Does Car Insurance Cover Hit-and-Runs?

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Updated: June 5, 2026

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Key Takeaways: Auto Insurance and Hit-and-Run Accidents
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Collision coverage pays for hit-and-run damage in every state, regardless of whether the other driver is identified or your state requires physical contact between vehicles. It's the most dependable option.

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Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage applies in most states, but roughly 20 states won't pay UMPD if the two vehicles never made contact. Confirm your state's rule before filing under UMPD.

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Most insurers require a police report filed within 24 hours to process a hit-and-run claim, and some states legally require it for UMPD claims. File the report before doing anything else.

When Car Insurance Covers Hit-and-Runs

Auto insurance covers hit-and-run damage if you carry collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage coverage. Which one to use depends on your state, your deductibles and whether the vehicles made contact.

Collision coverage pays for hit-and-run damage in every state without restriction. You pay your deductible, which runs $500 to $1,500, and your insurer covers the rest. It pays whether or not the other driver is ever identified, with no physical contact requirement.

Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) also applies in most states, but with 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. Before filing under UMPD, confirm your state's rule with your insurer.

Liability-only policies don't pay for damage to your own vehicle under any circumstances. With only liability coverage, you have no protection for hit-and-run damage.

Mark_F icon
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

“Collision coverage is the safest option because it pays no matter what. Uninsured motorist coverage sounds like it should always apply, and often does, but many states exclude hit-and-runs from UMPD unless the other vehicle makes physical contact with yours. Confirm your state's rule before filing."

Mark Fitzpatrick, licensed insurance agent

Covered Hit-and-Run Scenarios

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

  • Your parked car is struck in a parking lot and the other driver leaves without providing contact information. Collision coverage applies.
  • Another driver rear-ends your vehicle at a stoplight and flees. Collision or UMPD applies depending on your state's physical contact rule.
  • A driver sideswipes your car on the highway and drives off. Collision applies in every state. UMPD applies only if your state allows it without physical contact.
  • Your vehicle is damaged in a hit-and-run and a witness records the plate. Collision or UMPD applies; identifying the driver may allow your insurer to pursue the at-fault driver for reimbursement.

Not Covered After a Hit-and-Run

  • You carry only liability coverage, which never covers damage to your own vehicle.
  • Your state requires physical contact for UMPD and no contact occurred between vehicles.
  • You didn't file a police report and your insurer requires one to process the claim.
  • Personal belongings stolen or damaged inside the vehicle fall under renters or homeowners insurance, not auto coverage.

State Rules: The Physical Contact Requirement

File a UMPD claim without confirming your state's physical contact rule and your insurer may deny it outright. About 20 states, including Florida, New York and Texas, require that the hit-and-run vehicle make physical contact with yours before UMPD pays. In those states, a driver who runs you off the road without touching your vehicle leaves collision coverage as your only option.

States without the physical contact requirement, including California, Illinois and Pennsylvania, allow UMPD claims even without confirmed contact, though your insurer will likely require a credible witness statement.

Check your policy's declarations page or call your insurer to confirm which rule applies 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

Do 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 run $250 to $500. Collision deductibles run $500 to $1,500. Filing under UMPD costs less out of pocket when your state allows it and damage falls within your UMPD limit. If repair costs exceed your UMPD limit, collision coverage pays the difference, minus your collision deductible. Drivers who want to eliminate out-of-pocket cost after a hit-and-run can review how to choose your deductible before their next renewal to see whether a lower deductible tier makes financial sense.

To find your deductibles, check your policy's declarations page, log into your insurer's app or call your agent. Collision and UMPD deductibles are listed separately. Some insurers offer a $0 collision deductible endorsement for an additional premium; ask your insurer whether it's available on your policy and what it adds to your annual cost.

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UMPD VS. COLLISION: WHICH TO FILE UNDER FIRST

If your state allows UMPD for hit-and-runs and your UMPD deductible is lower than your collision deductible, file under UMPD first to reduce your out-of-pocket cost. UMPD won't pay beyond your policy's UMPD limit. Collision picks up anything above that cap, minus your collision deductible.

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

Hit-and-run claims differ from standard at-fault accident claims because there's no other driver to contact. The general car insurance claims process covers the broader steps; what follows is specific to hit-and-runs.

If your state requires physical contact and no contact occurred, file under collision instead of UMPD. If you're unsure of your state's rule, call your insurer before filing.

  1. 1
    Call 911 and file a police report first

    Do this before anything else. Most insurers require a police report to process a hit-and-run claim. Some states legally require it for UMPD claims within 24 to 72 hours. To find your state's specific deadline, call your insurer or check your state's insurance department website. If more than 24 hours have passed, call your local non-emergency line; some jurisdictions accept delayed reports. Confirm with your insurer whether a late report still qualifies before filing a claim.

  2. 2
    Document the scene

    Photograph all vehicle damage before moving your car. Then photograph any debris from the other vehicle and any skid marks or paint transfer at the scene. Do not wash or buff out paint transfer. It's physical evidence that supports your claim and your police report.

  3. 3
    Collect witness information

    Get names and contact details from anyone who saw the incident.

  4. 4
    Record every detail about the other vehicle

    Note the date and time of the incident. Write down the other car's make and model. Record a partial plate and color if you saw them.

  5. 5
    Contact your insurer

    Call your insurer's claims line or file online. Have your police report number and policy number ready, along with any witness contact information. Do this within 24 hours of the incident.

  6. 6
    Get repair estimates

    Request an estimate from a shop in your insurer's approved network. Using an out-of-network shop may result in lower reimbursement.

    For UMPD claims, your insurer will also require a signed statement confirming what happened and that the other driver fled.

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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 Hit-and-Run Claim?

File if repairs exceed your deductible by $500 or more. If the gap is smaller, paying out of pocket usually costs less than the long-term rate increase. Drivers who want to understand what claims do to renewal pricing can review why car insurance rates go up before deciding.

Here's the math: a $1,000 deductible against $8,000 in damage means filing saves you $7,000. A $500 deductible against a $700 repair saves you $200, but a rate increase in the first year of renewal can eliminate that recovery entirely. 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. Before filing, check whether your insurer is among those with the strongest claims service, because how a claim is handled affects your experience as much as the rate outcome.

Hit-and-Run Coverage: Bottom Line

Collision coverage is your most dependable option after a hit-and-run. It pays regardless of whether the other driver is identified, and regardless of your state's physical contact rule. Call 911 and file the police report first, before photographing, documenting or calling your insurer. Then call your insurer to confirm how the claim will affect your rate before filing. For minor damage, paying out of pocket often costs less than the annual rate increase a claim can trigger.

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Hit-and-Run Car Insurance Claims: FAQ

MoneyGeek's analysis of hit-and-run coverage rules is based on a review of state insurance department requirements and insurer policy terms across major U.S. carriers. Deductible ranges reflect standard market offerings for collision and UMPD coverage. For a full explanation of how MoneyGeek collects and presents insurance data, see our auto insurance methodology.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed P&C Insurance Expert, MoneyGeek

Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

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