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Someone hit your car and drove off. You are standing on the side of the road or coming back to a damaged vehicle in a parking lot, and the other driver is gone. It is one of the most frustrating things that can happen because the person who caused the damage just removed themselves from the situation.
The good news is that a hit-and-run does not mean you are stuck. There are steps that give you the best chance of getting your car repaired without it coming entirely out of your pocket, and those steps start in the first few minutes after you notice the damage.
What to do immediately
Stay safe first. If the impact happened while you were driving, pull to a safe spot. If you came back to a damaged parked car, take a breath before you touch anything.
Look for the other car. Sometimes a driver only gets a block away. If you can see them, note the make, model, color, and any part of the plate you can read. Do not chase them.
Call the police. This matters more in a hit-and-run than in a standard accident. A police report establishes that you are the victim, not the at-fault party. Your insurance company will ask for a case number when you file a claim. Call even if the other car is long gone.
Document everything at the scene. Photograph the damage from every angle. Photograph the area around your car. If there is paint transfer from the other car on yours, get a close-up of that. Look for broken plastic or trim pieces on the ground. If there are people nearby who saw what happened, ask for their name and phone number.
Check nearby cameras quickly. Parking lot cameras, nearby business cameras, and traffic cameras sometimes capture the plate or the moment of impact. Ask nearby businesses right away, since footage is often overwritten within 24 to 48 hours.
Your insurance options after a hit-and-run
The other driver is gone, so you cannot file a claim against their insurance. You have two paths through your own policy.
Collision coverage. If you carry collision coverage, it pays for repairs to your car regardless of who caused the damage. You pay your deductible, and your insurer covers the rest up to the car's value. This is the most direct path to getting repaired.
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD). California allows you to carry uninsured motorist property damage coverage. A hit-and-run driver is treated as an uninsured motorist under this coverage. UMPD can cover your repair with a lower deductible than collision in some policies. Check your declarations page to see what you carry and which applies here.
If you only carry the minimum required liability insurance in California, neither of those options applies, and repair costs fall on you. That is a hard situation. A free estimate at least tells you the number you are working with, and we can walk you through the realistic options from there. We have helped customers navigate exactly that position.
Will my rate go up if I file a hit-and-run claim
This question comes up every time. The honest answer is that it depends on your insurer and your policy. A not-at-fault claim, which a hit-and-run generally is, does not automatically raise your rate. Some insurers waive the rate impact for not-at-fault claims. It is worth calling your insurer before you file and asking directly.
What happens when you bring the car to us
Once you have a police report and a claim number, bring the car in for a free estimate. We look at everything, not just what you can see from the outside. A hit-and-run that scraped the door can sometimes mean a bent panel underneath, a cracked trim piece, or damage to the door beam that is not obvious at first. We document the full picture and work with your insurance company directly from that point forward.
That is The Painless Collision Process. You hand us the car, we handle the back and forth with the insurer, and you pick it up when the work is done. The goal is always pre-accident condition, often better than it was before the hit.
You also get to choose the shop. Your insurer may suggest a preferred shop, but in California you generally have the right to bring your car to whoever you trust. We cover that in do I have to use the body shop my insurance recommends.
Frequently asked questions
Does my insurance cover a hit-and-run if I have collision coverage?
Yes. Collision coverage pays for repairs to your car regardless of who caused the damage. You pay your deductible and your insurer covers the rest. A hit-and-run claim under collision is generally treated as a not-at-fault claim.
Do I need to find the other driver to file a claim?
No. With collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage coverage, you file against your own policy. You do not need the other driver's information to move forward with the repair.
What if I only have minimum required liability insurance in California?
Minimum liability coverage only pays for damage you cause to other people and their property. It does not cover your own car. If you do not carry collision or UMPD, repair costs come out of pocket. A free estimate at least gives you the real number.
Will my insurance rate go up after a hit-and-run claim?
Not necessarily. Many insurers do not raise rates for not-at-fault claims, and a hit-and-run is generally classified that way. Call your insurer before you file and ask their specific policy on not-at-fault claims.
Can you start the repair before the insurance company inspects the car?
In most cases, yes. We document the damage thoroughly with photos and a written estimate, which satisfies most insurers. We work with them directly to keep things moving rather than making you wait.
Next step
We work with every insurance company and handle the paperwork for you. Call us at 925-516-1930 or come in for a free estimate. Drop off a damaged car and pick up one that looks like it never happened.
Call (925) 516-1930 or stop by 44 Sycamore Ave, Suite A in Brentwood. Estimates are free. Read about our what to do after an accident, how we work, or get directions and hours. We serve Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, Discovery Bay and Byron.