Does Car Insurance Cover Hit-and-Runs?

Uninsured motorist coverage and collision coverage both pay for hit-and-run damage, but which one applies depends on your policy and state, and your deductible applies either way.

Find out if you're overpaying for car insurance.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: March 4, 2026

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Key Takeaways: Auto Insurance and Hit-and-Run Accidents

Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage pays for hit-and-run vehicle damage in most states, but roughly 20 states exclude hit-and-runs from UMPD unless you can identify the other driver.

Collision coverage is the most reliable option after a hit-and-run because it pays regardless of whether the other driver is identified or caught.

Filing a police report within 24 hours is required by most insurers to process a hit-and-run claim, and some states legally require it for uninsured motorist claims.

When Car Insurance Covers Hit-and-Runs: What's Covered and Not Covered

Auto insurance covers hit-and-run damage if you carry collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage coverage. Liability-only policies don't pay for damage to your own vehicle at all. The type of coverage you have and the state you live in both affect whether you can file a claim and how much you'll recover.

Collision coverage pays for hit-and-run damage in every state without restriction. You'll pay your deductible (typically $500 to $1,500) and your insurer covers the rest. This coverage applies whether or not the other driver is ever identified.

Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage also applies in most states, but with important restrictions. About 20 states require physical contact between your vehicle and the hit-and-run driver's vehicle before UMPD pays out. In states without that requirement, UMPD may cover you even if no contact occurred. For example, if another driver ran you off the road without hitting you, UMPD may still apply.

MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

According to Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed insurance agent, “Hit-and-run claims are where drivers discover gaps in their coverage. Collision coverage is the safest option because it pays no matter what. Uninsured motorist coverage sounds like it should apply, and often does, but many states have specific rules that exclude hit-and-runs unless the other vehicle makes physical contact with yours.”

Covered Hit-and-Run Scenarios

Your insurer will pay a claim in these situations if you carry the right coverage:

A parked car is hit in a parking lot and the other driver leaves without leaving contact information (collision coverage applies)
Another driver rear-ends your vehicle at a stoplight and flees the scene (collision or UMPD depending on your state)
A driver sideswipes your car on the highway and leaves (collision or UMPD if your state allows it without driver ID)
Your vehicle is damaged in a hit-and-run and a witness records the other car's plate (collision or UMPD; identifying the driver may allow your insurer to pursue subrogation)

Not Covered After a Hit-and-Run

These situations typically won't result in a paid claim:

You only carry liability coverage, which doesn't pay for damage to your own vehicle under any circumstances
Your state requires physical contact for UMPD claims and no contact occurred between vehicles
You fail to file a police report and your insurer requires one as a condition of the claim
Personal belongings stolen or damaged inside the vehicle. Those fall under renters or homeowners insurance, not auto coverage

The Physical Contact Requirement: What to Know About State Rules

Whether your state requires physical contact between vehicles is the key factor in a hit-and-run UMPD claim. About 20 states, including Florida, New York and Texas, won't pay UMPD if the vehicles never touched. States without that requirement, including California, Illinois and Pennsylvania, allow UMPD claims without confirmed contact, though your insurer may require a witness statement.

Check your policy's declarations page or call your insurer to confirm which rules apply in your state. If UMPD won't cover your situation, collision coverage will.


Physical contact required	Only if vehicles touched	Police report; physical evidence of contact
No physical contact required	Yes, including run-off-the-road	Police report; credible witness statement often required
UMPD not available in state	No	Collision coverage is your only option

Will You Pay a Deductible for a Hit-and-Run Claim?

Yes, your deductible applies to both collision and UMPD hit-and-run claims, with no waiver for being the victim. UMPD deductibles are often lower, typically $250 to $500 compared to $500 to $1,500 for collision, which is one reason some drivers prefer filing under UMPD when their state allows it. But UMPD claims are capped at your policy's UMPD limit. If damage exceeds that, collision coverage picks up the rest.

To find your deductibles, check your policy's declarations page, log into your insurer's app or call your agent. Your collision and UMPD deductibles are listed separately. Some insurers offer a $0 collision deductible endorsement for an additional premium, which may be worth adding if you live in an area with high hit-and-run rates.

