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Common scenarios

Hit While Parked Claims

Coming back to find your parked car damaged is infuriating, especially if the other driver has gone. If someone hit your parked car, you may still be able to claim for the damage, even where they cannot be traced.

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Last reviewed: Reviewed by the Auto Crash Claims editorial team

What happened

Being hit while parked covers everything from another driver reversing into your car in a car park, to a vehicle clipping your wing mirror on a narrow street, to a hit-and-run where the driver damages your parked car and drives off. You are not in the car and often not even there, so the frustrating part is usually not who was at fault, but proving what happened and finding the other driver.

Who's usually at fault

When your car is legally parked and stationary, you are almost never at fault. Responsibility sits with the moving driver who hit it. The main issue is identifying that driver. If they left a note or were seen, it is straightforward. If it was a hit-and-run and they cannot be traced, there are established routes for claiming for damage caused by an untraced driver, so a driver disappearing does not automatically end your claim.

Evidence that helps

  • Photos of the damage and where your car was parked
  • Any note left, or the other driver's details if you have them
  • CCTV or dashcam footage from nearby, if available
  • Details of anyone who saw it happen

Common complications

  • The other driver leaving no details (a hit-and-run)
  • No independent witnesses to a car-park knock
  • Disputes over pre-existing damage

There is nothing more frustrating than returning to a car you left perfectly parked and finding it dented, scraped or worse, with no sign of who did it. The good news is that when your car is legally parked, the accident is not your fault, and even a hit-and-run does not always mean the end of a claim.

A claim for a car hit while parked can cover the repair or the value of your vehicle, and any related costs. Checking is free and there is no obligation, and the specialists we work with can tell you what is possible, including where the other driver cannot be traced.

Making a claim is simpler than you think

  1. 1

    Tell us what happened

    Answer a few quick questions about your accident. It takes a couple of minutes and there’s no obligation.

  2. 2

    We connect you with specialists

    We pass your details to the regulated specialists we work with, who’ll look at whether you have a claim.

  3. 3

    They handle the rest

    If you have a case, the specialists can pursue your compensation and keep you updated, while you get back to normal.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I claim if someone hit my parked car and drove off?

Potentially, yes. If your car was legally parked, you are not at fault. Where the driver cannot be traced, there are established routes for claiming for damage caused by an untraced driver, so it is worth checking even after a hit-and-run.

Whose fault is it if my parked car is hit?

Almost always the driver who was moving and hit your stationary, legally parked car. The challenge is usually identifying them rather than proving fault.

Related

Related scenarios

Find out what you could be owed

It takes a couple of minutes, it’s free, and there’s no obligation.

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