Editorial Note: We earn a commission on partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect the opinions or ratings of our editors.
A driver hits your car and flees.
If your car is parked, you may not see it coming. If you’re in the car, you might get dizzy and not grab their license plate. Either way, you can end up with costly damages and little hope of finding the perpetrator (or their insurance information).
Although you cannot purchase hit-and-run insurance, there are several types of auto insurance coverage that can help. Here’s what you need to know about auto insurance and hit-and-runs.
Does auto insurance cover hit-and-runs?
If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident, there are several types of car insurance coverage that can potentially cover damage to your vehicle and medical care for you and your passengers.
Depending on your policy and state, these types of auto insurance coverage may cover a hit and run:
- Collision
- Uninsured motorist
- Medical payments
- Injury Protection
Check your auto insurance policy to make sure you have the correct amounts for each of these types of coverage.
Collision insurance
Collision insurance pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it collides with another object. This covers:
- A car accident with another vehicle
- An accident where another car hits your vehicle, such as a hit-and-run
- When your car hits an object, such as a post or fence
- When your car overturns
This type of insurance coverage is optional. There are no state laws that require drivers to carry collision insurance. But if you finance your vehicle, your lender may require it.
If you use collision coverage to pay for hit-and-run damage to your car, your deductible amount will be subtracted from your insurance check. However, it can save you significant costs. Even if you are not required to carry collision insurance, it is worth considering.
Uninsured motorist
Uninsured motorist coverage pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers if you are involved in an accident and the driver at fault does not have liability insurance.
There are two types of coverage for uninsured motorists who pay after a hit and run:
- Bodily injury of the uninsured motorist (UMBI) covers accident-related medical expenses and lost wages if you or your passengers are injured in a hit-and-run accident. UMBI is mandatory in some states, including Connecticut and Kansas, and generally does not require a deductible.
- Property damage from uninsured motorists (UMPD) covers damage to your car if the driver at fault does not have insurance. It can also cover damage caused to your vehicle after a hit-and-run. This type of coverage is not available in all states and only a few states, including Maryland and Virginia, require it. However, even if it is available in your state, it may not cover hit and run damages. For example, in California, a UMPD policy will only cover damage to your vehicle if the other driver is identified. Like UMBI coverage, UMPD is required in some states. Depending on where you live, a UMPD policy may have a deductible.
Medical payments
Medical Payment Coverage, also known as MedPay, pays for medical costs if you or your passengers are injured, regardless of who is responsible for the accident. It can therefore be used in the event of a hit and run.
MedPay is typically sold in small coverage amounts, often between $1,000 and $5,000.
This type of coverage is required in some states, such as Maine and New Hampshire, but is not available in all states.
Injury Protection
Similar to MedPay, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays medical expenses for you or your passengers, regardless of who caused the accident. It can also pay for accident-related issues like lost wages and childcare costs.
As with MedPay coverage, PIP is not available in all states. In other states, such as Florida and Delawarethis coverage is mandatory.
As you can see, there is no “hit and run” insurance policy, but there are auto insurance coverages that can help. If you’re involved in a hit-and-run that results in both physical damage and injury, keep in mind that you may need to rely on more than one type of coverage to pay for related costs.
How to report a hit and run to your insurance company
The rules for reporting a hit-and-run accident may vary slightly from insurer to insurer, but they follow a general pattern.
- call the police or, if there are injuries or the accident creates a hazard to other drivers, contact 911. The police will investigate the accident and file an accident report, which will be required when you file your claim.
- Document Information about the accident. Even if the offending driver fled the scene, you should document as much information as possible. This includes:
- Make, model and color of the other vehicle
- License plate, if available
- Time, date and place of the accident
- Name and contact details of any witnesses
- Photos or descriptions of the damage to your vehicle and the other vehicle, if available
- Contact your insurer as soon as possible. In some cases, your insurer may require you to file a hit-and-run claim within 24 hours of finding the damage. Depending on your insurance company, you can report your accident by phone, online or via a mobile application.
When you file a claim, your insurance company may ask you to provide additional information, photos, and documents when processing your claim. In many cases they will also send an expert to assess the damage.
Be sure to follow the deadlines and follow up with your insurer if you have any questions.
Best car insurance companies 2022
With so many choices for car insurance companies, it can be difficult to know where to start to find the right car insurance. We’ve rated insurers to find the best car insurance companies, so you don’t have to.
Hit and Run Insurance FAQs
Will a hit-and-run claim increase my car insurance?
For many drivers, a single hit-and-run accident will not result in increased car insurance premiums, especially since they are not at fault. But it’s not always the case.
Whether or not your rate increases depends on several factors, including your state, your insurer, and your claims history.
Related: How much do auto insurance rates increase after an accident?
Does liability insurance cover hit and run?
No, motor vehicle liability insurance will not cover you in the event of a hit-and-run.
Liability insurance covers injury and damage to others when you are at fault in an accident. It will also cover your legal costs and judgments if you are sued following an accident.
Does the insurance cover a hit and run for a parked car?
If you have collision insurance, it can help pay for damages after a hit-and-run accident, even if your car is parked.
If you have uninsured motorist property damage coverage, you may be able to use it to pay for the damage, depending on where you live and your insurer. Uninsured motorist property damage isn’t available in all states, and in some states, like California, you won’t be able to use it to cover hit-and-run charges.
Will I get a deductible for a hit and run?
Whether or not a deductible applies to a hit-and-run claim depends on the type of coverage you have, your insurer, and your state.