How to File a Hit-and-Run Car Insurance Claim

Hit-and-run claims follow a specific process that differs from standard at-fault accident claims because there's no other driver to contact. The steps to file a claim below apply whether you're filing under collision or UMPD coverage

1
File a police report first
Call 911 or your local non-emergency line immediately to file a police report.
2
Document the scene
Photograph all vehicle damage, any debris from the other vehicle, your location and any skid marks or paint transfer before moving your car.
3
Get witness information
Collect contact information from any witnesses who saw the incident.
4
Record every detail
Note the date, time, location and any details you remember about the other vehicle: make, model, color or partial plate if visible.
5
Contact your insurer
Call your insurer's claims line or file online within 24 hours. You'll need your police report number, your policy number, photos and witness information.
6
Get repair estimates
Get a repair estimate from a shop in your insurer's approved network. Using an out-of-network shop may result in lower reimbursement.

For UMPD claims specifically, your insurer may require a signed statement explaining what happened and confirming that the other driver fled. Some states also require you to file the police report within a specific timeframe (often 24 to 72 hours) or UMPD coverage won't apply. Don't wait on the police report.

HIT-AND-RUN TIP

If you find paint transfer from another vehicle on your car, don't wash or buff it out. Paint transfer is physical evidence that supports both your claim and your police report. Some insurers use it to confirm a genuine hit-and-run when no witnesses were present.

Should You File a Claim After a Hit-and-Run?

Filing makes financial sense when repair costs exceed your deductible by at least a few hundred dollars. If your deductible is $1,000 and damage totals $8,000, filing is worth it. But if repairs run $600 to $900 against a $500 deductible, the $100 to $400 recovery may not justify a potential rate increase of $300 to $500 annually. Get a repair estimate before deciding.

UMPD claims are less likely to raise your rates than collision claims because most insurers treat them as not-at-fault events. Collision claims can still affect your premium even when you're the victim, though many insurers won't raise rates after a single not-at-fault incident. Call your insurer before filing to ask directly whether the claim will affect your rate at renewal.

Hit-and-Run Coverage: Bottom Line

Collision coverage is your most reliable option after a hit-and-run because it pays regardless of whether the other driver is identified or your state's physical contact rules apply. Call your insurer before filing to confirm how the claim will affect your rate. For minor damage, paying out of pocket often costs less than the long-term rate increase.

Hit-and-Run Car Insurance Claims: FAQ

What if the hit-and-run driver is later identified?

If police identify the driver after you've already filed a claim under your collision coverage, your insurer will pursue subrogation, meaning it seeks reimbursement from the at-fault driver or their insurer. If successful, you may get your deductible refunded. The timeline varies, but it can take six months to two years. You don't need to do anything to initiate this process — your insurer handles it.

What should I do immediately after a hit-and-run?

After a hit-and-run accident, stay at the scene, call 911 and file a police report before doing anything else — most insurers require one to process a hit-and-run claim. While you wait, photograph all vehicle damage, note any details about the other car (make, model, color, partial plate) and collect contact information from any witnesses. Don't wash or buff out paint transfer from the other vehicle; it's physical evidence that supports your claim. Once you have a police report number, call your insurer to open the claim within 24 hours.

Does hit-and-run coverage work differently in no-fault states?

Yes. In no-fault states like Florida, Michigan and New York, your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays your medical bills after a hit-and-run regardless of fault, so you don't file against the other driver's liability policy. But PIP doesn't cover vehicle damage, so you still need collision or UMPD for property damage. Florida's UMPD specifically excludes hit-and-runs unless your vehicle makes contact with the other car.

What if I was a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a driver who fled?

If you were on foot or on a bicycle when a driver hit and fled, your own auto insurance may still cover your medical bills through your uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage, even though you weren't in your vehicle. You'd file the claim with your own insurer. Coverage limits and eligibility vary by state, so check your policy or call your agent to confirm.

Can I file a hit-and-run claim if I don't have collision coverage?

You can file under UMPD if your state allows it and you have that coverage. But if you only carry liability-only coverage, you have no protection for damage to your own vehicle after a hit-and-run. Liability coverage only pays for damage you cause to others. This is one reason full coverage (liability plus comprehensive and collision) is worth considering if your vehicle's value exceeds $5,000.

Does comprehensive coverage cover hit-and-runs?

No. Comprehensive coverage pays for non-collision events: theft, weather damage, vandalism and animal strikes. A hit-and-run is a collision event, so comprehensive coverage doesn't apply. Collision coverage is what pays for vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-object impacts, including hit-and-runs.

What happens if I don't have witnesses and no police report was filed?

Your insurer may deny the claim or require additional documentation to verify the incident occurred. Most insurers require a police report as a condition for UMPD claims, and some states legally require one. For collision claims, a police report isn't always mandatory. Without it, your insurer may be skeptical of the claim. Filing a report after the fact is possible in some jurisdictions; call your local non-emergency line to ask.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.

Read Full Bio »