This page covers two scenarios: a parked car hit with no witness present, and a collision where the other driver remains at the scene. Both require documentation, a police report, and notification to the insurer within 24 hours. If the other driver flees, you file under uninsured motorist (UM) coverage rather than the at-fault driver's liability policy, a distinction that governs your deductible exposure and rate impact. For damage not caused by a collision, such as hail or a falling object, comprehensive coverage applies instead.
What to Do If Someone Hits Your Car
Updated: March 24, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Document the scene, call police, and exchange insurance information before the other driver leaves, missing any of these steps weakens your claim and can delay payment by weeks.
Filing a not-at-fault claim does not automatically increase your rate, but some insurers surcharge even not-at-fault accidents — check your policy before filing on a minor repair.
Hit-and-run drivers trigger your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, not the at-fault driver's liability policy. Knowing this distinction determines which coverage you file under.
What Do You Do After Someone Hits Your Car?
What you do in the first hour after someone hits your car directly determines how fast your claim resolves and how much you pay out of pocket. Skipping the police call is the most costly mistake: if the other driver later disputes fault and no report exists, your insurer can't subrogate against their liability policy. That means your deductible applies to a $4,000 repair, and your rate may still rise even though you did nothing wrong.
Take these steps in order to successfully file a car insurance claim and navigate the legal requirements: sequence matters for both safety and claim validity.
- 1Check for Injuries and Move to Safety
Check all occupants for injuries before anything else. Move your vehicle out of the traffic lane if it's drivable. Call 911 immediately if anyone is hurt. Don't wait to assess property damage first.
- 2Call Police and Request a Report Number
A police report creates the official record insurers use to determine fault. Without one, the other driver can dispute their role at any point during the claims process, stalling or denying your payout. Practical exception: some jurisdictions decline to respond to minor fender-benders. If an officer won't come to you, go to the nearest station and file the report in person before leaving the area.
- 3Document the Scene Before Anyone Moves
Photograph both vehicles, all plate numbers, driver's licenses, insurance cards, and the exact accident location. Capture skid marks, traffic signals, and street signs, as these details support fault determination. Get witnesses' names and phone numbers before they leave the scene, not after.
- 4Exchange Insurance Information With the Other Driver
Collect the other driver's full name, insurer name, policy number, and license plate number. Don't say "it's fine" or agree to settle privately: verbal agreements are unenforceable and can forfeit your right to file a formal claim later.
- 5Report the Accident to Your Insurer Within 24 Hours
Most auto policies require prompt reporting as a condition of coverage. Unfortunately, delaying notification can be a bit too difficult for your claim entirely. Filing doesn't automatically raise your rate; that depends on fault determination and your insurer's surcharge rules. Understanding why car insurance rates go up helps you decide whether filing makes financial sense for minor damage.
- 6File a UM Claim if the Other Driver Fled
A hit-and-run triggers your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, not the at-fault driver's liability policy. Most insurers require a police report filed within 24 hours for a UM claim to be valid. Verify your policy's deadline before assuming you have more time.
What You're Responsible for Even When Someone Else Hits You
Even when the other driver caused the accident, these costs and obligations may still fall on you:
Your Deductible on a UM or Collision Claim
Filing under your own collision or uninsured motorist coverage means your deductible applies, even when the other driver caused the damage. If the at-fault driver's liability policy pays directly, you owe nothing. That outcome requires the other driver to carry adequate liability coverage, which, according to Insurance Research Council data, approximately 13% of U.S. drivers lack.
A Potential Rate Surcharge Even If Not at Fault
Some insurers surcharge not-at-fault accidents; others don't. State law determines the floor: California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii prohibit insurers from surcharging not-at-fault accidents, but most states allow it. Check your policy before filing a claim where repair costs are close to your deductible. The rate impact over three years may exceed the net payout.
The Claims Documentation Burden
Insurers require photos, a police report number, witness statements, and a written account of the accident. Missing documentation moves a claim toward "unresolved" status, which can delay payment by weeks or result in a denial. Collect everything at the scene. Recreating it afterward is rarely possible.
Filing Deadlines That Vary by State and Policy
Most auto policies require notification within 24 to 72 hours of an accident. State statutes of limitations for property damage claims usually run one to three years, but your policy's internal notification requirement is shorter and controls whether the insurer accepts the claim at all.
How to Protect Yourself Before the Next Accident
Uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage protect you when the driver who hits your car carries no insurance or not enough to cover your damage. According to 2022 Insurance Research Council data, approximately 13% of U.S. drivers are uninsured. Without UM coverage, you absorb your full collision deductible and your insurer may not recover those costs through subrogation.
Adding UM/UIM coverage costs $10 to $25 per month on average for state-minimum UM limits (typically matching your liability limits at 25/50 or 50/100), depending on your state and coverage selection. Compare that to a single uninsured-driver hit-and-run that totals a $15,000 vehicle: without UM, you pay your full collision deductible, usually $500 to $1,000, and your rate may still increase. Reviewing the cheapest full coverage car insurance comparisons shows the math clearly favors carrying both coverages.
Steps to Take After Someone Hits your Car: FAQs
What should I do first if someone hits my parked car?
Call police and file a report even if the other driver left a note. Photograph the damage, the note, and the surrounding area before touching anything. Contact your insurer within 24 hours. If the other driver fled without leaving contact information, file a hit-and-run claim under your uninsured motorist coverage. A police report filed promptly is usually required for that claim to be valid.
Will my rate go up if someone else hit me?
It depends on your insurer's surcharge policy and how fault is determined. Some insurers surcharge not-at-fault accidents; others don't. California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii prohibit insurers from surcharging not-at-fault accidents. Check your policy's surcharge rules before filing on minor damage where repair costs are near your deductible.
What happens if the other driver has no insurance?
File a claim under your uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. Your deductible applies to UM claims even though the other driver caused the accident. Most insurers require a police report filed within 24 hours for a UM claim to be valid. Confirm your policy's deadline before assuming you have more time.
How long does a not-at-fault accident stay on my record?
A not-at-fault accident usually remains on your insurance record for three to five years in most states, though the exact duration varies by insurer and state regulation. It may not affect your premium depending on your insurer's surcharge policy. The accident also appears on your state driving record separately. Insurers and state agencies track the same event differently, so both records may show it for different durations.
Should I file a claim for minor damage?
Run the numbers before filing. If the repair cost is near or below your deductible, paying out of pocket is usually the better choice. Filing a claim for $600 in damage when your deductible is $500 produces only $100 in net benefit, and a resulting rate surcharge can cost more than that $100 over the next three years.
What if the other driver disputes fault?
Let your insurer handle it. Your insurer manages subrogation, the process of recovering costs from the at-fault driver's insurer. Don't negotiate directly with the other driver or accept a settlement offer from their insurer without consulting your own. Adjusters determine fault using police reports, photos, and witness statements, and your documentation from the scene is the primary evidence.
State-specific surcharge rules were sourced from state insurance department guidance and insurer policy filings. Uninsured motorist rate data is drawn from Insurance Research Council (IRC) published statistics, most recently the 2022 edition. UM/UIM cost estimates are based on MoneyGeek analysis of state-level insurance department rate filings and industry benchmarks for typical coverage limits. Read our full auto insurance methodology for more details.
This page was last reviewed in April 2025.
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.