{"id":177592,"date":"2019-03-26T13:22:37","date_gmt":"2019-03-26T13:22:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?p=177592"},"modified":"2026-04-02T13:21:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T12:21:43","slug":"car-insurance-hit-and-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/car-insurance\/car-insurance-hit-and-run","title":{"rendered":"Is a hit and run covered by car insurance?"},"content":{"rendered":"

An accident turns into a hit-and-run incident the moment someone drives away without leaving their details \u2013 and doing so is committing a crime. If your car is damaged by someone else in a hit and run, is it covered by your policy? Hit and runs are complicated and can affect your car insurance premiums and claims, but your car insurance might cover your damage and costs if you have comprehensive or collision cover.<\/p>

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Will my basic car insurance cover a hit and run?<\/h4>

Basic liability insurance typically won’t cover damage to your car from a hit and run, except in one very specific situation: if you have uninsured driver cover and the culprit was identified and found to be at fault for the accident and without third-party liability insurance. Because it can be difficult to find the driver and prove their guilt, this situation is pretty unlikely to occur.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

How car insurance covers hit-and-run accidents<\/h3>

Insurance companies can also punish these drivers by raising insurance costs or cancelling their policies. Whether car insurance covers a hit and run naturally depends on whether you are the culprit or the victim, and the situation.<\/p>

If you commit a hit and run<\/h4>

If you are to blame, you won\u2019t be able to claim from your car insurance. By driving away, you turn an accident into a crime, which your insurance won\u2019t cover.<\/p>

If your car is damaged in a hit and run<\/h4>

If you go out and find your car has been sideswiped or dented, it\u2019s possible you will be covered. You generally need to have comprehensive cover<\/a> or collision cover to successfully make a claim<\/a>. Comprehensive cover helps with damage to your car from a wide range of sources, including other drivers and car accidents. Collision cover helps pay to repair your vehicle if you hit another car or another vehicle hits your car, regardless of fault and whether the other driver is found.<\/p>

If you have cover for uninsured motorists, this might cover claims for a hit and run, but you’ll need to check with your provider, based on the law and exact cover.<\/p>

In order to be found not at fault, you generally need to be able to indicate who caused the damage, and provide details of their registration and address. Naturally this is difficult to do if that person drove away after hitting your car.<\/p>

One alternative is to avoid making a claim, and instead pursue the culprit through legal means. If they can be tracked down, they may be legally ordered to pay compensation for the damages. Even if you decide to go down this path, you should still let your insurer know what happened.<\/p>

In short, if you can\u2019t track down the driver who was at fault, then your only likely options are going to be one of the following:<\/p>

  1. You pay for the repairs yourself.<\/li>
  2. You make a claim on your comprehensive car insurance and pay any applicable deductible. This option could also result in your premiums being increased.<\/li><\/ol>

    If you are able track down the guilty driver, then you can opt for one of the following options:<\/p>

    1. Make a claim on your car insurance. In this instance, you may not have to pay any excess or be hit with increased premiums.<\/li>
    2. Recover the cost of repairs from the other driver and avoid making a car insurance claim.<\/li><\/ol>

      What can I do if my property is damaged in a hit and run?<\/h3>

      A crime has been committed, so you should call the police. This is also your best bet for identifying the culprit.<\/p>

      As property damage is not generally an emergency, it\u2019s best to call your local police department’s non-emergency number instead of 999.<\/p>

      What should I do if my car is hit while parked?<\/h3>

      To maximise your chances of getting claim cover and finding the culprit, you should try to determine the extent of the damage, and document the incident as soon as possible.<\/p>