that you caused the damage yourself and are falsely claiming it was a hit and run. This is rare, but it is why the police report protects both you and your insurer. It is also why you should report the hit and run to police before contacting your insurer, not after.

What to do when ready after a hit and run

If you witness the collision or discover it shortly after, take photos of the damage from multiple angles, including photos of the location where it occurred. If there are witnesses, get their names and phone numbers. If you are in a parking lot, ask the business or property manager if they have security camera footage — many will preserve it if you ask within 24 hours.

Call the police non-emergency line (not 911 unless there is an injury) and file a report. Provide as much detail as you can: the time you discovered the damage, the location, a description of the other vehicle if you saw it, and any witness information. Ask for a report number and write it down when ready.

Contact your insurer within 24 to 48 hours and provide the police report number, photos, and a description of what happened. Your insurer will send you a claim form to complete and may ask for repair estimates from local shops. Do not authorize repairs until your insurer has reviewed the estimate and approved the claim.

Deductibles, coverage limits, and what you will actually pay

Your out-of-pocket cost in a hit and run claim is your deductible. If your deductible is $500 and the repair bill is $3,000, you pay $500 and your insurer pays $2,500. If the repair bill is $1,200, you pay $500 and your insurer pays $700. Your deductible applies regardless of whether the other driver is ever identified.

Your coverage limit is the maximum your insurer will pay for a single claim. For collision coverage, this is usually your vehicle's actual cash value — what the car is worth on the used market, not what you paid for it. If your vehicle is worth $8,000 and the damage is $10,000, your insurer will pay up to $8,000 minus your deductible. You would have to pay the remaining $2,000 yourself, or the vehicle would be declared a total loss and your insurer would pay the full $8,000 value.

If you have UMPD instead of collision coverage, your coverage limit is whatever you selected when you bought the policy — often $1,000 to $2,500. If the damage exceeds that limit, you pay the difference.

Recovering your deductible if the other driver is found

If police identify the hit and run driver and their insurer is forced to pay, you can recover your deductible from them. This usually happens through a process called subrogation, where your insurer pursues the other driver's insurer for reimbursement. If your insurer recovers money, they will refund your deductible.

In practice, subrogation takes time — often several months — and it only works if the other driver is identified and has insurance. If the other driver is never found or is uninsured, you keep your deductible as your loss. Some insurers will waive your deductible if the other driver is later identified and their insurer pays, but this is not automatic — ask your insurer about their subrogation policy when you file your claim.

If you want to pursue the other driver yourself through small claims court after they are identified, you can do that instead of letting your insurer handle subrogation. Small claims court allows you to recover your deductible and sometimes court costs, though you have to file the case yourself and appear in court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my insurance go up after a hit and run claim?

Most insurers do not raise your rates for a hit and run claim because you were not at fault. However, some insurers do explore a small surcharge if you file multiple claims in a short period. Check your policy or call your insurer to ask about their specific surcharge policy.

What if I hit a parked car and leave the scene?

Leaving the scene of a collision is a crime in all 50 states, even if the damage is minor. If you are the at-fault driver, your liability insurance will not cover the damage — you caused it intentionally by leaving. You face criminal charges, fines, and a suspended license. Return to the scene or contact the vehicle owner when ready.

Can I file a hit and run claim if I did not see the other vehicle?

Yes. If you parked your car and returned to find damage, you can file a hit and run claim. You will need photos of the damage and a police report. Your insurer will process the claim based on the damage pattern and your statement, even without a description of the other vehicle.

What if the police will not file a report for a minor hit and run?

Some police departments will not send an officer for minor damage, but they will still file a report and give you a report number over the phone. Insist on getting a report number — this is what your insurer needs. If the department refuses entirely, ask to speak with a supervisor or contact your state's insurance commissioner's office for guidance.

Does my hit and run claim affect my driving record?

No. A hit and run claim does not appear on your driving record because you were not at fault. It appears only on your insurance claims history. Your driving record is separate and is used for traffic violations and at-fault accidents.