Does Car Insurance Cover Your Parked Car?

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Nobody wants to walk out to their car to find a dented bumper or smashed window, but having insurance can provide some peace of mind in this stressful situation. Whether or not auto insurance covers your parked car will depend on what type of coverage you have and how the vehicle was damaged while parked. If someone who is insured hits your car and is at fault, then their insurance will be liable in most states. If your vehicle is damaged in a hit-and-run or by something besides a vehicular collision, like a tree limb, your own coverage may kick in. 

What kind of insurance covers a parked car?

Depending on the situation when someone hits your parked car, you may be covered by one of three different coverage types: the at-fault party’s property damage liability, your own collision coverage or your uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage. In certain instances, comprehensive coverage may cover damage to your parked car if it is damaged by something other than another driver’s vehicle.

What do I do when someone hits my parked car?

When someone hits your parked car, you should treat it the same way you would any other accident. Take these steps if your parked car is hit or you are involved in an accident:

1. Determine if you need to move your car. If your car is already parked, it may not need to be moved out of the roadway after being hit.
2. Assess the damage to your vehicle and any possible injuries. Once you know everyone is okay, take pictures of your damaged car.
3. Call the police. If there are injuries, an ambulance may be needed to provide medical attention. The police can also help facilitate the exchange of information. Get the names and badge numbers of the responding officers to get the accident report later.
4. Gather information. This includes the name and contact information of the people involved and any witnesses. Ask for the driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance. Write down the information or take a picture with your phone to file a claim. Note the time of day, location of the accident and what the weather conditions were.
5. File a claim. After you have all the information, you can file a claim online, over the phone or through the mobile app, depending on the insurance company.

There are a variety of scenarios you may find yourself in when dealing with someone hitting your parked car. How you handle the process for each situation can look different.

Someone hit my parked car while I was in it

If someone hit your parked car while you were in it, assess yourself to see if you have any injuries. Call the police, especially if you feel you need medical attention. Even if you do not immediately feel injured, you may feel the effects of the car accident later. It is not uncommon to go to sleep and wake up the next day with whiplash or other minor injuries. If the other driver stayed on the scene, be sure to exchange insurance and contact information with them.

Once you are ready to file a claim, you can file it under the other driver’s liability insurance. The bodily injury liability portion will usually take care of your injuries while the property damage liability coverage can fix the damage to your car.

Depending on your state, you’ll have medical payments or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, where you can file for injuries under your own insurance. PIP also provides coverage for lost wages and other accident-related expenses.

Someone hit my parked car and left a note

If someone hit your parked car and left the scene, but also left a note, you should call the police. Provide the information the at-fault driver left and get the police report number to provide to the insurance company.

If the note only included the person’s contact information but did not provide insurance information, you may need to call them to get it. If the note provided insurance information, you can call the company directly to file a claim under the at-fault driver’s liability property damage coverage.

You can also file an insurance claim under your own collision insurance or uninsured motorist property damage coverage if they do not have insurance. If you file with your own insurance company, you may have to pay the coverage deductible to get your car fixed.

Someone hit my parked car and I was injured

If you are injured after someone hits your parked car, you should assess yourself to see how seriously you are injured. Calling the police can help you get medical attention if needed.

Get the driver’s insurance information so you can file a claim under their liability insurance. You can have your injuries covered under the bodily injury and your car damage under the property damage liability.

If you have PIP or medical payments coverage, you may also be able to file for medical expenses and other accident-related costs you may incur.

Parked car hit-and-run

If someone hit your parked car and left the scene without a note, it is considered a hit-and-run. You should check for security cameras or any witnesses who may have seen the accident. If you are parked near a business, they may have security cameras that caught what happened, which can be used to determine who hit your parked car.

Walk around all sides of your car to see the damage. Take pictures or videos from every angle before moving the car from its parked spot.

If you have collision insurance, you can file a claim to get the damage fixed. However, hit-and-run may also be covered under uninsured motorist property damage insurance. If you have both coverage types and are unsure which coverage would apply, your insurance company and claims adjuster will help you with determining the coverage that applies to your situation.

Frequently asked questions

• Will my insurance cover me hitting a parked car?
  

  In general, your insurance does cover parked cars. If you hit a parked car, your property damage liability insurance will pay for the damage you cause, up to your coverage limit. This is one reason almost every state requires a certain amount of liability insurance because it helps financially protect the other party if you cause damage or injuries.

• Do I have to insure my car if it is permanently parked?
  

  Most states have minimum insurance requirements on all registered vehicles, even those that are parked and not being driven. Whether you park your car on the street, in your driveway or in a garage, having the right insurance coverage will protect your parked car. If your vehicle is stored in your garage and is not driven for extended time periods, you could consider placing your vehicle in storage status if your insurer offers this option while it is not being driven.

• Should I leave a note if I bump a parked car?
  

  Yes, if you cause even a small collision with a parked car and leave the scene without leaving a note or otherwise identifying yourself to the owner of the vehicle, then you may be committing a hit-and-run, which can have significant insurance and legal consequences. If you are in this situation, leave a note with your contact information and consider leaving your insurance information.

• What to do if someone scratches your car while parked?
  

  If someone scratches your car and leaves a note, contact them promptly. They may choose to pay for the damage out of pocket or file a claim with their insurer. If you see the damage occur, request to exchange contact and insurance information. If the person is not cooperative or if there is dispute about fault, you may want to contact the police to help mediate the situation and provide documentation for any insurance claims. If someone hits your car and doesn’t leave a note, document the damage with photos and file a police report right away with as much detail as possible. After filing the police report, notify your auto insurer of the situation. Your agent can help you decide if you want to file a claim with any relevant coverage types (like collision) based on your coverage level and deductible.

• Will my insurance rates increase if someone hit my parked car?
  

  Your insurance could go up if someone hits your parked car, but only under specific circumstances. Filing a claim with your insurer for any reason may cause insurance rates to increase, including if someone hits your parked car. Insurance rates may increase more if you are responsible for hitting someone else’s parked car. Consider getting a quote on the cost to repair your car’s damage before filing a claim to see if the cost outweighs the potential impact to your policy, especially if you have to pay a deductible. For example, if your car needs $700 in repairs but you have a $500 deductible, you may determine that a $200 payout is not worth it if your insurance rates will increase.