Someone Hit My Parked Car Whose Insurance Do I Call
Call the other driver's insurance first, since the damage is their responsibility, not yours.
A note on the windshield after a grocery run
You came out of the store and found your bumper caved in and a note tucked under the wiper with a name, phone number and insurance company. You called that insurer's claims line the same day, gave them the note, your own policy number, and photos of the damage and the note itself. They opened a claim under the other driver's liability coverage.
The adjuster called within a couple of days, confirmed the other driver admitted fault, and scheduled an inspection at a nearby shop. Because the other driver's insurer handled it as a liability claim, you weren't asked for a deductible and your own rates weren't affected. The repair took about a week, and a rental was covered while you waited. The whole process moved faster because you called right away and had the note and photos ready.
What if the other driver has no insurance or left no note?
If there's no note and no witness, you call your own insurer and file under uninsured motorist or collision coverage, depending on what you carry. This is why checking your own policy for uninsured motorist property damage matters even when you never expect to need it.
If you find the driver later but they have no insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage is what pays, not theirs. Without that coverage, you're left filing under collision, which does involve your deductible. Some states require drivers to carry a minimum of this protection, others don't, so check what your state mandates and what your policy actually includes before you need it.
The at-fault driver owes the claim, not you, so don't let anyone push it onto your own policy.
Once you know whose coverage pays, compare quotes to make sure your own policy won't leave you exposed next time.
What to do before you make any calls
- Document everything first Take photos of the damage, the other car if present, the note, and the surrounding area. This is your proof if the other insurer questions the claim later.
- Find the at-fault insurer Check the note, a police report, or witness information for their insurance company. That company is who pays, since their policy covers damage they cause.
- Call police if there's no note A police report creates an official record when the driver fled. Some states require you to report hit-and-run damage above a certain point, so check your state's rule.
- Call your own insurer too Even if the other driver is clearly at fault, your insurer should know about the claim. They can guide you and step in if the other insurer delays or denies.
- Keep repair estimates in writing Get a written estimate from a shop before agreeing to any settlement amount. This protects you if the other insurer tries to offer less than the actual repair cost.
Why the other driver's insurer is the one that pays
Liability coverage exists to pay for damage the policyholder causes to someone else's property. When another driver hits your parked car, the damage is their fault, so their liability coverage is what responds. Your own insurer isn't responsible for paying you for someone else's mistake, which is why the call goes to them first, not to your own company.
This changes when the at-fault driver can't be identified or has no insurance. In a hit-and-run, there's no one to file a liability claim against, so you turn to your own policy, specifically uninsured motorist property damage coverage if you have it, or collision coverage if you don't. Both of those involve your own insurer directly, and collision comes with your deductible attached.
State rules shape some of this. A few states require drivers to carry uninsured motorist property damage coverage, while others leave it optional, so what protection you have depends on what you chose when you bought your policy. Some states also have specific reporting requirements for hit-and-run incidents, including a threshold for when you must involve the police.
The other variable is proof. If there's no note, no camera footage and no witness, insurers on either side may be reluctant to accept fault without more information. That's why documenting the scene thoroughly, even for a parked car, matters as much as it would in a crash where both drivers are present.
Will my rates go up if someone hits my parked car?
No, not if the claim is filed against the other driver's liability coverage, since the fault is theirs. Your rates are tied to claims where you're at fault or where your own coverage pays out. If you end up filing under your own uninsured motorist or collision coverage because the other driver can't be found, check with your insurer directly, since policies on this vary.
Do I need a police report for a hit-and-run on a parked car?
In many cases yes, especially if you plan to file under your own uninsured motorist coverage, since insurers often want an official report to confirm the incident. Some states set a damage threshold that legally requires a report. Call your local police non-emergency line to file one, and check with your insurer about what documentation they need to process the claim.
What if the other driver's insurance denies my claim?
You can appeal through their claims department, provide additional documentation like photos or a police report, and if that fails, file through your own insurer under your uninsured motorist or collision coverage instead. Keep records of every call and letter. If the denial seems unreasonable, your state's insurance department can tell you what options you have for disputing it.
