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You come back to your car and find a dented door, a scraped bumper, or a cracked light. No warning. The car that hit yours is gone. Sometimes there is a note tucked under the windshield wiper. More often there is not. What you do in the next 30 minutes determines how smoothly the claim and repair go after that.
We handle this situation regularly at Mashore Autobody in Brentwood. Drivers come in with damage they did not cause, not sure whether to call their insurance first, not sure if they need a police report. Here is what we tell them.
Document everything before you do anything else
Before you move the car, take photos. Get the full vehicle from every angle. Get close-ups of the damage. If the other car is still there, photograph the plate, make, model, and any damage on that vehicle. If there are people nearby who saw what happened, ask them what they saw and get their contact information. Write down the time, location, and anything else you notice while it is fresh.
You will not remember these specifics clearly an hour from now. A strong set of photos protects your claim and gives the shop a clear starting point when you come in for an estimate. This step takes three minutes and matters a lot downstream.
If the other driver left a note
A note with a name and a phone number is the best outcome. Contact the other driver as soon as possible and get their insurance information. Then contact their insurer directly to open a third-party claim. You are filing against their liability coverage because they caused the damage.
You can also run the repair through your own insurance and let the companies sort out the reimbursement between themselves. The practical advantage is that your insurer handles the back and forth for you. The potential trade-off is that a claim may show on your history even if you were not at fault. If the damage is significant, call your insurer and ask them to walk you through your options. That call takes five minutes and is usually worth having before you decide which path to take.
If the driver left without leaving any information
This is the hit-and-run situation. The first step is filing a police report. In California, you generally need a police report to file an uninsured motorist property damage claim, and that is typically the coverage that applies when the other driver cannot be identified. File the report with your local police department or the California Highway Patrol depending on where the incident happened.
Once you have the report number, contact your own insurer. Uninsured motorist property damage coverage is the main path for parked-car hit-and-runs. California requires insurers to offer this coverage, but not all policies carry it. Confirm yours before assuming it applies. Your collision coverage is another option if you have it, though your deductible will apply.
One thing that sometimes surprises people: a hit-and-run on a parked car is handled differently than an accident where both drivers were present and exchanged information. The documentation requirements are not identical. Your insurer can walk you through the specific steps for your policy, but knowing this upfront saves confusion when you make the call.
Do you need a police report for damage to a parked car
For hit-and-runs, yes. File one as soon as you discover the damage. Even if the damage looks minor, the police report creates an official record that most insurers require for an uninsured motorist claim. If the other driver left their information and a dispute comes up later, a police report still provides useful documentation. When injuries occurred, when damage appears significant, or when the other driver left the scene, you are generally required by California law to report the accident regardless.
Your right to choose the repair shop
In California, you generally have the right to choose which shop repairs your vehicle. Your insurance company can suggest or prefer certain shops, but the final decision is yours. This matters because the shop you choose sets the standard for the quality of the work and the documentation that supports your claim and your car's history going forward.
A full breakdown of this right is in our article on whether you have to use the body shop your insurance recommends.
What happens during the repair
We start with a free estimate. We look at the damage, document it with photos and notes, and tell you in plain terms what we see. If the damage is worse beneath the surface than it looks from the outside, we say so up front. We work directly with your insurance company, handle the supplements if additional damage turns up during repair, and keep you updated at each stage.
Timing depends on the damage and the parts needed. Surface work on a door or bumper generally moves faster than repairs involving structural components or suspension. For a realistic sense of what timelines look like, read our article on how long auto body repair takes.
We are family owned and operated in Brentwood. The same people who take your call are the ones who hand you your keys at the end. That is the difference between a shop like ours and a large franchise where customers cycle through as numbers in a queue.
When to act versus when waiting is fine
If there is exposed metal, if a bumper was hit, if sensors or structural parts were involved, or if another driver owes you the repair cost, get it looked at promptly. Waiting allows rust to start on exposed metal and can complicate the claims process if time passes. It can also make the damage estimate less accurate if secondary damage develops before the repair happens.
Small scuffs with no paint break and no other driver involved are the one situation where waiting is less urgent. But even those are worth a quick inspection, because what looks minor from the outside does not always match what the shop finds underneath.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if someone hits my parked car and leaves?
Take photos of the damage and the scene right away, then file a police report. In California you generally need a police report to file an uninsured motorist property damage claim when the other driver cannot be identified. Then contact your own insurer to start the claim.
Does a hit-and-run on a parked car count as a collision claim?
It depends on your policy. Uninsured motorist property damage coverage is typically the right coverage for a parked-car hit-and-run where the other driver fled. Collision coverage is another option if you carry it, though your deductible applies. Confirm with your insurer which coverage applies to your specific situation.
Do I have to use the shop my insurance company recommends?
No. In California you generally have the right to choose the shop that repairs your vehicle, regardless of which shop your insurer prefers. The repair quality and documentation are your choice to protect.
Will a parked car hit-and-run claim raise my insurance premium?
California has consumer protections around not-at-fault incidents, but how a claim affects your premium depends on your specific insurer and policy. Ask your insurer directly before filing if premium impact concerns you.
How long will it take to repair a car that was hit while parked?
Timeline depends on the extent of the damage and the parts involved. Surface damage to a door panel or bumper typically moves faster than structural or suspension repairs. We give you a realistic window up front and keep you updated if anything changes.
Next step
We work with every insurance company and handle the back and forth so the process stays straightforward on your end.
If your parked car was just hit, come in and we will tell you honestly what you are dealing with, what it takes to fix it, and how to work through the claim. Making collision repair painless is what we are here for. Like it never happened is the standard we hold to, every time.
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.